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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
July 28, 2026, 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, July 27, 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
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on June 30 and July 14, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Telecommunications
1. In the Matter of the Request for Certification Regarding the Use of Federal Universal Service Support in Dockets TC26-006, TC26-011, TC26-013, TC26-015, and TC26-020
TC26-006 In the Matter of the Request of Santel Communications Cooperative Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391676) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)
On June 3, 2026, the Commission received an application from Santel Communications Cooperative Inc. (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company.
TC26-011 In the Matter of the Request of TrioTel Communications, Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Areas: McCook 391669 and Tri-County Telecom 391682) (Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On June 22, 2026, the Commission received an application from TrioTel Communications, Inc. (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. The Company responded to staff’s data requests on July 15, 2026.
TC26-013 In the Matter of the Request of City of Faith Municipal Telephone Company for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391653) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)
On June 22, 2026, the Commission received an application from City of Faith Municipal Telephone Company (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company.
TC26-015 In the Matter of the Request of West River Telecommunications Cooperative for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: Mobridge - 391671) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)
On June 22, 2026, the Commission received an application from West River Telecommunications Cooperative, Mobridge, (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. On July 17, 2026, the Company filed a Revised Exhibit A and Revised Exhibit B.
TC26-020 In the Matter of the Request of Kennebec Telephone Co., Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391668) (Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On June 25, 2026, the Commission received an application from Kennebec Telephone Co., Inc. (Company) requesting the Commission to issue a certification to the FCC and USAC indicating it is in compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(e) and should receive all federal universal service support determined for distribution to the Company. The Company responded to staff’s data requests on July 16, 2026.
TODAY, shall the Commission provide a certification to the Federal Communications Commission and to the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the use of Federal Universal Service Support in each of the above dockets? OR how shall the Commission Proceed?
Electric
1. EL26-003 In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Authority to Increase Rates For its Utility Service in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On February 19, 2026, the Commission received an application by Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHP) for approval to increase rates for electric service to customers in its South Dakota service territory by approximately $50.6 million annually or approximately 25.1% based on BHP’s test year ending September 30, 2025. The Company states a typical residential electric customer using 650 kWh per month would see an increase of $25.13 per month. The proposed changes may potentially affect approximately 75,000 customers in BHP’s South Dakota service territory. On March 20, 2026, Mr. John McKee, Sr. filed a Petition to Intervene, which the Commission granted in its April 8, 2026, Order Granting Intervention. On July 13, 2026, Mr. McKee filed a Motion to Withdraw Intervention.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Mr. McKee’s Motion to Withdraw Intervention? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
2. EL26-014 In the Matter of the Application of Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC for a Permit for an Energy Conversion Facility (Staff Analyst: Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
On May 14, 2026, the Commission received an Application for an Energy Conversion Facility Permit from Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC (Applicant). Applicant proposes to construct an energy conversion facility in Codington County, South Dakota, known as the battery energy storage system (Project). The Project as proposed consists of 120-megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system (BESS) to store excess energy available on the grid. The Project includes a 120-MW, 4-hour duration BESS facility with associated inverters, transformers, medium voltage (mV) collection cables, and other ancillary facilities, such as fencing, roads, and a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The Project will connect to the existing CRW Collector Substation via approximately 2,215-foot-long mV collection cables. The Project is expected to be in commercial operation in May 2028. Applicants estimate the total construction cost to be $174 million. SDCL 49-41B-12 provides for a filing fee to be assessed to cover the Commission’s actual cost of investigating, reviewing, processing, and serving notice of the Application. On June 4, 2026, the Commission issued Order Assessing Filing Fee; Order Authorizing Executive Director to Enter in Consulting Contracts. On July 13, 2026, the Commission received 28 party status applications. Pursuant to ARSD 20:10:22:40, the deadline for persons to file an application for party status is 5:00 p.m. CT, July 13, 2026. On July 14, 2026, Basin Electric Cooperative Petitioned to Intervene. On July 15, 2026, the Commission issued an order granting party status to Timothy Lindgren, Linda M. Lindgren, and Codington Clark Electric Cooperative. On July 16, 2026, Staff filed Staff’s Objection to Party Status Applications and Petition to Intervene. On July 20, 2026, Intervenors Timothy Lindgren and Linda M. Lindgren submitted a response to Staff’s Objection to Party Status Applications and Petitions to Intervene.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant party status to those who have filed on or before July 13, 2026? AND shall the Commission grant party status to those who filed after the July 13, 2026, deadline? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
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 next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
2. Commissioners and staff will attend the South Dakota Telecommunications Association’s Annual Conference, August 16-18, 2026, at The Lodge at Deadwood, Deadwood, South Dakota.
3. Commission meetings are scheduled for August 25 and September 8, 2026.
/s/ Travis Heasley
Travis Heasley
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
July 21, 2026
