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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
July 2, 2024, 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, July 1, 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 17, 2024 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC24-010 In the Matter of the Filing for Approval of the First Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Midcontinent Communications and Northern Valley Communications, LLC (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On April 11, 2024, the Commission received a filing pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252 for Approval of the First Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Midcontinent Communications and Northern Valley Communications, LLC.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement?
Electric
1. EL24-018 In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Meter-Related Tariff Change (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On May 3, 2024, the Commission received an Application from Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for Approval of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure Meter-Related Tariff Change. Xcel proposes to modify South Dakota Electric Rate Book Section 6, Sheets 14 and 15 to align with how AMI meters are read in comparison to legacy meters. Xcel filed responses to Commission staff’s data requests on May 24 and June 12, 2024.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff changes with an effective date of July 3, 2024? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
2. EL24-019 In the Matter of the Request by Rushmore Crossing Associates, LLC for a Variance from the Individual Metering Requirement in ARSD 20:10:26:03(1) for the Rushmore Crossing Shopping Center in Rapid City (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On May 30, 2024, the Commission received a request by Rushmore Crossing Associates, LLC (Rushmore Crossing) for a Variance from the Individual Metering Requirement in ARSD 20:10:26:03(1) for the Rushmore Crossing Shopping Center in Rapid City. Pursuant to ARSD 20:10:26:05, Rushmore Crossing requests a variance in order to master meter a multiple occupancy building which consists of two equal spaces of 4,000 square feet each. On June 3, 2024, Commission staff sent a Notice to Black Hills Energy pursuant to ARSD 20:10:26:06. On June 14, 2024, Rushmore Crossing filed responses to staff’s first set of data requests. On June 18, 2024, Commission staff sent data requests to Black Hills Energy and Rushmore Crossing. Pursuant to ARSD 20:10:26:06, the deadline to request a hearing was June 18, 2024. No hearing has been requested by any party.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the request by Rushmore Crossing for a variance from the individual metering requirement of ARSD 20:10:26:03(1)? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
3. EL24-021 In the Matter of the Filing by Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, through its agent Missouri River Energy Services, regarding Its Notification of Intent to Apply for a Permit for an Energy Conversion Facility (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Amanda Reiss)
On June 13, 2024, Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (WMMPA), through its agent Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) filed a Notice of Intent to submit an application for a permit for an energy conversion facility. WMMPA proposes to construct, own and operate an energy conversion facility consisting of seven or eight reciprocating internal combustion engines, a concrete engine hall building, diesel fuel truck unloading facilities, and other associated facilities. The expected generation is approximately 145 megawatts of power during periods of high energy demand. Associated facilities will include natural gas piping anticipated to be less than 450 feet and a 345-kilovolt generation-tie to connect with the Astoria 345 kV substation. The energy conversion facility, known as Toronto Power Plant, is proposed to be located in the SE ¼ of Section 7, Township 113N, Range 48W in Toronto Township, Deuel County, approximately 3 miles north of Toronto, South Dakota. WMMPA filed a map showing the anticipated affected siting area that is within ten miles of the proposed energy conversion facility.
TODAY, shall the Commission designate the affected area? AND shall the Commission designate a local review committee as described in SDCL 49-41B-6? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Natural Gas
1. NG24-005 In the Matter of the Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Authority to Increase Rates for Natural Gas Utility Service in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Joseph Rezac, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Amanda Reiss)
On June 21, 2024, the Commission received an application by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) for approval to increase rates for natural gas service to customers in its South Dakota service area by approximately $6 million annually or approximately 9.10% based on NorthWestern’s 2023 historic test year. NorthWestern states a typical residential customer using 100 therms of gas per month would see an increase of $8.38 or 7.92% per month. The proposed changes may affect approximately 49,800 customers.
TODAY, shall the Commission suspend the imposition of the tariff for 180 days beyond June 21, 2024? AND shall the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses not to exceed $250,000? AND shall the Commission give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts?
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 July 4-5, 2024, in observance of Independence Day.
2. Commissioners will attend the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Summer Policy Summit July 14-17, 2024, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, West Palm Beach, Florida.
3. The next regular commission meeting will be Friday, July 19, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
4. Commission meetings are scheduled for July 30 and August 13, 2024.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
June 25, 2024
