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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
November 6, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. CST
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. CST on Thursday, November 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 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 October 23, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Telecommunications
1. TC25-034 In the Matter of the Joint Application of Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak and Certain Subsidiaries for Approval of Asset Transfer, Request for Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation, and Request for Relinquishment of Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On August 4, 2025, Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak (Bluepeak) and Certain Subsidiaries filed an Application for approval of: the pro forma asset transfer to transfer assets to two new wholly owned subsidiaries, Bluepeak BTS and Bluepeak ABS; the request to transfer Bluepeak’s Certificate of Authority to provide local and interexchange services to Bluepeak BTS; the request for a new Certificate of Authority to provide local and interexchange services to Bluepeak ABS; the request to relinquish Bluepeak’s Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designation and grant new ETC designation to Bluepeak BTS and Bluepeak ABS. The requests all arise from a series of related, internal transfers of assets between Bluepeak and its wholly owned subsidiaries Bluepeak BTS and Bluepeak ABS. Bluepeak submitted responses to staff’s data requests of September 26, and October 9, 2025.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Bluepeak’s Application and approve the pro forma asset transfer, grant the transfer of Bluepeak’s Certificate of Authority for local and interexchange services to Bluepeak BTS, grant a Certificate of Authority for local and interexchange services to Bluepeak ABS, approve the relinquishment of Bluepeak’s Eligible Telecommunications Carrier designation, and grant Eligible Telecommunications Carrier designations to Bluepeak BTS and Bluepeak ABS? AND shall the Commission amend the relevant tariffs to reflect the name changes? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Electric
1. EL25-033 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson, Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On October 1, 2025, the Commission received a Petition by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) for approval of its 2026 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update. Xcel requests approval of the Infrastructure Rider Tracker Report and true-up for the 2025 revenue requirements, including Production Tax Credits (PTC) and the PTC tracker mechanism; 2026 Infrastructure Rider revenue requirements of negative $19,060,133; an updated Infrastructure Rider Factor of negative $0.008032 per kWh; an updated Infrastructure Rider tariff sheet; and proposed customer notice. The revenue requirement and rate are subject to a rate adjustment made in the company’s forthcoming supplemental filing to account for known 2025 nuclear PTCs in early 2026. Xcel proposes a March 1, 2026, effective date. Xcel proposes the rate of negative $0.008032 per kWh applied to all energy billed to each customer class during calendar year 2026. Xcel estimates a bill impact of a credit of $6.02 per month for a residential electric customer using 750 kWh per month, a decrease of $1.75 per month compared to the current rate.
TODAY, shall the Commission assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date? AND shall the Commission give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
2. EL25-034 In the Matter of the Filing by Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC regarding its Notification of Intent to Apply for a Permit for an Energy Conversion Facility (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On October 15, 2025, Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC (CRES), filed a Notice of Intent to submit an application for a permit for an energy conversion facility. CRES proposes to construct, own and operate a 120-megawatt, 4-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The BESS will be located on approximately 15.4 acres within the existing Crowned Ridge I Wind Energy Facility project area and connected to the existing Crowned Ridge Wind Collector Substation through an approximately 1,355-foot collection line. The proposed BESS will be located at the southeast intersection of 464th Avenue and 161st Street in Codington County, South Dakota. On October 28, 2025, staff filed a map showing the anticipated affected siting area that is within 20 miles of the proposed BESS.
TODAY, shall the Commission designate the affected area? AND shall the Commission designate a local review committee as described in SDCL 49-41B-6? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Natural Gas
1. NG23-015 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of a Contract with Deviations with Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc. (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On August 18, 2023, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) filed for approval of a contract with deviations with Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc. (Customer or Valley Queen). The Customer was receiving firm transportation service pursuant to an Amended and Restated Transportation Service Agreement and was expanding its operation and requested additional capacity. The Customer elected to receive that additional capacity via interruptible transportation service, and NorthWestern upgraded its distribution facilities to mitigate interruption to Customer. NorthWestern stated that based on the cost of the project, it required security for the capital investment cost and a surcharge rate in order to protect its legacy customers. The agreement is 15 years with interruptible transportation service capacity of 131,250 MMBtu for years 1-3 and 175,000 MMBtu for years 4-15, and the Customer must transport its 415,094 MMBtu base use prior to receiving credit towards the interruptible transportation service. An annual review is conducted to determine if the volume requirement is met. On September 19, 2025, Valley Queen filed a Motion to Reopen the Docket. On October 8, 2025, the Commission issued an Order for and Notice of Hearing on Motion to Reopen Docket. On October 23, 2025, NorthWestern and staff each filed a Response to the Motion to Reopen the Docket.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc.’s Motion to Reopen the Docket? 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.
Leadership
1. Election of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission (Commission Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
South Dakota Codified Law 49-1-8 provides the members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson by majority vote. Pursuant to SDCL 1-25-1 and 49-1-12, this vote must be taken at a public meeting. Commissioner Gary Hanson was selected as Chairperson and Commissioner Chris Nelson as Vice Chair at the January 14, 2025, commission meeting. This agenda item has been added at the request of the Chair.
TODAY, shall the Commission elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson?
Announcements
1. The PUC office will be closed Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in observance of Veterans Day.
2. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. CST in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
3. The PUC office will be closed November 27-28, 2025, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
4. Commission meetings are scheduled for December 2 and 16, 2025.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
October 30, 2025
