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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
December 22, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CST
Room 414, 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 Monday, December 21, 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 the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on November 24, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC20-049 In the Matter of the Request of Spectrotel, Inc. dba OneTouch Communications dba Touch Base Communications to Transfer Its Certificate of Authority to Provide Interexchange Long Distance Services and Local Exchange Services in South Dakota to Spectrotel of the West LLC (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On September 11, 2020, the Commission received a letter from Spectrotel, Inc. dba OneTouch Communications dba Touch Base Communications (Spectrotel) requesting to transfer its Certificate of Authority to provide interexchange long distance services and local exchange services in South Dakota to Spectrotel of the West LLC. Spectrotel completed an internal corporate reorganization resulting in the creation of a new affiliate, Spectrotel of the West LLC, which will become the telecommunications service provider for the company’s South Dakota customers. On December 7 and December 8, 2020, Spectrotel responded to staff’s data requests.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Spectrotel, Inc. dba OneTouch Communications dba Touch Base Communications request to transfer its Certificate of Authority to Provide Interexchange Long Distance Services and Local Exchange Services in South Dakota to Spectrotel of the West LLC?
Electric
1. EL15-020 In the Matter of the Application by Wind Quarry Operations, LLC, for a Wind Energy Facility Permit for the Willow Creek Wind Energy Facility and Associated Facilities (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On May 27, 2015, the Commission received an Application from Wind Quarry Operations, LLC for a Wind Energy Facility Permit to construct the Willow Creek Wind Energy Facility. On November 16, 2015, the Commission issued an Order Granting Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and Granting Permit to Construct Facilities. On November 21, 2018, the Commission issued an Order Approving Transfer of Permit and Acceptance of Turbine and Layout Changes to Willow Creek Wind Power LLC. Pursuant to SDCL 49-41B-38, an indemnity bond was required for construction of the project. On December 3, 2020, Willow Creek Wind Power LLC filed a Motion for Release of Bond, stating that construction is complete and road restoration work has been approved.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Motion for Release of Bond and authorize the Executive Director or commission counsel to execute any necessary documents to release the bond?
2. EL20-025 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2021 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On September 1, 2020, the Commission received a petition from Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for approval of its 2021 Transmission Cost Recovery (TCR) Rider, TCR rate factor, and tracker account report. For 2021, Xcel proposes recovery of the South Dakota jurisdictional portion of the revenue requirements related to 24 transmission projects located throughout its service territory. Xcel proposes to include five new projects for 2021. Xcel proposes to recover $7.2 million associated with these projects for the 2021 calendar year. Included in the $7.2 million figure is the 2020 over-collection balance of $157,826. The total of the transmission investment costs, and the tracker balance results in an average bill impact of $2.58 per month for a residential electric customer using 750 kWh per month. This is an increase of $0.31 per month from the current TCR Rider recovery. Xcel proposes to implement a rate of $0.003446 per kWh applied to all energy billed to each customer class beginning January 1 through December 31, 2021. This represents an increase of $0.000419 from the existing rate of $0.003037 per kWh.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2020?
3. EL20-026 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2021 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On October 1, 2020, the Commission received a Petition by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for approval of its 2021 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update. Xcel requests approval of project eligibility of four additional wind projects consistent with SDCL 49-34A-73 and the Settlement Stipulation in Docket GE17-003, special rate treatment of one of the new projects, the Infrastructure Rider Tracker Report and true-up for the 2020 revenue requirements, 2021 Infrastructure Rider revenue requirements of $24.9 million, an updated Infrastructure Rider Adjustment Factor of $0.011897 per kWh, proposed revision to the Infrastructure Rider tariff sheet, and proposed customer notice. Xcel proposes a January 1, 2021, effective date. Xcel states the average bill impact for a residential customer using 750 kWh per month will be an estimated $8.92, a $2.27 increase over the 2020 rate.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed projects as eligible for recovery and approve the Infrastructure Rider Adjustment factor of $0.011897 per kWh and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2021?
Natural Gas
1. NG20-011 In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. for Approval of Its South Dakota Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2021-2023 (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On October 29, 2020, the Commission received a filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU) for approval of its South Dakota Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2021-2023. MDU proposes some changes to its current offerings to be effective January 1, 2021. In particular, MDU proposes to discontinue the Energy Assessment rebate program and to decrease rebates for new construction high efficiency furnaces. The 2021 budget proposed is a decrease of 34.7% from the current budget for 2020. The proposed 2022 and 2023 budgets reflect a year-over-year increase of 11.1% and 10.1%, respectively.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.’s Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2021-2023?
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 December 24-25, 2020, in observance of the Christmas holiday.
2. The PUC office will be closed Friday, January 1, 2021, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday.
3. The next regular commission meeting will be Monday, January 4, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. CST in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
4. The PUC will host a Briefing for Legislators on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. CST via MS Teams videoconference. The agenda is to discuss current issues related to telecommunications, energy regulation and grain warehouses. Contact the PUC at 605-773-3201 or PUC@state.sd.us by 5:00 p.m. CST, January 5, 2021, to reserve a spot to attend this videoconference.
5. Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives of NorthWestern Energy on Monday, January 11, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. CST via Zoom videoconference. The agenda is to discuss an update of NorthWestern Energy’s operations, finance and customer service activities. Contact the PUC at 605-773-3201 or PUC@state.sd.us by 5:00 p.m. CST, January 8, 2021, to reserve a spot to attend this videoconference.
6. A show cause hearing for the following dockets will be held Thursday, January 14, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. CST in the Floyd Matthew Training Center in the Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota.
• TC20-053 - In the Matter of American Telecommunications Systems, Inc.’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
• TC20-054 - In the Matter of DataBytes Inc.’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
• TC20-055 - In the Matter of Peerless Network of South Dakota, LLC’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
• TC20-056 - In the Matter of Stream Communications’ Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
• TC20-057 - In the Matter of STS Media Inc. dba FreedomPop’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
• TC20-058 - In the Matter of The Light Phone’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
• TC20-059 - In the Matter of WaveNation LLC’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
7. The PUC office will be closed Monday, January 18, 2021, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
8. Commission meetings are scheduled for January 19 and February 2, 2021.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
December 16, 2020
