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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
February 12, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CST
Matthew Training Center, Foss 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, February 12, 2026, 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 January 27, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
1. 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 (Staff Analysts: Jon Thurber, Darren Kearney; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On August 15, 2025, the Commission received an Application from Philip Wind Partners, LLC (Applicant) for Energy Facility Permits of a Wind Energy Facility and a 230 kV Transmission Facility in Haakon County, South Dakota. Applicant proposes to construct the Philip Wind Project and a 230 kV transmission line, (together, Project) to be located in Haakon County, South Dakota. The Project would be situated within an approximately 68,300-acre project area. The total installed capacity of the Project would not exceed 333 megawatts (MW) of nameplate capacity and would deliver up to 300 MW to the point of interconnection. The proposed Project includes up to 87 wind turbines, a 34.5kV electrical collection and supervisory control and data acquisition systems, a 230 kV collector substation, an approximately 5.5-mile long 230 kV generator transmission tie line, an operations and maintenance facility, up to three aircraft detection lighting system towers; access roads, and up to three meteorological towers. The Project will also include temporary construction areas: crane paths, public road improvements, three general construction laydown yards, staging areas, and a concrete batch plant, as needed. The Project will also be supported by a short (less than 1 mile) extension of an existing 230-kV line owned by Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) that will be separately permitted. In addition, the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) will construct the 230-kV Philip North Switchyard and two tie-in lines to interconnect the Project into WAPA’s existing Oahe to New Underwood 230-kV transmission line. The Project, which has an estimated construction cost of $750 million, is expected to be in commercial operation in December 2027. On January 30, 2026, Staff and Applicant filed a Settlement Stipulation along with a Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and grant Philip Wind Partners LLC, the requested permits for the construction of the Philip Wind Project and the 230 kV transmission line, subject to the terms and conditions stipulated therein? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
2. 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 (Staff Analysts: Jon Thurber, Darren Kearney; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On August 15, 2025, the Commission received a facility permit application from Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric or Applicant). Basin Electric proposes to construct a 0.95-mile long, single-circuit 230 kV Transmission line extension (Project) located in Sections 14 and 15 of 4N, 20E, in Haakon County, South Dakota. The Project is an extension between the new Philip North Switchyard, to be constructed by Western Area Power Administration, and a dead-end transmission structure that will cut into the existing transmission line connected to the Philip Tap switching station. The Project will include construction of up to seven three-phase, single circuit transmission structures constructed on steel H-frame and monopole structures and will include up to four pulling and tensioning sites. Basin Electric estimates the total construction cost of the proposed Project to be $2.48 million, and the Project is expected to be in operation in December 2026. On January 29, 2026, Staff and Applicant filed a Joint Motion to Suspend Procedural Schedule. On February 4, 2026, Staff and Applicant filed a Settlement Stipulation along with a Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Joint Motion to Suspend Procedural Schedule? AND shall the Commission grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and grant Basin Electric Power Cooperative the requested permit for construction of the 230 kV transmission line, subject to the terms and conditions stipulated therein? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Gas & Electric
1. GE25-001 In the Matter of the Joint Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation, Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., for Approval of Merger (Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Jennie Fuerst, Logan Schaefbauer)
On October 27, 2025, Black Hills Corporation (Black Hills) and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NorthWestern Group and collectively, the Merger Parties) and NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) (together with Merger Parties, the Joint Applicants) filed a Joint Application for Approval of Merger. On December 3, 2025, the Commission granted South Dakota Laborers Local 620, the Great Plains Laborer’s District Council, and the Laborers International Union of North America’s Petition to Intervene. On January 15, 2026, the Commission granted a Motion for Approval of Procedural Schedule. On February 4, 2026, the Joint Applicants filed an Unopposed Joint Motion and Stipulation to Extend the Statutory Deadline and Waiver of Response Time.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Unopposed Joint Motion and Stipulation to Extend the Statutory Deadline and Waiver of Response Time? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
Pipeline Safety
1. PS26-001 In the Matter of the Filing by Commission Pipeline Safety Staff regarding an Inspector Incident Investigation on NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy’s System (Pipeline Safety Staff: Mary Zanter, Boice Hilmer; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On January 22, 2026, pipeline safety staff opened docket pursuant to ARSD 20:10:37:11 and 20:10:37:13. On December 3, 2025, the Commission received notification of an incident from NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern Energy) due to a vehicle accident south of Aberdeen, South Dakota, that resulted in a release of gas and damage on NorthWestern Energy’s system with gas loss exceeding 3 million cubic feet. Upon receipt of the report, Pipeline Safety staff conducted an investigation and issued a report pursuant to ARSD 20:10:37:13, concluding the incident occurred due to outside force damage.
TODAY, shall the Commission accept the Incident Report pursuant to ARSD 20:10:37:13?
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 Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents Day.
2. The next regular commission meeting will be Monday, February 23, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CST in Matthew Training Center, Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, South Dakota.
3. PUC commissioners and staff will meet with consumers at the Sioux Empire Home Show, February 27 – March 1, 2026, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center & Arena, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
4. Commission meetings are scheduled for March 10 and March 26, 2026.
/s/ Travis Heasley
Travis Heasley
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
February 5, 2026
