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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
July 8, 2014, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Gary Hanson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commissioners: Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen; Commission Counsel: John Smith and Rolayne Wiest; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson, Robin Meyerink, Brian Rounds, Brittany Mehlhaff, David Henry, Joe Rezac, Darren Kearney, and Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Supervisor: Deb Gregg; and Staff: Katlyn Gustafson
Also present were:
Kari Valley, Deb Paulson, and Eric Pauli, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy
Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Mary Zanter, PUC Pipeline Safety Manager; Amy Koenig, Black Hills Power, Inc.; Brad Schardin, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Tammy Popham, Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Kevin Solie, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Matt Hotzler, H-D Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Ted Smith, Sioux Valley Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc.; and Mike Kelly, Northern Electric Cooperative, Inc.
(NOTE: For the purpose of continuity, these minutes are not necessarily in chronological order.)
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 54 contacts since the last report was prepared for the June 24, 2014 Commission meeting.
10 of the contacts involved telecommunication services, 20 of the contacts involved electrical services, 4 of the contacts involved natural gas service, 2 contacts involved cell phone service, 17 contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry and 1 contact was related to an issue not regulated by the PUC.
944 of the 974 complaints received in 2014 have been resolved.
Electric
Mr. Kevin Solie, Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin), asked that the Commission release Basin’s construction bond. Ms. Karen Cremer, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission grant Basin’s request for release of construction bond and authorize the Executive Director or General Counsel to execute any necessary release documents to release Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Bond No. 190011154.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant the request for release of construction bond and authorize the Executive Director or General Counsel to execute any necessary release documents to release Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Bond No. 190011154. Motion carried 3-0.
Mr. David Henry, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the proposed electric service territory boundary agreements in dockets EL14-048, EL14-049, EL14-050, and EL14-051.
In Dockets EL14-048, EL14-049, EL14-050, and EL14-051, Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the proposed electric service territory boundary agreements. Motion carried 3-0.
Mr. Ted Smith, Sioux Valley Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SVE), asked that the Commission approve SVE’s and the City of Flandreau Municipal Utilities’ (Flandreau) service territory boundary exception. Ms. Robin Meyerink, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve SVE’s and Flandreau’s service territory boundary exception.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the requested service rights exception. Motion carried 3-0.
Mr. Eric Pauli, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel), and Mr. Brad Schardin, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Southeastern), asked that the Commission approve Xcel’s and Southeastern’s service territory exchange agreement. Ms. Robin Meyerink, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve Xcel’s and Southeastern’s service territory exchange agreement.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the service territory exchange agreement. Motion carried 3-0.
Ms. Karen Cremer, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses not to exceed $250,000 and give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Ms. Kari Valley, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel), stated that Xcel had no objection to the filing fee.
Commissioner Hanson moved to assess a filing fee for actual expenses not to exceed $250,000 and give the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Motion carried 3-0.
Ms. Karen Cremer, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess a filing fee not to exceed $43,450.00 with an initial fee of $8,000. Ms. Amy Koenig, Black Hills Power, Inc. (BHP), stated that BHP had no objection to the filing fee.
Commissioner Nelson moved to assess a filing fee not to exceed $43,450.00 with an initial fee of $8,000. Motion carried 3-0.
Pipeline Safety
Ms. Mary Zanter, PUC Pipeline Safety Manager, recommended that the Commission grant the Watertown Municipal Utilities a waiver of 49 CFR 192.285(c).
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant the requested waiver of 49 CFR 192.285(c). Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 9:57 a.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/S/Joy Lashley
Joy Lashley
Administrative Assistant
PUC Email
July 8, 2014
