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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 16, 2017, at 8:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota

NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, June 15, 2017. Lines are limited and are given out on a first come, first served basis, subject to possible reassignment to accommodate persons who must appear in a proceeding. Ultimately, if you wish to participate in the Commission Meeting and a line is not available, you may have to appear in person. 

NOTE:  To listen to the Commission Meeting live please go to the PUC’s website www.puc.sd.gov and click on the LIVE link on the home page. The Commission requests persons who will only be listening to proceedings and not actively appearing in a case listen via the web cast to free phone lines for those who have to appear.  The Commission meetings are archived on the PUC’s website under the Commission Actions tab. Click on “Commission Meeting Archives,” to access the recordings.

NOTE: Notice is further given to persons with disabilities that this Commission meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. If you have special needs, please notify the Commission and we will make all necessary arrangements.

AGENDA OF COMMISSION MEETING

Administration

1.     Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on June 6, 2017, and the Ad Hoc Commission Meeting Held on June 8, 2017 (Staff: Joy Lashley)

Consumer Reports

1.     Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries and Complaints Received by the Commission (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

Electric

1.     EL17-006    In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval of 2017 Transmission Facility Adjustment (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

On February 15, 2017, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE) filed an Application for Approval of its 2017 Transmission Facilities Adjustment (TFA). BHE seeks approval of the annual true-up of the actual amounts collected in the third year of the TFA, as approved in Docket EL16-005, and the forecasted recovery of revenue requirements associated with the fourth year of the TFA. BHE proposes TFA rates effective June 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018. Approximately 68,000 South Dakota customers will be affected by the TFA rate change. On June 9, 2017, BHE and Staff filed a Settlement Stipulation and Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation. The details of the Settlement Stipulation are further outlined in the Staff Memorandum, filed June 9, 2017.

    TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and approve the rates, tariff sheets, terms and conditions stipulated therein? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?

2.    EL17-008    In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval of its 2017 Environmental Improvement Adjustment (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

On February 15, 2017, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE) filed an Application for Approval of its 2017 Environmental Improvement Adjustment (EIA). BHE seeks approval of its proposal for the annual true-up of EIA revenue requirement from June 1, 2016, through May 31, 2017, as approved in Docket EL16-006, and the forecasted recovery of EIA revenue requirement associated with eligible environmental improvements from June 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018. The Company proposes EIA rates effective June 1, 2017, through May 31, 2018. Approximately 68,000 South Dakota retail customers are affected by the EIA rate change. On June 9, 2017, BHE and Staff filed a Settlement Stipulation and Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation. The details of the Settlement Stipulation are further outlined in the Staff Memorandum, filed June 9, 2017.

    TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and approve the rates, tariff sheets, terms and conditions stipulated therein? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?

3.    EL17-018    In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Changes to its Street Lighting System Service Tariff to Include Light Emitting Diode (LED) Street Lighting Rates (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

On April 20, 2017, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) filed with the Commission a petition for approval of changes to its Street Lighting System Service tariff to include Light Emitting Diode (LED) Street Lighting Rates. The proposed changes will allow Xcel to provide a number of municipal customers a company-owned option for LED Street Lighting. Xcel already has an established customer-owned LED street lighting rate in its tariff. Xcel asserts a typical street lighting customer in South Dakota may see an average monthly savings of 3 to 4 percent on their bill by switching to the LED street lighting service.

    TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff revisions?

4.    EL17-020    In the Matter of the Joint Request for an Electric Service Territory Boundary Change between Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy and Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. dba Sioux Valley Energy (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

On May 1, 2017, the Commission received a joint request from Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy and Sioux Valley- Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. dba Sioux Valley Energy seeking to modify existing service territory boundaries in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On May 19, 2017, Ronning Enterprises, Inc. filed a Petition to Intervene. On June 2, 2017, Ronning Enterprises, Inc. filed a letter requesting a delay on action of the petition. At the June 6, 2017, Commission meeting, Chairperson Fiegen deferred action to the next Commission meeting.

    TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to any parties that may have filed? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?

5.    EL17-021    In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval of its 2017 Vegetation Management Annual Report and Approval to End the Vegetation Management Regulatory Asset (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney, Kristen Edwards)

On May 1, 2017, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE) filed for approval of its 2017 Vegetation Management Annual Report and for approval to end the Vegetation Management Regulatory Asset (VMRA). Per the Settlement Stipulation in Docket EL12-061, BHE is required to provide an annual report to demonstrate the actual vegetation management costs incurred and an explanation of the progress made on the overall five year plan. BHE requests an order from the Commission approving its vegetation management activities from December 1, 2015, through March 31, 2017; the VMRA balance as of March 31, 2017; and for BHE to end the VMRA, subject to the condition that such approval shall not preclude Commission review of the project, including project and cost management, accounting data and methods, and the resulting balance in the regulatory asset, for prudence and reasonableness for rate recovery in any determination of rates, including both rate filings by BHE and rate reviews initiated by the Commission.  

    TODAY, shall the Commission approve the 2017 Vegetation Management Annual Report; the VMRA balance as of March 31, 2017; and to end the VMRA, subject to the condition that such approval shall not preclude Commission review of the project, including project and cost management, accounting data and methods, and the resulting balance in the regulatory asset, for prudence and reasonableness for rate recovery in any determination of rates, including both rate filings by BHE and rate reviews initiated by the Commission?  

6.    EL17-022    In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s 2016 South Dakota Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2017 Annual Filing to Update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider (Staff Analyst: Darren Kearney; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

On May 1, 2017, Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) filed its 2016 Energy Efficiency Plan (EEP) Status Report and 2017 Annual Filing to update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider. Specifically, Otter Tail requests that the Commission approve its 2016 Status Report, the 2016 financial incentive of $105,900, and the proposed Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor of $0.00138/kWh with an effective date of July 1, 2017.

    TODAY, shall the Commission approve Otter Tail’s 2016 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report? AND, shall the Commission approve the 2016 Financial Incentive of $105,900? AND, shall the Commission approve the proposed Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor of $0.00138/kWh with an effective date of July 1, 2017?

Telecommunications

1.    TC17-001    In the Matter of the Application of Wide Voice, LLC for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Local Exchange and Interexchange Long Distance Services in South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

On January 12, 2017, the Commission received an Application for a Certificate of Authority from Wide Voice, LLC (Wide Voice). Wide Voice seeks to provide competitive local exchange services, including exchange access service, and interexchange long distance services within the state of South Dakota. On February 3, 2017, Wide Voice responded to Staff’s first set of data requests. At its regularly scheduled meeting on February 10, 2017, the Commission granted intervention to the South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA) and South Dakota Network, LLC (SDN). On May 19, 2017, Wide Voice responded to Staff’s second set of data requests. On May 23, 2017, the Commission deferred this docket until the next scheduled Commission meeting, on June 6, 2017. At the June 6, 2017, meeting, the parties again requested deferral. Prior to the commission meeting, staff anticipates that either a stipulation will be filed, or staff will file a memorandum requesting action or a procedural schedule.

    TODAY, shall the Commission grant Wide Voice’s request for a Certificate of Authority to provide Local Exchange and Interexchange Long Distance Services in South Dakota? AND, shall the Commission grant Wide Voice, SDTA, and SDN’s request to include the terms and conditions as set forth in the Settlement Stipulation? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?

Items for Commission Discussion

Announcements

  1. Commissioners and staff will attend the Mid-America Regulatory Conference annual meeting June 18-21, 2017, at The Swissotel, Chicago, Illinois.

  2. The PUC office will be closed July 3-4, 2017, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

  3. The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Wednesday, July 5, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, S.D.

  4. Commission meetings are scheduled for July 21 and August 1, 2017.

 

/s/Cindy Kemnitz     .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
PUC Email
June 9, 2017