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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
Tuesday, November 6, 2007, at 9:30 A.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 412
Pierre, South Dakota
NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 5:00 p.m. on November 5, 2007. Lines are limited and are given out on first come/first serve basis, subject to possible reassignment to accommodate persons who must appear in a proceeding. Ultimately, if you wish to participate in 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 Web site www.puc.sd.gov and click on the LIVE button on the home page. The Commission requests that persons who will only be listening to proceedings and not actively appearing in a case listen via the Web cast to free phone lines for those who have to appear. The Commission meetings are archived on the PUC's Web site under the Commission Actions tab and then click on the LISTEN button on the page.
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 Meetings Held on August 28 and September 25, 2007. (Staff: Demaris Axthelm)
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries and Complaints Received by the Commission. (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
Electric
On August 26, 2005, Xcel Energy (Xcel) submitted an application for a Construction Permit to build 9.6 miles of 345 kV Transmission Line from Split Rock to Lakefield Junction and add Facilities to the Split Rock Substation. A new 345 kilovolt line from the Split Rock Substation located west of Brandon, South Dakota to the Minnesota line is proposed to be constructed. The line will be approximately 9.6 miles in length and comprise the western portion of an 86-mile 345 kV transmission line between Split Rock Substation west of Brandon, South Dakota to the Lakefield Junction Substation east of Lakefield, Minnesota. Improvements to the Split Rock Substation will be constructed to accommodate the new 345 kV interconnection. A Joint Stipulation between Xcel and Commission Staff was filed on June 6, 2006. On August 15, 2006, Xcel filed a letter with the Commission asking for a waiver of the one year deadline pursuant to SDCL 49-41B-24, and for an additional period of time before the Commission's Final Decision. The Commission granted the waiver and additional time at its August 23, 2006, meeting. On December 11, 2006, Xcel filed a Motion to Extend Final Approval Deadline. The Commission granted the motion at its December 19, 2006 meeting. On June 4, 2007, Xcel filed a Motion to Extend Final Approval Deadline. The Commission approved the motion at its June 26, 2007, meeting. A copy of the Utility Permit issued by the Department of Transportation was filed on October 26, 2007. A Joint Stipulation between Staff and Xcel was filed on October 26, 2007.
TODAY, shall the Commission Approve the Stipulation? OR, how shall the Commission Proceed?
On May 16, 2007, PPM Energy, Inc. (PPM) filed a request for a declaratory ruling as to whether PPM is required to have a siting permit per SDCL 49-41B from the Commission for the proposed 43.5 - 55 MW Buffalo Ridge I Project in Brookings County. Currently PPM is developing the 55.5 MW MinnDakota Project in Brookings County which will become commercially operable in 2007. PPM has a 99 MW Conditional Use Permit from Brookings County for the MinnDakota Project. PPM has a 12 MW Conditional Use Permit from Brookings County for the proposed Buffalo Ridge I Project and has applied to Brookings County to increase this to 55 MW. PPM has also requested that if the two projects are considered one project, does the 12 MW increment between the 43.5 MW and the 55 MW meet the definition of the 25 MW project expansion per SDCL 49-41B-2(12)? PPM filed its Brief in Support of Applicant's Position on October 5, 2007. Staff filed a Brief regarding Jurisdiction on October 29, 2007.
TODAY, how shall the Commission Proceed?
Telecommunications
On September 7, 2007, PrairieWave Black Hills, LLC. filed a petition requesting a continuation of an exemption from filing company specific cost based switched access rates and allow PrairieWave Black Hills, LLC. to continue to mirror the Qwest rates.
TODAY, shall the Commission Grant the Continuation of the Exemption from Filing Cost-Based Switched Access Rates?
On September 11, 2007, Granite Telecommunications, LLC. filed a petition requesting a continuation of an exemption from filing company specific cost based switched access rates and allow Granite Telecommunications, LLC. to continue to mirror the Qwest rates.
TODAY, shall the Commission Grant the Continuation of the Exemption from Filing Cost-Based Switched Access Rates?
On October 12, 2007, the Commission received a filing for approval of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoiP) Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation and Qwest Communications Corporation for the State of South Dakota.
TODAY, shall the Commission Approve the Amendment to the Agreement?
On October 16, 2007, the Commission received a filing for approval of a Reciprocal Interconnection, Transport and Termination Agreement between James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company and James Valley Wireless, LLC, a South Dakota Limited Liability Company.
TODAY, shall the Commission Approve the Agreement?
On September 14, 2007, Applewood Communications Corporation ("Applewood") filed an application for a certificate of authority to provide interexchange services. Applewood intends to provide resold interexchange services throughout South Dakota.
TODAY, shall the Commission Grant a Certificate of Authority to Applewood Communications Corporation?
Announcements
1. The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting will be held November 20, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 412, State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD.
2. Commission meetings are scheduled for December 4 and December 18, 2007.
3. A hearing in docket NG07-013 will be held November 7 and 8, 2007, in the State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD. The hearing will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7, in Room 412 of the State Capitol Building, and if necessary will resume at 8:00 a.m. on November 8, in Room 413 of the State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD.
4. Commissioners and Staff will be attending the NARUC fall meetings in Anaheim, CA, November 11 – 14, 2007.
5. The PUC offices will be closed Monday, November 12, 2007, in observance of Veterans Day.
6. The PUC offices will be closed Thursday, November 22, 2007, in observance of Thanksgiving.
7. An evidentiary hearing in docket HP07-001 will be held December 3 – 14, 2007, in Room 412 of the State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. December 3 and December 10; following the Commission Meeting on December 4; and at 8:30 a.m. on all other days.
8. A public input hearing in docket HP07-001 will be held from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on December 6, 2007, in Room 412 of the State Capitol Building, Pierre, SD.
9. The PUC offices will be closed Tuesday, December 25, 2007, in observance of Christmas.
_________________________________
Heather K. Forney
Deputy Executive Director
heather.forney@state.sd.us
October 30, 2007
