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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
May 8, 2025, 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 Thursday, May 8, 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
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on April 10 and 22, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC23-046 In the Matter of the Petition of North American Local, LLC for Approval of Reclassification as a Facilities-Based Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
On September 29, 2023, North American Local, LLC (NAL) filed with the Commission a Petition for Reclassification as a Facilities-Based Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (Petition). NAL sought reclassification for the purpose of offering lifeline services on a wireless basis in South Dakota. The South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA) has been granted intervention. On April 16, 2025, NAL filed a Request to Withdraw Petition.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant North American Local LLC’s request to withdraw? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Electric
1. EL24-038 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Rate Schedule, Section 13.09, Phase-In Rider (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
On December 20, 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 2025 – August 2026). In addition to the previously approved projects and adjustments, Otter Tail requests approval to include two new solar facilities, Solway Solar and Abercrombie Solar. Otter Tail continues to propose a per meter rate structure for the advanced grid infrastructure projects and a percent of bill rate structure for all other projects and adjustments in this rider. Otter Tail states a typical residential electric customer using an average of 1,000 kWh per month will see a bill decrease of $0.68 per month. A large general service customer using 486 kW and 222,350 kWh per month will see a bill decrease of $81.40 per month. Otter Tail proposes an effective date of September 1, 2025.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Otter Tail Power Company’s Phase-In Rider Rates and revised tariff sheets with an effective date of September 1, 2025? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
2. EL25-008 In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval of Its 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Jennie Fuerst)
On February 28, 2025, the Commission received an application from Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE) requesting approval of its 2024 Economic Development Report and its 2025 Economic Development Plan and Budget. BHE makes this filing in compliance with the settlement stipulation approved in Docket EL14-026. BHE provides actual economic development expenses for 2024 and information regarding the memberships, community sponsorships, and other activities the program supports as well as the 2025 budget and planned economic development activities for the year. On April 1, 2025, BHE filed responses to staff’s data requests.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy’s 2024 Economic Development Report and its 2025 Economic Development Plan?
3. EL25-011 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2025 Economic Development Plan and 2024 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Jennie Fuerst)
On March 28, 2025, the Commission received a filing from NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) for Approval of its 2025 Economic Development Plan and 2024 Economic Development Report. On April 4, 2025, NorthWestern filed a Revised Attachment A and Revised Attachment B.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan?
Grain
1. GW25-001 In the Matter of PUC Staff’s Settlement Agreement with All Star Trading, Inc. for Violations of SDCL 49-45-1 and SDCL 49-45-26 (Grain Warehouse Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On April 22, 2025, staff filed a Settlement Agreement and Request for Adoption of Settlement Agreement between staff and All Star Trading, Inc (All Star). In this uncontested matter, All Star admitted to purchasing grain in the State of South Dakota without a license and failure to timely provide responses to data requests. Staff and All Star worked together to come to an agreement as to the appropriate penalty and now asks the Commission to approve that agreement as set forth in the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement.
TODAY, shall the Commission adopt the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement and impose a fine of $11,000 against All Star Trading, Inc? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Natural Gas
1. NG25-002 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2025 Economic Development Plan and 2024 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Jennie Fuerst)
On March 28, 2025, the Commission received a filing from NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) for Approval of its 2025 Economic Development Plan and 2024 Economic Development Report. On April 4, 2025, NorthWestern filed a Revised Attachment A.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan?
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 next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
2. The PUC office will be closed Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of Memorial Day.
3. Commission meetings are scheduled for June 3 and 17, 2025.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
May 1, 2025
