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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 17, 2024, at 1:30 P.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 10:00 a.m. CDT on Monday, June 17, 2024, 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 June 4, 2024 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Grain Warehouse
1. GW23-001 In the Matter of PUC Staff’s Complaint Against Banghart Properties, LLC, Gettysburg, South Dakota (Grain Warehouse Program Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On January 30, 2023, staff filed a Complaint against Banghart Properties, LLC, Gettysburg, South Dakota (Banghart). On July 7, 2023, the Commission issued an Order Resolving Staff’s Complaint; Order Granting Class B License; Notice of Entry. On June 6, 2024, Banghart submitted an application for a Class B grain buyer license for the licensing year beginning July 1, 2024. On June 10, 2024, staff filed a memorandum and recommendation the Commission grant the Class B license to Banghart.
TODAY, shall the Commission issue a Class B grain buyer license to Banghart? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Electric
1. EL23-025 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2024 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On September 1, 2023, the Commission received a Petition by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for approval of its 2024 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update. Xcel requests approval of the Infrastructure Rider Tracker Report and true-up for the 2023 revenue requirements, 2024 Infrastructure Rider revenue requirements of negative $58,928, an updated Infrastructure Rider Adjustment Factor of negative $0.000026 per kWh, proposed revision to the Infrastructure Rider tariff sheet, and proposed customer notice. Xcel proposes a January 1, 2024, effective date. Xcel states the average bill impact for a residential customer using 750 kWh per month will be an estimated credit of $0.02 per month, an increase of $1.36 compared to the 2023 credit. Xcel proposes to include new projects beginning in 2023 as well as the Sherco Solar I project beginning in 2024. On November 29, 2023, Xcel submitted a Supplemental Filing proposing to include payments made to the Prairie Island Indian Community related to the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant. On June 7, 2024, Xcel filed another update to remove the Sherco Solar I project as Xcel will provide additional analysis regarding this project. Xcel’s update revises the rate to collect the remaining 2024 costs beginning July 1, 2024. The revised rate to be effective July 1, 2024, is $0.001351 per kWh.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the revised 2024 Infrastructure Rider revenue requirements, revised 2024 Infrastructure Rider Adjustment factor and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of July 1, 2024? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
2. EL24-015 In the Matter of the Application by Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency for a Facility Permit for a 345-kV Transmission Facility and Associated Facilities in Grant County, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Amanda Reiss)
On April 15, 2024, the Commission received a facility permit application (Application) from Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (Western Minnesota), through its agent, Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) (collectively, Applicants). Applicants propose to construct a 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated facilities including substation upgrades (Project) within South Dakota. The Project, known as the Big Stone South to Alexandria Transmission Line Project, originates at Otter Tail’s existing Big Stone South Substation, located approximately 2 miles west of Big Stone City, South Dakota in Big Stone Township and connects to a substation near Alexandria, Minnesota. The South Dakota portion of the Project consists of approximately 3.5 miles of transmission line beginning in Section 24, Township 121N, Range 47W, Grant County, South Dakota, extending east and south to the Minnesota border. Applicant anticipates construction to commence in 2027 or 2028 and be completed in either 2030 or 2031. On May 13, 2024, the Commission received an application for Party Status from Daniel and Tamra Jurgens. Pursuant to ARSD 20:10:22:40, the deadline for persons to file an application for party status is June 14, 2024. There is no deadline to submit public comments to the Commission.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Party Status to those who may have filed? Or how shall the Commission proceed?
3. EL24-017 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s 2023 South Dakota Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2024 Annual Filing to Update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On May 1, 2024, Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) filed its 2023 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2024 Annual Filing to update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider. Specifically, Otter Tail requests that the Commission approve its 2023 Status Report, the 2023 financial incentive of $157,500, and its proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be lowered to $0.00134/kWh for July 2024 through June 2025.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Otter Tail Power Company’s 2023 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report? AND shall the Commission approve the 2023 Financial Incentive of $157,500? AND shall the Commission approve the proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be lower to $0.00134/kWh for July 2024 through June 2025?
4. EL24-020 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Rate Schedule, Section 13.09, Phase-In Rider (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On June 3, 2024, 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 2024 – August 2025), to recover actual and forecasted costs for the Astoria Station Natural Gas Plant project, Merricourt Wind Project, the Ashtabula III Wind Farm Purchase, 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. The filing also includes updates to Otter Tail’s Advanced Grid Infrastructure per meter charge rider. Otter Tail proposes four new projects in the filing with the Langdon, Ashtabula I, Luverne, and Ashtabula III wind repowering projects. Otter Tail states a typical residential electric customer using an average of 1,000 kWh per month will see an increase of $7.98 per month. A Large General Service customer using 486 kW and 222,350 kWh per month will see an increase of $1,018.25 per month. Otter Tail proposes an effective date of September 1, 2024.
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
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 Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in observance of Juneteenth.
2. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
3. The PUC office will be closed July 4-5, 2024, in observance of Independence Day.
4. Commission meetings are scheduled for July 19 and 30, 2024.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
June 10, 2024
