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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
September 1, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
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. CDT on Monday, August 31, 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
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. In the Matter of the Request for Certification Regarding the Use of Federal Universal Service Support in Dockets TC20-009, TC20-016, TC20-024, TC20-026, TC20-028, TC20-030, TC20-031 and TC20-033
TC20-009 In the Matter of the Request of Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Areas: Armour-391640, Golden West Telecom-391659, Kadoka-391667, Sioux Valley-391677, Union-391684, Vivian-391686) (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck)
On June 10, 2020, the Commission received an application from Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 11, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC20-016 In the Matter of the Request of Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 395145) (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Commission Attorney: Karen E. Cremer)
On June 24, 2020, the Commission received an application from Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 18, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC20-024 In the Matter of the Request of RC Technologies for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391674) (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Commission Attorney: Karen E. Cremer)
On June 26, 2020, the Commission received an application from RC Technologies (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 10, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC20-026 In the Matter of the Request of Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority for Certification Regarding its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391647) (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On June 26, 2020, the Commission received an application from Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 13, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC20-028 In the Matter of the Request of Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Vast Broadband for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: ILEC–391652 and CLEC–399006) (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck)
On June 29, 2020, the Commission received an application from Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Vast Broadband (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 19, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC20-030 In the Matter of the Request of RT Communications, Inc. for Certification Regarding its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 512251) (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Commission Attorney: Karen E. Cremer)
On June 29, 2020, the Commission received an application from RT Communications, Inc. (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 11 and 18, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data requests.
TC20-031 In the Matter of the Request of Alliance Communications Cooperative Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Areas: 391405, 391642 and 391657) (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Commission Attorney: Karen E. Cremer)
On June 29, 2020, the Commission received an application from Alliance Communications Cooperative Inc. (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 17, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC20-033 In the Matter of the Request of Jefferson Telephone Company for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391666) (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck)
On June 30, 2020, the Commission received an application from Jefferson Telephone Company (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On August 10, 2020, the Company responded to staff’s data requests.
TODAY, shall the Commission provide a certification to the Federal Communications Commission and to the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the use of Federal Universal Service Support in each of the above dockets?
Electric
EL20-013 In the Matter of the Application by Meridian Wind Project, LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility and a 345-kV Transmission Facility in Hyde County, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On April 23, 2020, the Commission received an Application for a Facility Permit (Application) from Meridian Wind Project, LLC (Meridian or Applicant). Meridian proposes to construct a wind energy conversion facility and an 8.9-mile, 345-kV transmission line to be located in Hyde County, South Dakota (Project). The Project would be situated within approximately 15,043-acres in the townships of Van Order, Eagle, Chapelle, Highmore, and Bramhall, South Dakota. The total installed capacity of the Project would not exceed 175 megawatts (MW) of nameplate capacity. The proposed Project includes up to 64 wind turbine generators, access roads to turbines and associated facilities, underground 34.5-kV electrical collector lines, underground fiber-optic cable, a 34.5-kV to 345-kV collection substation, and one permanent meteorological tower. On July 31, 2020, staff filed a Motion for Procedural Schedule. On August 21, 2020, Applicant filed a Motion to Extend Deadline for Commission Action.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Applicant’s Motion to Extend Deadline for Commission Action? OR, shall the Commission grant staff’s Motion for Procedural Schedule? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
Grain Warehouse
1. GW20-003 In the Matter of the Request for Approval of Settlement Stipulation regarding Violations of SDCL 49-45 by Dakota AgSynergy (Grain Warehouse Program Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)
On July 31, 2020, staff filed a Stipulation and Settlement Agreement between staff and Dakota AgSynergy. In this uncontested matter, Dakota AgSynergy admitted to purchasing grain in the State of South Dakota without a license. Staff and Dakota AgSynergy worked together to come to an agreement as to the appropriate penalty and now ask the Commission to approve that agreement as set forth in the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement.
TODAY, shall the Commission adopt the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?
Items for Commission Discussion
Public Comment
Individuals who wish to make public comments to the commission may do so during this time. All who offer public comments are requested to sign in at the commission meeting or let the commission know of their wish to speak when they call in to reserve a phone line. Time limits for comments may be determined at the discretion of the commission.
Announcements
1. The PUC office will be closed Monday, September 7, 2020, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
2. The next regular commission meeting will be held Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
3. Commission meetings are scheduled for September 29 and October 13, 2020.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
August 25, 2020
