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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 10, 2021, 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 Wednesday, June 9, 2021, 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 May 13, 2021 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC21-018 In the Matter of the Adoption of the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On May 5, 2021, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for adoption of the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the interconnection agreement?
2. TC21-019 In the Matter of the Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Peerless Network of South Dakota, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On May 5, 2021, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for approval of the FCC Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Peerless Network of South Dakota, LLC.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement?
3. TC21-022 In the Matter of the Approval of an Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs) – Resale Forbearance Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Nebraska Technology and Telecommunications Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On May 7, 2021, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for approval of an Amendment to an Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Nebraska Technology and Telecommunications Inc. The amendment incorporates forbearance orders FCC 19-66 and FCC 19-72, which were released by the Federal Communications Commission in 2019.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement?
4. TC21-024 In the Matter of the Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Northern Valley Communications, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On May 19, 2021, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for approval of the FCC Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Northern Valley Communications, LLC.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement?
5. TC21-026 In the Matter of the Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On May 20, 2021, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for approval of the FCC Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement?
6. TC21-027 In the Matter of the Approval of an Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs) – Resale Forbearance Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On May 20, 2021, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for approval of an Amendment to an Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc. The amendment incorporates forbearance orders FCC 19-66 and FCC 19-72, which were released by the Federal Communications Commission in 2019.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement?
Electric
1. EL21-013 In the Matter of the Filing by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Revised Welcome Brochures (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On April 29, 2021, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) filed revised welcome brochures for Commission approval. The welcome brochure is furnished to each new South Dakota customer per ARSD 20:10:16:02. The residential and business brochure was redesigned to improve the customer experience while still including the required information outlined within the rule. On May 17, 2021, Xcel filed updates to the revised welcome brochures. On May 27, 2021, Xcel filed a letter regarding additional information requested by the Commission.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the revised welcome brochures?
2. EL21-017 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Phase-In Rider Rate (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On June 1, 2021, the Commission received a petition by Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) for approval of its annual update to its Phase-in Rate Plan Rider. Otter Tail makes this filing pursuant to SDCL 49-34A-73 through 49-34A-78. In this filing, Otter Tail proposes to adjust the Phase-in Rate Plan Rider Rate to reflect the applicable rider revenue requirements for the next recovery period (September 2021 – August 2022), to recover actual and forecasted costs for the Astoria Station Natural Gas Plant project, Merricourt Wind Project, forecasted net benefits associated with additional load in the Lake Norden area, and net savings associated with Otter Tail’s retirement of its Hoot Lake Plant. Otter Tail states a typical residential electric customer using an average of 1,000 kWh per month will see a decrease of $3.75 per month resulting from this filing. Otter Tail proposes an effective date of September 1, 2021.
TODAY, shall the Commission assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date?
Items for Commission Discussion
On May 13, 2021, the Commission, commission staff, and interested parties discussed the need for periodic progress reports for wind energy facilities. At the Commission’s request, commission staff will submit a sample construction report that outlines the desired information no later than Friday, June 4, 2021. Commission staff requests feedback from the Commission on the sample report and direction on seeking periodic reports from previously permitted facilities.
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. PUC Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives from Northern Natural Gas at 1:30 p.m., CDT, Thursday, June 10, 2021, in Room 413 of the Capitol Building in Pierre, South Dakota. The agenda will include a recap of the February 2021 cold-weather event and a general business update.
2. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 414 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
3. Commission meetings are scheduled for July 6 and 22, 2021.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
June 3, 2021
