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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
December 19, 2023, at 9:30 A.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 5:00 p.m. CST on Monday, December 18, 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 December 6, 2023 (Deputy Executive Director: Leah Mohr)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC23-048 In the Matter of the Application of Boomerang Wireless LLC dba enTouch Wireless Seeking Partial Relinquishment of Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier on a Wireless Basis (Low-Income Only) in a Certain Service Area Previously Served by Underlying Carrier Verizon Wireless and Removal of Verizon Wireless as an Underlying Carrier (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
On October 17, 2023, the Commission received an application from Boomerang Wireless LLC dba enTouch Wireless (Boomerang) seeking partial relinquishment of designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in the service area served by underlying carrier Verizon Wireless. Boomerang states it no longer utilizes the Verizon Wireless network as an underlying carrier. As a result of these changes approximately 14 subscribers in the former Verizon Wireless service area will be impacted, though none of the impacted subscribers reside in the proposed relinquished service area. Boomerang states if the impacted subscribers do not port their service to a Boomerang alternate underlying carrier or transfer service to another ETC designated service provider, they will be de-enrolled from Lifeline and services will be disconnected December 15, 2023. On December 5, 2023, Boomerang responded to staff’s data requests.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Boomerang’s application for partial relinquishment of its designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier on a wireless basis (low-income only) in the service area previously served only by underlying carrier Verizon Wireless? AND eliminate Verizon Wireless as underlying carrier for Boomerang Wireless? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Gas and Electric
1. GE23-002 In the Matter of the Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation for Approval of an Order Authorizing It to Issue Up to $350 Million of Securities (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
On October 30, 2023, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation (NorthWestern) filed an application requesting approval pursuant to SDCL 49-34A-29, to issue $350 million in debt securities. The Petition states NorthWestern seeks authority to issue, as NorthWestern determines necessary, starting on January 1, 2024, secured debt securities, not to exceed $150 million, and unsecured debt securities, not to exceed $200 million by methods approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. NorthWestern states it intends to issue securities for the purpose of supporting its state-regulated capital expenditures and acquisitions of state-regulated assets, the refunding and repayment of its outstanding obligations, and for other general corporate purposes. The Commission now has jurisdiction in this matter due to a corporate restructuring approved in Docket GE22-002. On November 27, 2023, the Commission issued an order extending the timeframe for issuing a decision in this docket to January 1, 2024. On December 7, 2023, NorthWestern made a supplemental filing to provide clarity to and amend its initial request.
TODAY, shall the Commission authorize NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation to issue up to $150 million in secured debt securities and up to $200 million in unsecured debt securities?
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 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.
2. The PUC office will be closed December 25 and 26, 2023, in observance of the Christmas holiday.
3. The PUC office will be closed Monday, January 1, 2024, in observance of New Year’s Day.
4. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. CST in the Floyd Matthew Training Center in the Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota.
5. The PUC office will be closed Monday, January 15, 2024, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
6. Commission meetings are scheduled for January 23 and February 6, 2024.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
December 12, 2023
