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South DakotaPublic Utilities Commission Meeting
January 18, 2022, at 1:30 P.M. CST
Matthew Training Center, Foss 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 10:00 a.m. CST on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 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 Meetings Held on December 21, 2021, and January 4, 2022, and the Show Cause Hearing Held on January 4, 2022 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC21-124 In the Matter of the Approval of the Petition for Arbitration of an Interconnection Agreement Between Midcontinent Communications and James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On December 6, 2021, Midcontinent Communications (Midcontinent) filed a Petition for Arbitration of an Interconnection Agreement Between Midcontinent and James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company (James Valley). On January 6, 2022, the Commission issued an Order Bifurcating Issue. As of the posting of this agenda, the Parties have been able to come to an agreement on a procedural schedule in this docket, specifically as it relates to the bifurcated issue.
TODAY, shall the commission issue a procedural schedule? OR how shall the commission proceed?
2. TC21-125 In the Matter of the Application of Celerity Networks LLC for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Local Exchange Telecommunications Services in the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On December 20, 2021, Celerity Networks LLC (Celerity), filed an application for a Certificate of Authority to provide local exchange telecommunications service in South Dakota. At this time, Celerity only seeks a Certificate to provide facilities-based and resold local exchange telecommunications services that do not require an interconnection agreement in the State of South Dakota. On January 5, 2022, the South Dakota Telecommunications Association filed a Petition to Intervene.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to any parties that may have filed?
Electric
1. EL21-035 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of a Credit Mechanism for Payments from the Third Extended Department of Energy Settlement (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On December 3, 2021, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) filed for approval of a credit mechanism for funds received pursuant to the third extended Settlement with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) for DOE’s partial breach of its contract to take spent nuclear fuel. The gross amount currently available for credit is approximately $16.6 million on a total company basis, or $911,481 on a South Dakota jurisdictional basis. Due to refunds in other jurisdictions, Xcel is requesting a 30-day extension for the first of the bill credits, with the future bill credits being refunded within 90 days, similar to past dockets.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Xcel’s request and the continuation of the one-time bill credit mechanism? 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, January 17, 2022, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
2. The PUC will host a Briefing for Legislators on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. CST in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota. The agenda is to discuss current issues related to telecommunications, energy regulation and grain warehouses.
3. The PUC will host an Open House for Legislators on Thursday, January 27, 2022, 7:30-11:00 a.m. CST in the PUC office, first floor of the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
4. Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives of NorthWestern Energy on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. CST in the Library Commons at the MacKay Building, 800 Governors Drive, Pierre, South Dakota. NorthWestern Energy will provide an update on company operational and financial activities.
5. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. CST in the Floyd Matthew Training Center in the Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota.
6. Commission meetings are scheduled for February 18 and March 4, 2022.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
January 11, 2022
