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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
September 8, 2026, at 1:30 p.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 10:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, September 8, 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 August 25, 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 TC26-012, TC26-014, TC26-021, and TC26-024
TC26-012 In the Matter of the Request of Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Areas: Armour-391640, Golden West Telecom-391659, Kadoka-391667, Sioux Valley-391677, Union-391684, Vivian-391686) (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff)
On June 22, 2026, the Commission received an application from Golden West Telecommunications 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. On August 28, 2026, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC26-014 In the Matter of the Request of Midstate Communications, Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Areas: ILEC-391670 and CLEC-Chamberlain/Oacoma) (Staff Analyst: Jon Thurber)
On June 22, 2026, the Commission received an application from Midstate 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. On August 26, 2026, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC26-021 In the Matter of the Request of Alliance Communications Cooperative Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Areas: 391405, 391642, 391657 and 399024) (Staff Analyst: Jon Thurber)
On June 26, 2026, the Commission received an application from Alliance 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. On August 28, 2026, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
TC26-024 In the Matter of the Request of RC Technologies for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391674) (Staff Analyst: Jon Thurber)
On June 29, 2026, the Commission received an application from RC Technologies (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 21, 2026, the Company responded to staff’s data request.
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. EL24-027 In the Matter of the Petition by Leola Data Center LLC to have Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., Assigned as its Electric Provider in the Service Area of FEM Electric Association Inc. (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Amanda Reiss, Jennie Fuerst)
On August 5, 2024, Leola Data Center, LLC (LDC or Leola) filed a Petition for Electric Service to have Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU), Assigned as its Electric Provider in the Service Area of FEM Electric Association Inc. (FEM). The Petition asks the Commission for an order pursuant to SDCL 49-34A-56 that allows Leola to take electric service from MDU for its proposed Data Center to be located adjacent to MDU’s Leola substation at 11641 358th Avenue, Leola, South Dakota. The location is currently within the assigned service area of FEM Electric Association Inc. Under SDCL 49-34A-56, new customers at new locations that develop after March 21, 1975, and who require electric service with a contracted minimum demand of two thousand kilowatts or more are not obligated to take electric service from the electric utility having the assigned service area where the customer is located if the Commission so determines after consideration of certain factors set forth in statute. On August 29, 2024, the Commission granted intervention to MDU, FEM, Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin) and East River Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (East River). On June 18, 2026, in response to staff’s Third Set of Data Requests, LDC filed an updated Exhibit A – Preliminary Design and an Exhibit B – Construction Plans. On June 18, 2026, LDC also filed Exhibit A – Updated Site Plan Map. On August 27, 2026, LDC filed a Stipulation and Settlement Agreement, which is signed by all parties to the docket. On August 28, 2026, the parties filed a Joint Motion for Approval of the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Joint Motion for Approval of the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement and approve the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement? AND shall the Commission grant LDC’s petition to have MDU assigned as its electric provider in the service area of FEM? OR how shall the Commission proceed?
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. On August 21, 2026, Dakota Panel; Fischer Furniture; Inc.; Forest Products Distributors, Inc.; GCC Dacotah, Inc.; Monument Health Rapid City Hospital Inc.; Pete Lien & Sons, Inc.; the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority; Spearfish Forest Products Inc.; and Wharf Resources (USA), Inc.; collectively referred to as the South Dakota Large Customer Group, filed a Petition to Intervene.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to Dakota Panel; Fischer Furniture, Inc.; Forest Products Distributors, Inc.; GCC Dacotah, Inc.; Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc.; Pete Lien & Sons, Inc.; the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority; Spearfish Forest Products Inc.; and Wharf Resources (USA), Inc.; collectively referred to as the South Dakota Large Customer Group?
Natural Gas
1. NG26-006 In the Matter of the Application of MidAmerican Energy Company for Authority to Increase its Natural Gas Rates (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
On August 19, 2026, the Commission received an application by MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican) for approval to increase rates for natural gas service to customers in its South Dakota service territory by approximately $8.9 million based on MidAmerican’s test year ending December 31, 2025. MidAmerican states a typical residential natural gas customer using 51 therms per month would see an increase of $3.83 per month. The proposed changes may potentially affect approximately 115,000 South Dakota natural gas customers.
TODAY, shall the Commission suspend the imposition of the tariff for 180 days beyond August 19, 2026? AND shall the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses not to exceed $500,000? AND shall the Commission give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts?
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. 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.
4. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.
5. Commission meetings are scheduled for October 6 and 20, 2026.
/s/ Cindy Kemnitz .
Cindy Kemnitz
Deputy Executive Director/Finance Manager
puc@state.sd.us
August 31, 2026
