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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 12, 2013, at 1:30 P.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Vice-Chairman Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commission Counsel: John Smith and Rolayne Wiest; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Jon Thurber, Brittany Mehlhaff, David Jacobson, Matthew Tysdal, Brian Rounds, Darren Kearney, Jason Simmons, and David Henry; Consumer Affairs Supervisor: Deb Gregg; and Staff: Sherry Dickerson
Also present were:
Bob Mercer, Reporter
Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Chairman: Gary Hanson; Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Walker Witt, Black Hills Electric; Mike Theis, Black Hills Power; and Jim Wilcox and Kari Valley, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries and Complaints Received by the Commission (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 61 contacts since the last report was prepared for the February 26, 2013 Commission meeting.
13 of the contacts involved telecommunication services, 13 of the contacts involved electrical services, 3 contacts involved natural gas service, 9 contacts involved cell phone service, 13 contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, and 10 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
321 of the 358 complaints received in 2013 have been resolved.Electric
Mr. Mike Theis, Black Hills Power, Inc. (BHP), asked for Commission approval for a Joint Request for an Electric Service Territory Boundary Change between Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BHE) and BHP. Mr. Walker Witt, BHE, stated that one customer would be affected and that the customer and BHE had no objection. Mr. Matthew Tysdal, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission grant approval to BHP and BHE’s Joint Request for an Electric Service Territory Boundary Change.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the Joint Request for an Electric Service Territory Boundary Change. Motion carried 3-0.
Ms. Karen Cremer, staff attorney, recommended pursuant to SDCL 49-1A-8 the Commission assess a filing fee up to the statutory limit of $50,000 for expenses related to the transmission facility cost recovery tariff, suspend the operation of the schedule of rates proposed by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy pursuant to SDCL 49-34A-14 for 180 days after the Application filing date of February 27, 2013, and give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts.
Commissioner Nelson moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of $50,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date, suspend the imposition of the tariff for 180 days beyond February 27, 2013, and give the Executive Director authority to enter necessary consulting contracts. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 1:38 p.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/S/Joy Irving
Joy Irving
Administrative Assistant
PUC Email
March 12, 2013
