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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
December 6, 2023, at 1:30 P.M. CST
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 10:00 a.m. CST on Wednesday, December 6, 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 November 21, 2023 (Deputy Executive Director: Leah Mohr)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC23-049 In the Matter of the Filing by Intrado Communications, LLC for Approval of Replacement Access Tariff to Reflect Company Name Change (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
On November 7, 2023, the Commission received a filing by Intrado Communications, LLC (Company) for approval of its Access Service Tariff No. 3. This filing of its Tariff No. 3 (Access) replaces in its entirety Tariff No. 2, currently on file with the Commission. No changes have been made to the tariff except to reflect the Company’s new name of Hypercube Networks, LLC. The Company respectfully requests an effective date for this filing of November 9, 2023.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff with an effective date of November 9, 2023?
Electric
1. EL23-013 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2022 Demand Side Management Report and 2024 Proposed Demand Side Management Plan (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On May 1, 2023, the Commission received a Petition from Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) requesting approval of the 2022 Demand Side Management (DSM) Status Report and 2024 DSM Plan. Specifically, Xcel requests approval of its 2022 DSM Tracker account, the incentive earned for 2022 program performance, the proposed 2024 DSM Cost Adjustment Factor of $0.000503 per kWh, and the proposed DSM Plan for 2024. On September 20, 2023, Xcel filed an updated Petition and revisions to the proposed 2024 DSM Plan and revised the proposed 2024 DSM Cost Adjustment Factor from $0.000503 per kWh to $0.000487 per kWh. Xcel requests an effective date of January 1, 2024, for the DSM Cost Adjustment Factor.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Xcel’s 2022 Demand Side Management Status Report and tracker account, the performance incentive earned for 2022, the proposed 2024 Demand Side Management Plan, and the proposed 2024 Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Factor of $0.000487 per kWh with a January 1, 2024, effective date?
2. EL23-027 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Tariff Revisions to Facilitate Implementation of New Advanced Grid Infrastructure Projects (AGI) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
On September 8, 2023, the Commission received a filing from Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) for approval of administrative tariff and brochure revisions to facilitate implementation of new Advanced Grid Infrastructure projects. Otter Tail proposes an effective date of January 1, 2024, for the tariff and brochure revisions. Otter Tail also asked for a variance to ARSD 20:10:17:03 in order to remove the previous and current meter readings from customer bills for all rates, once a customer has an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meter. Finally, Otter Tail asked the Commission to disallow customers to opt-out of AMI meters.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Otter Tail’s request for a variance of ARSD 20:10:17:03? AND shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff and brochure revisions with an effective date of January 1, 2024? AND shall the Commission disallow customers to opt-out of AMI meters? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
3. EL23-028 In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Modification to the Service Reconnection Charge (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
On September 15, 2023, the Commission received an application from Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for approval of a modification to its service reconnection charges to reflect the costs of remote service disconnection and reconnection. Xcel states it will begin deploying Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters in early 2024 and proposes residential and small commercial customers be eligible for the lower service reconnection charge immediately after AMI is installed at their premises. Xcel proposes customers without AMI meters pay the current $35 service reconnection charge until AMI deployment is fully complete in late 2025, and the higher service reconnection charge would take effect for these customers on January 1, 2026.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the updated service reconnection charges and updated tariff sheets with an effective date of January 1, 2024?
Grain Warehouse
1. GW22-002 In the Matter of Roslyn Elevator, Roslyn, South Dakota (Grain Warehouse Program Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On February 3, 2022, staff filed a Petition to Suspend the Grain Buyer License pursuant to SDCL 49-45-16 and to seek receivership pursuant to SDCL 49-45-16.1 of Roslyn Elevator, Roslyn, South Dakota (Roslyn). On February 15, 2022, the Commission issued an Order Suspending Grain Buyer License; Order to Apply to the Circuit Court to Appoint a Receiver. On July 1, 2022, the Commission granted Roslyn a grain buyer license subject to conditions, negating the need for receivership. Roslyn did not apply to renew its grain buyer license for the 2023-2024 license year. On November 27, 2023, Roslyn filed an update to the Commission about the liquidation of Roslyn’s assets. There were no bond-eligible purchases, therefore, no action is necessary regarding the bond. The PUC still holds the grain buyer and grain warehouse bonds. Staff requests that the commission affirm staff’s conclusion that no additional action is necessary going forward and this docket can be closed.
TODAY, shall the Commission close this docket? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Natural Gas
1. NG23-025 In the Matter of the Application of Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Division of MDU Resources Group, Inc. for Approval of Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2024 - 2026 (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
On October 25, 2023, the Commission received a filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU) for approval of its South Dakota Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2024-2026. MDU proposes one minor change to its Programmable Thermostats – Tier 1 program to be effective January 1, 2024. The 2024 budget proposed is a decrease of 4.4% from the current budget for 2023. The proposed 2025 and 2026 budgets reflect a year-over-year increase of 1.8% and 1.7%, respectively.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.’s Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2024-2026?
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. Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives of the South Dakota Electric Utility Companies on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. CST at the South Dakota Retailers Association Conference Room, 320 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota. The agenda is to discuss company activities.
2. Commissioners and staff will attend the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission/South Dakota Telecommunications Association Educational Forum on December 12-13, 2023, at the Clubhouse Hotel and Suites, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
3. Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives of NorthWestern Energy on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 2:30 p.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, December 13, 2023, to reserve a spot to attend this videoconference.
4. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. CST in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
5. The PUC office will be closed December 25 and 26, 2023, in observance of the Christmas holiday.
6. The PUC office will be closed Monday, January 1, 2024, in observance of New Year’s Day.
7. Commission meetings are scheduled for January 9 and 23, 2024.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
November 29, 2023
