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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
December 2, 1997; 10:00 A.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 464
Pierre, South Dakota 

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING

Chairman Burg called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  Present were Commissioner Pam Nelson, Commissioner Laska Schoenfelder, Executive Director Bill Bullard, General Counsel Rolayne Ailts Wiest, Staff Attorney Camron Hoseck, Fixed Utilities Division Director Greg Rislov, Telecommunications Analysts Harlan Best and Charlie Bolle, Utility Analysts Dave Jacobson and Steve Wegman, Consumer Representative Leni Healy and Administrative Secretary Shirleen Fugitt.

Also present were Rich Coit, SDITC; Bob Miller, South Dakota Electric Utilities; Bob Mercer, Rapid City Journal; and Al Lundy, South Dakota Public Broadcasting. 

Joining the meeting by phone were Bruce Hanson and Mike Bradley, Ft. Randall Telephone; Robert Marmet and Tom Hertz, Dakota Telecommunications Group; Mary Lohnes, Midco Communications; Michelle Engel, AT&T; Karen Huizenga, MidAmerican Energy; Rita Mulkern, MDU; Jon Lehner, U S WEST; and Karen Cremer, PUC Staff Attorney.   

Administration

1.         Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meeting Held On November 18, 1997.  (Staff: Shirleen Fugitt.)

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the November 18, 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 presented a report on consumer inquiries and complaints received since the last Commission meeting.

Natural Gas

1.             NG97-018       IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY SUSAN COBB AND VANESSA COBB, SIOUX FALLS, SD, AGAINST MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY REGARDING A PAYMENT PLAN.  (Consumer Representative:  Leni Healy.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Mr. Hoseck recommended finding no probable cause.  Ms. Healy recommended closing the docket.

Commissioner Nelson moved to find no probable cause and close the docket.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Telecommunications

1.          TC97-050        IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THE PRACTICE OF LONG DISTANCE RESELLERS TO OPERATE WITHIN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA WITHOUT AN IDENTIFYING PIC NUMBER.  (Consumer Representative:  Leni Healy.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Healy discussed the investigation results and recommended closing the docket.

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

2.          TC97-062        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY DAKOTA TELECOM, INC., DAKOTA TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC., AND DAKOTA COOPERATIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC., FOR INTERCONNECTION WITH FORT RANDALL TELEPHONE COMPANY.  (Staff Analyst:  Harlan Best.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Mike Bradley, Ft. Randall Telephone, explained the proposed settlement agreement.  Robert Marmet, Dakota Telecommunications Systems, Inc., presented further explanation.  Ms. Wiest recommended approval of the settlement agreement. 

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

3.        TC97-156        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF DISCOUNT CALL RATING, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Cremer explained the application and recommended approval with restrictions on advance payments, deposits and prepaid calling cards.

Chairman Burg moved to approve the application with restrictions on advance payments, deposits and prepaid calling cards.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

4.       TC97-172        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF LONG DISTANCE OF MICHIGAN, INC. D/B/A LDMI LONG DISTANCE FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Dave Jacobson.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Mr. Jacobson explained the application and recommended approval with restrictions on advance payments, deposits and prepaid calling cards. 

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the application with restrictions on advance payments, deposits and prepaid calling cards.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.
  

5.          TC97-174        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF NTI TELECOM, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Cremer explained the application and recommended approval with restrictions on advance payments, deposits and prepaid calling cards.

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the application with restrictions on advance payments,  deposits and prepaid calling cards.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

6.            TC97-181        IN THE MATTER OF THE SETTING OF PERMANENT PRICES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS FOR INTERCONNECTION WITH U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  (Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Mr. Hoseck recommended granting intervention to DTI, DTS and AT&T.

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

Miscellaneous

1.         IN THE MATTER OF THE PURCHASE ORDER WITH THE U S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT WORK SHOPS.  (Staff Analyst:  Steve Wegman.)

Mr. Wegman explained the contract with Western Area Power Administration for several energy efficient work shops to be held in late January.

Chairman Burg moved to approve the $4,000 contract.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.   

Addendum

Natural Gas

1.             NG97-019       IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY MONTANA-DAKOTA UTILITIES CO., A DIVISION OF MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH DEVIATION WITH MERILLAT CORP.  (Staff Analyst:  Greg Rislov.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Bill Huether, MDU, explained the filing.  Mr. Wegman presented further explanation and recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the contract with deviations with waivers of ARSD 20:10:13:15 and 20:10:13:17 and a December 2, 1997, effective date.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.           

The meeting was adjourned.

 

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Shirleen Fugitt
Administrative Assistant