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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 17, 2025, 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, June 16, 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 June 3, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
1. EL25-021 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s 2024 South Dakota Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2025 Annual Filing to Update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On May 1, 2025, Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) filed its 2024 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2025 Annual Filing to update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider. Specifically, Otter Tail requests that the Commission approve its 2024 Status Report, the 2024 financial incentive of $195,000, and its proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be increased to $0.00187/kWh for July 2025 through June 2026.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve Otter Tail Power Company’s 2024 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report? AND shall the Commission approve the 2024 Financial Incentive of $195,000? AND shall the Commission approve the proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be increased to $0.00187/kWh for July 2025 through June 2026?
2. EL25-022 In the Matter of the Application of Otter Tail Power Company for Authority to Increase Its Electric Rates in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On June 4, 2025, the Commission received an application by Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) for approval to increase rates for electric service to customers in its South Dakota service territory. Otter Tail requests a net revenue increase of $5,719,671 annually or approximately 12.5% based on Otter Tail’s 2024 historic test year. Otter Tail states a typical residential electric customer using 932 kWh would see a bill increase of $14.39 per month. The proposed changes may affect approximately 11,500 electric customers in Otter Tail’s South Dakota service territory.
TODAY, shall the Commission suspend the imposition of the tariff for 180 days beyond June 4, 2025? AND shall the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses not to exceed $500,000? AND shall the Commission give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts?
Natural Gas
1. NG25-003 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of a Contract with Deviations with Aberdeen Energy, LLC (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On May 27, 2025, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) filed for approval of a contract with deviations with Aberdeen Energy, LLC. Aberdeen Energy, LLC has reached the expiration date of its contract. NorthWestern desires to provide this customer with continuing natural gas service and has negotiated a new contract with deviations. NorthWestern states the new rate will allow NorthWestern to maintain Aberdeen Energy, LLC as a customer, which will benefit not only Aberdeen Energy, LLC but also NorthWestern and its natural gas customers, through recovery of administrative and general costs and common costs from this customer. NorthWestern requests approval with an effective date for the tariff revisions of July 1, 2025.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s contract with deviations with Aberdeen Energy, LLC and the associated tariff revisions with an effective date of July 1, 2025?
Items for Commission Discussion
Representatives from Black Hills Energy will discuss a general business update with the commission.
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 Thursday, June 19, 2025, in observance of Juneteenth.
2. Commissioners will attend the Mid-America Regulatory Conference Annual Meeting, June 21-25, 2025, at The Westin, Indianapolis, Indiana.
3. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
4. The PUC office will be closed Friday, July 4, 2025, in observance of Independence Day.
5. Commission meetings are scheduled for July 15 and August 1, 2025.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
June 10, 2025
