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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 6, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CST
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
NOTE: Docket participants who wish to join this meeting by conference call should contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 5:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, March 5, 2020, to reserve a phone line. Lines are limited and assigned 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 docket discussion at 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 webcast 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 Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on February 3 and 18, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
1. EL18-003 In the Matter of the Application by Dakota Range I, LLC and Dakota Range II, LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility in Grant County and Codington County, South Dakota, for the Dakota Range Wind Project (Staff Analysts: Jon Thurber, Darren Kearney; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)
On January 24, 2018, the Commission received an Application for a Facility Permit for a wind energy facility (Application) from Dakota Range I, LLC, and Dakota Range II, LLC. An evidentiary hearing was held as scheduled. On July 23, 2018, the Commission issued its Final Decision and Order Granting Permit to Construct Wind Energy Facility. On January 6, 2020, Northern States Power Company (NSP) submitted a Motion for Approval of Transfer of Permit stating it had purchased the membership interests of Dakota Range I, LLC and Dakota Range II, LLC from APEX Clean Energy, LLC. If the Motion for Approval of Transfer of Permit is granted, NSP will be the Permit holder. At the February 3, 2020, Commission meeting, the matter was deferred. On February 19, 2020, NSP filed documentation of the assignment of and assumption of membership interest.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Motion for Approval of Transfer of Permit? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
2. EL20-001 In the Matter of the Joint Request for Approval of an Amended Electric Service Territory Boundary Agreement between Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On January 7, 2020, the Commission received a joint request from Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy seeking to modify existing service territory boundaries near Hill City, South Dakota. On January 27, 2020, Commission staff filed an addendum signed by both companies agreeing to amend the existing electric service territory boundary agreement from EL19-001. At the February 18, 2020, Commission meeting the matter was deferred. On February 27, 2020, a revised Exhibit C and Exhibit D were filed.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Amended Service Territory Line Agreement between Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Black Hills Energy?
3. EL20-006 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of Tariff Revisions to Its 2019 Transmission Cost Recovery Reconciliation and 2020 Transmission Cost Recovery Factors (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On February 13, 2020, the Commission received MidAmerican Energy Company’s (MidAmerican) filing for approval of tariff revisions to its Transmission Cost Recovery (TCR) 2019 Reconciliation and 2020 New Factor Calculation. MidAmerican’s TCR mechanism was established in the company’s most recent rate case, EL14-072. With this filing, MidAmerican is establishing new TCR rates based on true ups to the actual over/under recovery from 2019, 2020 forecasted MISO transmission expense, and the forecast over/under recovery for January through March of 2020. MidAmerican requests the new TCR factors have an effective date of April 2, 2020.
TODAY, shall the Commission assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $50,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date?
Grain Warehouse
1. GW20-001 In the Matter of PUC Staff’s Complaint Against Engelman Commercial Group, LLC dba BC Trading Corp. (Warehouse Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)
On January 7, 2020, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission staff (staff) filed with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission a Complaint against Engelman Commercial Group, LLC dba BC Trading Corp (BC Trading). In the Complaint, staff alleges BC Trading purchased grain for resale without a grain buyer license in violation of SDCL 49-45-1. On February 28, 2020, staff and BC Trading filed a Stipulation and Settlement Agreement and a Joint Motion for Approval of the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Joint Motion and approve the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
Public Comment
Individuals who wish to make public comments to the commission may do so in person during this time. All who offer public comment are requested to sign in at the commission meeting. Time limits for comments may be determined at the discretion of the commission.
Announcements
1. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
2. The PUC will host and commissioners and staff will attend the South Dakota/North Dakota Pipeline Safety Operators Training, March 24-25, 2020, at the Ramkota Conference Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
3. PUC commissioners and staff will meet with consumers at the Black Hills Home Show, March 27-29, 2020, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, South Dakota.
4. Commission meetings are scheduled for March 31 and April 14, 2020.
/s/Leah Mohr .
Leah Mohr
Finance Manager
PUC Email
February 28, 2020
