Commission Agendas | previous page
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 11, 2025, at 1:30 P.M. CDT
Matthew Training Center, Foss 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 Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 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
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC25-001 In the Matter of the Consideration of a Waiver of Certain Telecommunications Annual Reporting Requirements (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On January 29, 2025, Commission Counsel filed a Letter Regarding Consideration of a Waiver of Certain Telecommunications Annual Reporting Requirements for this year and or future years. Specifically, the letter requested the Commission consider a waiver of ARSD 20:10:32:12(2) requiring the company’s report to identify specifically the areas where the company is operational and actually providing service through resale or company facilities and (3) identifying the number of business and residential local exchange lines being served.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a waiver of ARSD 20:10:32:12(2) and (3)? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Electric
1. EL25-001 In the Matter of the Filing by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Revised Welcome Brochures (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Jennie Fuerst)
On January 17, 2025, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) filed revised welcome brochures for Commission approval. The welcome brochure is furnished to each new South Dakota customer per ARSD 20:10:16:02. The residential and business brochures were updated to improve the customer experience while still including the required information outlined within the rule. On February 21, 2025, Xcel filed updates to the revised welcome brochures.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the revised welcome brochures?
2. EL25-006 In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., for Approval of the Annual Update to Its Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Rate (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
On February 28, 2025, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU) filed for approval of its annual update to its Transmission Cost Recovery (TCR) Rider. MDU states the proposed tariff change is necessary to reflect the projected 2025 charges assessed to MDU for transmission-related services provided by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool, along with the projected revenues and/or credits received by MDU for transmission-related services, including transmission revenues from a large customer taking service under MDU’s Rate 45 tariff. MDU proposes a TCR Rider rate of negative $0.00127 per kWh to be effective May 1, 2025, which is an increase of $0.00089 per kWh from current rate authorized in the last TCR filing.
TODAY, shall the Commission assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $50,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date?
3. EL25-007 In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., for Approval of the Annual Update to Its Infrastructure Rider Rate (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
On February 28, 2025, the Commission received a petition from Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU) for approval of its annual update to its Infrastructure Rider (IR) Rate, pursuant to the terms of the MDU’s IR Rate 56 tariff. MDU proposes an IR rate of $0.00260 per kWh for the rate period covered by this filing, which is a decrease of $0.00134 per kWh from the rate authorized in the last IR filing. The IR Rate 56 tariff requires MDU to update the IR annually with updates effective May 1 of each year.
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?
Hydrocarbon and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines
1. HP24-001 In the Matter of the Application by SCS Carbon Transport LLC for a Permit to Construct a Carbon Dioxide Transmission Pipeline (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Logan Schaefbauer)
On November 19, 2024, the Commission received an Application for a Permit to Construct a Carbon Dioxide Transmission Pipeline (Application) from SCS Carbon Transport LLC (Summit or Applicant), a limited liability company owned by Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC. Applicant proposes to construct and operate a carbon dioxide (CO2) transmission pipeline (Project). The Project, which has been named the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline, is approximately 2,500 miles of pipelines for the transportation of CO2 from ethanol plants across five states to underground injection wells in North Dakota. The South Dakota portion of the Project, is approximately 698 miles, crossing 23 counties. The Commission held public input meetings on the Application at six locations in proximity to the route on January 15-17, 2025. The deadline to file Applications for Party Status was January 24, 2025. Applications for Party Status that have been filed in this docket can be viewed at https://puc.sd.gov/Dockets/HydrocarbonPipeline/2024/HP24-001PartyStatus.aspx. The Commission has granted party status to numerous persons and entities. At the February 28, 2025, Commission Meeting, the Commission voted to defer action on Charles Kludt’s party status application. On February 27, 2025, Brian Jorde filed Jorde’s Landowners’ Motion for Party Status providing additional information on various landowners and requesting reconsideration of the landowners listed on Exhibit A and B, attached to his motion, who were previously denied party status. On March 3, 2025, the Commission issued Notice of Motions Hearing on Less Than Ten Days’ Notice providing notice to the service list that it would consider Jorde’s Landowners’ Motion for Party Status at its regularly scheduled commission meeting on March 11, 2025.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Jorde’s Landowners’ Motion for Party Status requesting reconsideration? AND shall the Commission grant party status to any pending party status applicants? AND shall the Commission reconsider any party status applications that have previously been denied? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
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 will host the 2025 South Dakota/North Dakota Pipeline Safety Operator Training Conference March 11-12, 2025, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
2. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, March 25, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
3. PUC commissioners and staff will meet with consumers at the Black Hills Home Builders Association Home Show, March 28-30, 2025, at The Monument, Rapid City, South Dakota.
4. Commissioners will attend the Center for Public Utilities’ Current Issues Forum, April 6-9, 2025, at the Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
5. Commission meetings are scheduled for April 10 and 22, 2025.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
March 4, 2025
