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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
May 23, 2023, 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, May 22, 2023, 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 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 9, 2023 (Deputy Executive Director: Leah Mohr)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
1. EL21-018 In the Matter of the Application by North Bend Wind Project, LLC for a Permit to Construct and Operate the North Bend Wind Project in Hyde County and Hughes County, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On June 23, 2021, North Bend Wind Project, LLC (North Bend or Project) filed an application for a permit to construct the North Bend Wind Project, a wind energy facility located on approximately 46,931 acres of land in Hyde County and Hughes County, South Dakota, in the townships of Butte, Chapelle, Harrold, Holabird, Pleasant Valley, Pratt, and Webster. The total installed capacity of the Project would not exceed 200 megawatts nameplate capacity. The proposed Project includes up to 71 wind turbine generators, access roads to turbines and associated facilities, underground 34.5-kilovolt (kV) electrical collector lines, underground fiber-optic cable, a 34.5-kV to 230-kV collection substation, a 230-kV interconnection switching station, an aircraft detection lighting system and one permanent meteorological tower. The Project will interconnect to the Western Area Power Administration’s Fort Thompson-Oahe 230-kV transmission line, which crosses the southern portion of the project area. On September 17, 2021, the Commission issued an Order Granting Party Status to Judi Bollweg and Michael Bollweg (Intervenors). On September 29, 2022, the Commission issued an Order Granting Joint Stipulation and Motion to Adopt Second Revised Procedural Schedule, setting the evidentiary hearing to begin on December 13, 2022. On November 7, 2022, North Bend Filed a Motion to Clarify Hearing Scope. On November 22, 2022, Intervenors filed a Letter Regarding Scope of Hearing. On December 6, 2022, Intervenors filed a Motion to Withdraw. On December 9, 2022, North Bend filed a Letter Regarding Cancellation of Evidentiary Hearing. On December 13, 2022, North Bend and staff filed a Settlement Stipulation and a Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation. On January 10, 2023, the Commission issued an Order Granting Motion to Withdraw Party Status and an Order Granting Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation; Order Granting Permit to Construct Facility; Notice of Entry (Permit). On May 12, 2023, North Bend filed a Motion to Approve Escrow Agreement as required by Condition 39 of the Permit.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant North Bend’s Motion to Approve Escrow Agreement?
2. EL23-011 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2023 Economic Development Plan and 2022 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On March 30, 2023, the Commission received an application from NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of its 2023 Economic Development Plan and 2022 Economic Development Report.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s 2022 Economic Development Report and 2023 Economic Development Plan?
Natural Gas
1. NG23-010 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2023 Economic Development Plan and 2022 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
On March 30, 2023, the Commission received an application from NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of its 2023 Economic Development Plan and 2022 Economic Development Report.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s 2022 Economic Development Report and 2023 Economic Development Plan?
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, May 29, 2023, in observance of Memorial Day.
2. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
3. The PUC office will be closed Monday, June 19, 2023, in observance of Juneteenth.
4. Commission meetings are scheduled for June 20 and July 5, 2023.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
May 16, 2023
