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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
September 23, 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, September 22, 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 must 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 August 26, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC25-035 In the Matter of PUC Staff's Settlement Agreement with National Mortgage Home Loans LLC for Violations of SDCL § 49-31-108 (Staff Attorneys: Jennie Fuerst, Logan Schaefbauer)
On September 5, 2025, staff filed a Settlement Stipulation and Agreement and Request for Adoption of Settlement Agreement between staff and National Mortgage Home Loans LLC (NMHL). In this uncontested matter, NMHL admitted to failing to register and pay the required annual fee prior to placing unsolicited calls. NMHL also admitted to making two unsolicited calls on April 29, 2025, in the State of South Dakota. Staff and NMHL worked together to come to an agreement as to the appropriate penalty and now ask the Commission to approve that agreement as set forth in the Settlement Stipulation and Agreement.
TODAY, shall the Commission adopt the Settlement Stipulation and Agreement and impose a fine of $5,000 against National Mortgage Home Loans LLC? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Electric
1. EL25-027 In the Matter of the Request for a Declaratory Ruling regarding Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC (Staff Analysts: Darren Kerney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On August 1, 2025, the Commission received a Petition from Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC (CRES) requesting the Commission issue a declaratory ruling that the Commission does not have the statutory authority to require a facility permit for the construction and operation of an energy storage facility. CRES plans to construct a 120-MW energy storage facility in Codington County, South Dakota, with an anticipated commercial operations date of December 2027. CRES specifies the facility will store energy generated by Crowned Ridge Wind and other energy from the grid and inject that stored energy into the Big Stone Substation via a Generator Interconnection Agreement (GIA) with Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).
Today, shall the Commission issue a Declaratory Ruling as requested by Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC? 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 Commission will host a Regional Transmission Operator Informational Session Tuesday, September 23, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota. Representatives from Southwest Power Pool, Midwest Independent System Operator, California ISO and the Midwest Reliability Organization will give updates about their organizations.
2. A Public Input Meeting for docket EL25-028 - In the Matter of the Application by Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency and Missouri River Energy Services for a Facility Permit for an Energy Conversion Facility and Associated Facilities Including an Electric Transmission Line in Deuel County, South Dakota, will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the Deubrook Area Elementary School, 695 Palisades Ave., Toronto, South Dakota.
3. A Public Input Meeting for dockets EL25-029 - In the Matter of The Application by Philip Wind Partners, LLC, for Energy Facility Permits of a Wind Energy Facility and a 230 KV Transmission Facility In Haakon County, South Dakota for The Philip Wind Project and EL25-030 - In the Matter of the Application by Basin Electric Power Cooperative for Energy Facility Permit for a 230 KV Transmission Facility In Haakon County, South Dakota, will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. MDT at the American Legion Wheeler-Brooks Post #173, 709 W. Pine St., Philip, South Dakota
4. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in, Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
5. Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives of Xcel Energy on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota. The agenda is to discuss an update of Xcel Energy’s operations, finance and customer service activities.
6. The Public Utilities Commission office will be closed October 13, 2025, in observance of Native American Day.
7. Commission meetings are scheduled for October 23 and November 6, 2025.
/s/ Travis Heasley
Travis Heasley
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
September 16, 2025
