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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
October 7, 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, October 6, 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 September 9, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC25-032 In the Matter of the Application of Zayo Network Services, LLC for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Resold and Facilities-Based Local Exchange Telecommunications Services in the State of South Dakota (Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On July 24, 2025, the Commission received a filing from Zayo Network Services, LLC (Zayo) for a Certificate of Authority to provide resold and facilities-based local exchange telecommunications services in the State of South Dakota. Zayo seeks a certificate to provide resold and facilities-based local exchange telecommunications services throughout South Dakota excluding the areas served by rural telephone companies. Zayo seeks to provide facilities-based and resold local exchange telecommunications services that do not require an interconnection. Zayo does not seek to provide traditional switched local exchange, voice, or switched access services. Zayo proposes to offer primarily point-to-point telecommunications services such as Ethernet and other similar high-bandwidth circuits for high-speed data transport. On August 5, 2025, Zayo filed responses to staff’s data requests.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Zayo’s request for a Certificate for Authority to provide resold and facilities-based local exchange telecommunications services in South Dakota? AND shall the Commission grant Zayo’s request for a waiver of ARSD 20:10:32:10?
2. TC25-033 In the Matter of the Application of Zayo Network Services, LLC for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Resold and Facilities-Based Interexchange Telecommunications Services throughout the State of South Dakota (Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On July 24, 2025, the Commission received a filing from Zayo Network Services, LLC (Zayo) for a Certificate of Authority to provide resold and facilities-based interexchange telecommunications services throughout the State of South Dakota. Zayo seeks to provide resold and facilities-based interexchange telecommunications services primarily to provide point-to-point telecommunications services such as Ethernet and other similar high-bandwidth circuits, for high-speed data transport. Zayo proposes to offer services to enterprise customers and to other communications providers on a wholesale basis and does not intend to directly serve residential customers. On July 25, 2025, the Commission received Zayo’s filing fee. On August 5, 2025, Zayo filed responses to staff’s data request.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Zayo’s request for a Certificate for Authority to Provide Resold and Facilities-Based Interexchange Telecommunications Services throughout the State of South Dakota?
Electric
1. EL25-024 In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Authority to Increase its Electric Rates (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
On June 30, 2025, the Commission received an application by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for authority to increase rates for electric service in South Dakota. With its Application, Xcel requests a net annual incremental increase in revenues of $43.6 million, or approximately 15%. Additionally, the costs of certain projects that are currently recovered through the Infrastructure Rider and the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider will be rolled into base rates, resulting in a gross overall base rate increase of $63.4 million. Xcel states a typical residential electric customer using 756 kWh per month would see an average monthly bill increase of about $20.56 or 18.66%. The proposed changes may affect approximately 107,000 electricity customers in South Dakota. Xcel proposes an effective date of January 1, 2026, consistent with the moratorium currently in effect pursuant to the settlement stipulation approved by the Commission in docket EL22-017. On September 22, 2025, Steven Wegman filed a Petition to Intervene.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to those who filed after the September 17, 2025, deadline? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Natural Gas
1. NG25-005 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its Gas Transportation Tariff Revisions regarding Fuel Retention Percentage (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff)
On August 27, 2025, the Commission received a filing from NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern). This filing proposes to update Sheet No. 6.2 in Section No. 5 of NorthWestern’s natural gas tariff. NorthWestern’s tariff provides that the Fuel Retention Percentage is to be updated annually and be effective October 1 each year. NorthWestern also proposes to update the fuel rate for customers with an average daily therm usage greater than 30,000. NorthWestern states that customers who fit this high usage criterion are primarily direct connect customers whose gas system is not subject to the normal losses in a distribution system. NorthWestern’s filing sought an effective date of October 1, 2025. On September 29, 2025, NorthWestern filed a revised tariff sheet and a letter requesting the Fuel Retention Percentage to be effective November 1, 2025, and to be updated annually effective November 1 each year thereafter.
TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff revisions effective November 1, 2025?
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. 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.
2. 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 emerging issues and distribution, transmission and nuclear energy activities.
3. The Public Utilities Commission office will be closed October 13, 2025, in observance of Native American Day.
4. Commissioners and staff will attend the 2025 OMS Annual Meeting October 20-22, 2025, at the Canopy by Hilton in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
5. The next regular commission meeting will be Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
6. Commission meetings are scheduled for November 6 and 18, 2025.
7. Commissioners will attend the 2025 NARUC Annual Meeting and Education Conference November 9-12, 2025, at the Sheraton Grand Seattle Hotel in Seattle, Washington.
/s/ Travis Heasley .
Travis Heasley
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
September 30, 2025
