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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
June 24, 1997; 9:00 A.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 412
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING

Chairman Burg called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  Present were Commissioner Pam Nelson, Commissioner Laska Schoenfelder, Executive Director Bill Bullard, General Counsel Rolayne Ailts Wiest, Staff Attorneys Karen Cremer and Camron Hoseck, Fixed Utilities Division Director Greg Rislov, Telecommunications Analyst Harlan Best, Utility Analysts Bob Knadle, Dave Jacobson, Steve Wegman and Tammi Stangohr, Engineer Martin Bettmann, Consumer Representative Leni Healy and Administrative Secretary Shirleen Fugitt.

Also present were John Lovald, AT&T; Michel Murray, Dave Gerdes and Bill Hunt, MCI; Otto Doll, State Bureau of Information & Technology; Bob Mercer, Rapid City Journal; and Rich Coit, SDITC. 
Joining the meeting by phone were Todd Guerrero and Kevin Kouba, OtterTail Power; Steve Ahles, Whetstone Valley Electric Coop; Rick Wolters and Michelle Engel, AT&T; Susan Anderson Bachman, NorthWestern Public Service; Doug Schneider, Pam Communications; David Klein, Long Distance Holdings;  Barbara Wilcox and Jon Lehner, U S WEST; Tamie Aberle, Montana-Dakota Utilities; Neil Schmid and Brad VanLeur, FirsTel; Kathy Marmet, Dakota Cooperative Telecommunications; and Goldie Burnham, complainant from Fort Pierre, SD.            

Administration

1.         Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meetings Held On June 3 and June 10, 1997.  (Staff: Shirleen Fugitt.)

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the June 3, 1997, Commission Meeting and the June 10, 1997, Commission Meeting.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Consumer Affairs

1.         Status Report On Consumer Utility Inquiries And Complaints Recently Received By The Commission.  (Consumer Representative:  Leni Healy.)

Ms. Healy reported on consumer inquiries and complaints received since the last Commission meeting.

Electricity

1.         EL96-024        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF A RATE REDUCTION/FREEZE AND ADOPTION OF ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING FOR POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS.  (Staff Analyst:  Greg Rislov.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Mr. Rislov recommended that NSP be allowed to withdraw the filing. 

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to close the docket.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.
 

2.            EL97-003        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY SIOUX VALLEY-SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF PROPERTY AND TRANSFER OF SERVICE TERRITORY BETWEEN H-D ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND SIOUX VALLEY-SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.  (Staff Engineer:  Martin Bettmann.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer)

Mr. Bettmann explained the filing and recommended approval.

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the filing.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Natural Gas

1.         NG97-008       IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY GOLDIE BURNHAM, FORT PIERRE, SD, AGAINST MONTANA-DAKOTA UTILITIES REGARDING A GAS LEAK.  (Staff:  Martin Bettmann, Leni Healy, Bob Knadle.  Legal Intern:  Tricia Zimmer)

Goldie Burnham, Fort Pierre, SD, explained her complaint against Montana-Dakota Utilities regarding a gas leak.  Tamie Aberle, MDU, addressed the complaint.  Ms. Zimmer recommended finding no probable cause but opening a docket for investigation into MDU's procedures for responding to gas odor or gas leak calls.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to find no probable cause and to open a docket for investigation into procedures followed by MDU when gas odor or gas leak calls are received.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.     

Telecommunications

10.       IN THE MATTER OF THE 1997 LEGISLATIVE INTENT REGARDING THE STATE'S TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.  (General Counsel:  Rolayne Wiest.)          

Otto Doll, Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, Rich Coit, SDITC, Dave Gerdes, MCI, and Jon Lehner, U S WEST each addressed the issue. 

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to open an investigative docket.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Electricity (Continued)

3.       EL97-010        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY OTTER TAIL POWER COMPANY AND WHETSTONE VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FOR APPROVAL OF EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS AND PROPERTY.  (Staff Engineer:  Martin Bettmann.  Legal Intern:  Tricia Zimmer.)

Todd Guerrero, Otter Tail Power, explained the filing and noted that four of the five residents of Troy, SD, have consented to the  exchange.  Mr. Bettmann recommended approval of the filing and that Otter Tail Power continue attempts to contact the fifth resident of Troy. 

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the filing and that Otter Tail Power be required to  contact the fifth resident of Troy, SD.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.  

4.            EL97-012        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY AND DAKOTA ENERGY COOPERATIVE, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF ASSIGNMENT OF ELECTRIC SERVICE.  (Staff Engineer:  Martin Bettmann.  Legal Intern:  Tricia Zimmer.)

Susan Anderson Bachman, NWPS, explained the filing.  Mr. Bettmann recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the application.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.   

Telecommunications

1.            TC97-012        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF AMERICAN LONG LINES, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Ms. Stangohr explained the application and recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the application.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

2.        TC97-022        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF MCIMETRO ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Bill Hunt, MCI, explained the application.

Chairman Burg moved to allow  withdrawal of SDITC's intervention.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Ms. Stangohr addressed       

3.            TC97-034        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF LONG DISTANCE DIRECT HOLDINGS, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

4.             TC97-037        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF AMERICA'S TELE-NETWORK CORP. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Stangohr explained the application and recommended approval.

Chairman Burg moved to approve the application.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

5.          TC97-041        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF ONE STEP BILLING, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Stangohr explained the application and recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the application.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

6.          TC97-046        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF F.D.S.D. RAPID CITY, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

7.           TC97-054        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY THE LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION FOR SWITCHED ACCESS TARIFF REVISIONS.  (Staff Analyst:  Harlan Best.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Chairman Burg moved to grant intervention to AT&T.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

8.     TC97-057        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF INMARK, INC. D/B/A PREFERRED BILLING FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Legal Intern:  Tricia Zimmer.)

Ms. Stangohr explained the application and recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the application.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

9.       TC97-066        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY BROOKINGS TELEPHONE FOR APPROVAL OF ITS REVISED SERVICE TERRITORY AS A RESULT OF ANNEXATION.  (Staff Engineer:  Martin Bettmann.  Legal Intern:  Tricia Zimmer.)

Mr. Bettmann explained the revised telephone boundary map and recommended approval. 

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the filing.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Addendum

1.            TC97-032        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR SERVICE RESALE BETWEEN FIRSTEL, INC. AND U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  (Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Neil Schmid, FirsTel, addressed the revised negotiated agreement.  Ms. Wiest recommended approval.

Chairman Burg moved to approve the filing.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

2.          TC97-039        IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF MCI TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND AT&T COMMUNICATION OF THE MIDWEST, INC. TO CERTIFY ALL LECS AS TO COMPLIANCE WITH FCC PAYPHONE ORDERS.  (Staff Analyst:  Harlan Best.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Jon Lehner, U S WEST, addressed the Motion to Dismiss.  Rich Coit, SDITC, spoke in support of the Motion.  Dave Gerdes, MCI, and John Lovald, AT&T, spoke in opposition.

Commissioner Nelson moved to defer action. 

Commissioner Schoenfelder made an alternate motion to deny the Motion to Dismiss.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

3.          TC97-061        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY THE LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION FOR SWITCHED ACCESS TARIFF REVISIONS.  (Staff Analyst:  Harlan Best.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Cremer recommended the rate be suspended for no more than 120 days.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to suspend the rate for no more than 120 days.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

________________________________
Shirleen Fugitt
Administrative Secretary