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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
October 6, 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, September 21, 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 September 22, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

Consumer Reports

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

Electric

1.      EL25-022        In the Matter of the Application of Otter Tail Power Company for Authority to Increase Its Electric Rates in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)

         On June 4, 2025, the Commission received an application by Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail) for approval to increase rates for electric service to customers in its South Dakota service territory. Otter Tail requested a net revenue increase of $5,719,671 annually or approximately 12.5% based on Otter Tail’s 2024 historic test year. Otter Tail stated a typical residential electric customer using 932 kWh would see a bill increase of $14.39 per month. The proposed changes may affect approximately 11,500 electric customers in Otter Tail’s South Dakota service territory. On March 2, 2026, Otter Tail and staff filed a Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation, and a Settlement Stipulation, including Otter Tail’s Interim Rate Refund Plan, and staff filed a Staff Memorandum Supporting Settlement Stipulation. On March 12, 2026, the Commission issued an Order Approving Settlement Stipulation; Interim Refund Plan; Order Approving Tariff Revisions. On September 22, 2026, Otter Tail filed a letter regarding Amended Settlement to correct meter charges in Section 13.09 of the approved tariff.

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Amended Settlement including the amended tariff Section 13.09 on less than 30 days’ notice? OR how shall the Commission proceed?

2.      EL26-027        In the Matter of the Joint Request for Approval of an Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement between Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Dakota Energy Cooperative, Inc. (Staff Analyst: Anuja Oke; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)

         On September 4, 2026, Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Central) and Dakota Energy Cooperative, Inc. (Dakota Energy) filed a Joint Request for Approval of an Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement.  Central and Dakota Energy request that the Commission approve an agreement allowing Dakota Energy to provide single-phase electric service to power a residential home located within Central’s electric service territory at the Northwest Quarter (NW ¼) of Section 5, Township 108 North, Range 62 West, Warren Township, in Sanborn County. The location of Dakota Energy’s existing single-phase service results in substantially lower contribution in aid of construction for the customer.

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement between Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Dakota Energy Cooperative, Inc.?

3.      EL26-028        In the Matter of the Application of Otter Tail Power Company for a Facility Permit for the Big Stone South to Hankinson to Bison 345 kV Transmission Line Project (Staff Analysts: Anuja Oke, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)

         On September 8, 2026, the Commission received an Application from Otter Tail Power Company (Applicant) for a Transmission Facility Permit for an electric transmission line in Grant and Roberts Counties, South Dakota. Specifically, Applicant proposes to construct a new 345kV electric transmission line (“the Project”). The South Dakota portion of the Project consists of approximately 71 miles of 345 kV transmission line that runs from the existing Big Stone South Substation located west of Big Stone City, South Dakota, to the South Dakota – North Dakota border at a location northeast of New Effington, South Dakota.  Additional details of the Project, as well as an interactive route map, can be found on the Commission’s website at https://puc.sd.gov/Dockets/Electric/2026/EL26-028.aspx.  Pursuant to SDCL  49-41B-24, the Commission must issue its decision within twelve months of the filing of the Application unless the Applicant requests and is granted an extension pursuant to SDCL 49-41B-24.1.  On September 11, 2026, the Applicant filed a Motion to Extend Deadline for Commission to Render Decision on Application (Motion to Extend Deadline). 

         TODAY, shall the Commission grant Applicant’s Motion to Extend Deadline?  OR how shall the Commission proceed?

Pipeline Safety

1.      PS26-002        In the Matter of the Filing by Commission Pipeline Safety Staff for Approval of an Agreed Upon Penalty for Pipeline Safety Violations by Chevron Full Circle RNG LLC (Pipeline Safety Program Manager: Mary Zanter; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

          In October through December of 2025, the South Dakota Pipeline Safety Staff (Staff) conducted a routine pipeline safety inspection of Chevron Full Circle RNG LLC (Chevron). The inspection uncovered what Staff determined to be deficiencies in violation of 49 CFR §192.731 and on December 11, 2025, Staff issued a Summary of Deficiencies including warnings and a proposed correction date of June 1, 2026, to correct the deficiencies. As a result of failure to remedy the violations, on July 24, 2026, Staff issued a Notice of Probable Violation to Chevron proposing a civil penalty of $27,912.50, to which Chevron responded, acknowledging the violation and agreeing to the proposed civil penalty. On September 8, 2026, Staff filed a Request for Imposition of Penalty requesting the Commission approve the imposition of the proposed penalty pursuant to SDCL 49-34B-12 and ARSD 20:10:37:08 to 20:10:37:09.

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the imposition of the proposed civil penalty of $27,912.50 against Chevron Full Circle RNG LLC? 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.

Announcements

1.   Commissioners and staff will meet with representatives of Southwest Power Pool on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CDT. The meeting will be held via Teams video conference and in the Commission’s Conference Room at the State Capitol Building in Pierre, South Dakota. The agenda is to discuss SPP’s proposed integrated transmission plan. To reserve a spot for the virtual meeting, contact the PUC at 605-773-3201 by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, October 1.

2.   The PUC office will be closed Monday, October 12, 2026, in observance of Native American Day.

3. The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, October 12, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol Building, Pierre, South Dakota.

4. Public Input Meetings for docket EL26-026 - In the Matter of the Application of Xcel Energy and Otter Tail Power Company for an Energy Facility Permit to Construct the PowerOn Midwest Project Consisting of a 765-kV Transmission Line, a 345-kV Transmission Line, and Associated Facilities will be held:

  • Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. CDT, at the Brookings Inn, 2500 E. Sixth St., Brookings, South Dakota.
  • Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., CDT at the Milbank School Theater, 1001 E. Park Ave., Milbank, South Dakota.
  • Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., CDT at the Clear Lake Community Center, 218 Third Ave. S., Clear Lake, South Dakota.

5. Public Input Meetings for docket EL26-028 - In the Matter of the Application of Otter Tail Power Company for a Facility Permit for the Big Stone South to Hankinson to Bison 345 kV Transmission Line Project will be held:

  • Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., CDT at the Milbank School Theater, 1001 E. Park Ave., Milbank, South Dakota.
  • Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., CDT at the Rosholt Community Center, 19 E. Main St., Rosholt, South Dakota.

6. Commission meetings are scheduled for November 6 and 19, 2026.  

  

  /s/ Sara Weiss                 .
Sara Weiss
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
September 29, 2026