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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
August 25, 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, August 25, 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 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 July 28, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

Consumer Reports

1.      Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

Telecommunications

1.      In the Matter of the Request for Certification Regarding the Use of Federal Universal Service Support in Dockets TC26-016, TC26-017, TC26-019, TC26-025 and TC26-029

         TC26-016        In the Matter of the Request of West River Cooperative Telephone Company Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391689) (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         On June 23, 2026, the Commission received an application from West River Cooperative 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.

         TC26-017        In the Matter of the Request of Valley Telecommunications Cooperative Association, Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391685) (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         On June 23, 2026, the Commission received an application from Valley Telecommunications Cooperative Association, 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.

         TC26-019        In the Matter of the Request of Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 395145) (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson)

         On June 24, 2026, the Commission received an application from Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC (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 22, 2026, the Company responded to staff’s data request. This docket was deferred at the August 11, 2026, Commission meeting.

         TC26-025        In the Matter of the Request of Beresford Municipal Telephone Company for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391649) (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         On June 30, 2026, the Commission received an application from Beresford 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. On August 7, 2026, the Company responded to staff’s data request.

         TC26-029        In the Matter of the Request of Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak Fiber for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: ILEC–391652 and CLEC–399006) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)

         On July 1, 2026, the Commission received an application from Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak Fiber (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 29, 2026, the Company responded to staff’s data requests. This docket was deferred at the August 11, 2026, Commission meeting.

         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?

Electric

1.      EL26-015        In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of its Energy Adjustment Rider Modification (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         On May 20, 2026, Otter Tail Power Company filed an application for approval of revisions to its Energy Adjustment Rider, Section 13.01 of its South Dakota Electric Rate Schedule. The proposed revisions are necessary to reflect recent and continuing changes in the Company’s generation operations and cost allocation practices and to ensure that energy related costs and revenues are recovered in a manner consistent with jurisdictional cost causation principles. On August 3, 2026, the company responded to staff’s data request.

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the proposed tariff revisions?

2.      EL26-024        In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval to Amend its Phase In Plan Rate (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         On August 5, 2026, the Commission received an application by Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (Black Hills Power) for approval to amend its Phase In Plan Rate (PIPR). Black Hills Power makes this filing pursuant to SDCL 49-34A-73 through 49-34A-78. In this filing, Black Hills Power requests approval to recover, through the PIPR, both actual and forecasted costs associated with the Lange II Project. This request would increase rates for electric service to customers in its South Dakota service territory by approximately $39.5 million annually. Black Hills Power states a typical residential electric customer using an average of approximately 650 kWh per month will see an increase of $19.70 per month. Black Hills Power proposes an effective date of December 1, 2026.

         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 grant the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts?

Gas and Electric

1.      GE26-002       In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of a Revised Customer Information Welcome Booklet (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac)

         On June 26, 2026, MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican) filed a revised customer information welcome booklet for Commission approval. The customer information welcome booklet is furnished to each new South Dakota customer per ARSD 20:10:16:02. MidAmerican believes that the updated customer information welcome booklet will provide customers information in an easily understood format and requests an approval date of August 31, 2026. On August 5, 2026, the company responded to staff’s data request.

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the revised customer information welcome booklet with an approval date of August 31, 2026?

Rule Making

1.      RM26-001       In the Matter of the Adoption of Administrative Rules (Commission Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

            On July 10, 2026, the Commission opened a rulemaking docket to address the following administrative rules: 20:10:01:08.01, 20:10:01:10, 20:10:01:22.04, 20:10:01:22.07, 20:10:01:23, 20:10:01:24.02, 20:10:01:25, 20:10:01:41.01, 20:10:06:02, 20:10:06:03, 20:10:12:05.02, 20:10:12:13, 20:10:13:40, 20:10:16:01, 20:10:16:03, 20:10:17:13, 20:10:19:09, 20:10:20:08, 20:10:20:11, 20:10:24:04, 20:10:24:04.05, 20:10:30:01, 20:10:30:01.01, 20:10:30:02, 20:10:30:03, 20:10:30:04, 20:10:30:05, 20:10:30:06, 20:10:30:07, 20:10:30:08, 20:10:30:09, 20:10:30:10, 20:10:31:06, 20:10:32:03, 20:10:32:12, 20:10:33:27, 20:10:33:28, 20:10:37:18, 20:10:37:18.01. A complete copy of the proposed changes can be viewed at https://puc.sd.gov/Dockets/Rulemaking/2026/RM26-001.aspx.  Pursuant to SDCL 1-26-4.1, the Commission issue a Notice of Hearing on the proposed rules informing interested persons that the Commission would hold a hearing to take public comment on August 25, 2026. Pursuant to SDCL 1-26-4(6), the Commission will accept written public comments prior to the public hearing. The Commission may issue its decision after taking comments at the public hearing.

            TODAY, shall the Commission adopt final rules?

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.   Commissioners and staff will meet with consumers in the PUC booth in the Expo Building at the South Dakota State Fair September 2-7, 2026, in Huron, South Dakota.

2.   The PUC office will be closed Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day.

3.   The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.

4.   Commissioners will attend the East River Electric Power Cooperative Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

5.   Commission meetings are scheduled for September 22 and October 6, 2026.

 

/s/ Cindy Kemnitz                 .
Cindy Kemnitz
Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
August 18, 2026