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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
July 1, 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 30, 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 17, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC23-041 In the Matter of the Petition of TERRACOM INC., dba Maxsip Tel for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of South Dakota for the Limited Purpose of Providing Lifeline Service to Qualifying Customers (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On August 4, 2023, TERRACOM INC. dba Maxsip Tel (TERRACOM) filed a Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) in the State of South Dakota. TERRACOM is seeking ETC designation for the limited purpose of providing Lifeline service to qualifying customers. On September 8, 2023, the Commission issued an Order granting intervention to the South Dakota Telecommunications Association. On June 20, 2025, TERRACOM filed a letter requesting to withdraw its petition without prejudice.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant TERRACOM’s request to withdraw its petition without prejudice?
Electric
1. EL18-019 In the Matter of the Application of Crowned Ridge Wind II, LLC for a Facility Permit to Construct a 230-kV Transmission Line and Associated Facilities in Codington County (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On April 11, 2018, the Commission received a facility permit application from Crowned Ridge Wind II, LLC (Crowned Ridge II). Crowned Ridge II proposes to construct an approximately 7-mile 230-kilovolt generation tie line and associated substation facilities (Project) that will connect the 300-megawatt Crowned Ridge Wind II facility to the Crowned Ridge Wind facility collector substation. The generation tie line will be located in Codington County, South Dakota. On February 5, 2019, the Commission issued an Order Granting Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation; Order Granting Permit to Construct a Transmission Line and Associated Facilities; Notice of Entry (Permit). On August 12, 2019, Crowned Ridge II filed a License and/or Permit Continuous Bond, Bond No. 9324772, in accordance with Condition 11(h) of the Permit. On June 2, 2025, Crowned Ridge II filed a Motion to Release Indemnity Bond, requesting the Commission release Bond No. 9324772.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Motion to Release Indemnity Bond?
2. EL25-013 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy’s Request to Implement a Phase-In Rate Plan Rider (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
On April 1, 2025, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) filed a Petition for Approval of Its Phase-In Rate Plan Rider (PIRP Rider). NorthWestern requests recovery of capital investment costs associated with an electric generation plant rebuild located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and costs related to its evaluation of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors technology to meet future generation and capacity needs. The proposed rates and monthly impact will vary by customer class. NorthWestern states a typical residential electric customer using an average of 750 kWh per month will be billed $2.27 per month under the proposed PIRP Rider. NorthWestern requests Commission approval of its proposed PIRP Rider with an effective date of July 1, 2025.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s PIRP Rider rates and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of July 1, 2025? 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. Commissioners will attend an announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr at 11:30 a.m. CDT, Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at VIKOR Headquarters, 4330 N. Northview Ave., Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
2. The PUC office will be closed Friday, July 4, 2025, in observance of Independence Day.
3. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
4. A hearing for docket RM25-001 - In the Matter of the Adoption of Administrative Rules will be held Tuesday, July 15, 2025, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CDT, in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota. Participants who wish to join this hearing by conference call should contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 10:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, to reserve a phone line.
5. Commissioners will attend the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Summer Policy Summit July 26-30, 2025, at the OMNI, Boston, Massachusetts.
6. Commission meetings are scheduled for August 1 and 14, 2025.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
June 25, 2025
