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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
Wednesday, December 30, 1998; 1:30 P.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 412
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Chairman Jim Burg called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present were Commissioner Laska Schoenfelder, Executive Director Bill Bullard, Deputy Director Sue Cichos, General Counsel Rolayne Ailts Wiest, Commission Advisor Greg Rislov, Staff Attorneys Camron Hoseck and Karen Cremer, Utility Analysts Harlan Best, Bob Knadle, Dave Jacobson, Martin Bettmann, Steve Wegman and Kylie Tracy, Consumer Representative Leni Healy and Administrative Secretary Terry Norum.
Also present were Bob Miller, South Dakota Electric Utility Companies; Dawn Austin and Donald Schofield, Consumers; and Lori Grode, court reporter.
Joining the meeting by phone were Commissioner Pam Nelson; Todd Lundy, U S WEST; Colleen Sevold, U S WEST; Jack Brown, GoldenWest Telecommunications; Darrell Gomarko, Telec Consulting; Rich Coit and Brian Meyers, SDITC; Jennifer Erschen, Telecommunications Reports; Rita Mulkern, MDU; and Earl Waterland, party to Barry and Dawn Austin complaint.
Administration
1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meeting Held On December 14, 1998. (Staff: Terry Norum.)
Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the minutes of December 14, 1998. Commissioner Nelson 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 Affairs: Leni Healy.)
Ms. Healy presented an update on consumer inquiries and complaints received since the last Commission meeting.
Natural Gas
Mr. Jacobson recommended approval of the application.
Chairman Burg moved to approve the application. Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
Telecommunications
Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the revised tariff page. Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
2. TC98-179 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY BARRY AND DAWN AUSTIN, WHITE OWL, SOUTH DAKOTA, AGAINST GOLDEN WEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE, INC., REGARDING DISCRIMINATORY INSTALLATION FEES. (Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer. Consumer Representative: Leni Healy.)
The parties presented their arguments on the motion to dismiss. Ms. Cremer recommended denial of the motion to dismiss.
Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to deny the motion to dismiss. Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
Ms. Tracy explained the application and recommended approval.
Chairman Burg moved to grant a certificate of authority. Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
Mr. Best recommended approval of the switched access rates.
Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the filing. Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
Chairman Burg moved that the Commission find that all current ETCs meet the requirement of providing toll limitation and that a waiver is no longer needed. Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
6. TC98-211 IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY MOUNT RUSHMORE TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF SWITCHED ACCESS RATES. (Staff Analyst: Harlan Best. Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer.)
Mr. Best recommended approval of the switched access rates.
Chairman Burg moved to approve the filing. Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
Mr. Hoseck recommended the Commission find probable cause. Ms. Sevold recommended this be combined with the existing Klein complaints for the same area.
Chairman Burg moved to find probable cause. Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred. Motion passed 3-0.
The meeting was adjourned
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Terry Norum
Administrative Secretary
