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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
January 20, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. CST
Room 423, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Chairman Gary Hanson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commissioner: Chris Nelson; Commission Counsel: John Smith and Rolayne Wiest; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Brian Rounds and Eric Paulson; Consumer Affairs Supervisor: Deb Gregg; and Staff: Katlyn Gustafson.
Also present were:
Rich Coit, South Dakota Telecommunications Association; Margo Northrup, Riter, Rogers, Wattier & Northrup, LLP, representing Local Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.; and Jeff Barth, Minnehaha County Commissioner.
Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Staff Analyst, Joseph Rezac; Marlene Bennett, Consortia Consulting, representing Local Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.; and Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission meetings held on December 9 and 23, 2014; January 6, 2015; and the Gross Receipts Tax Hearing Held on January 6, 2015. (Staff: Joy Lashley)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meetings held on December 9 and 23, 2014; January 6, 2015; and the Gross Receipts Tax Hearing held on January 6, 2015. Motion carried 3-0.
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 76 contacts since the last report was prepared for the January 6, 2015 Commission meeting.
12 of the contacts involved telecommunication services, 29 of the contacts involved electrical services, 4 of the contacts involved natural gas service, 3 contacts involved cell phone service, 9 contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, 1 contact was related to Keystone XL, 6 contacts were related to the Dakota Access Pipeline, 1 contact was related to Wind Energy and 11 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,910 of the 1,916 complaints received in 2014 have been resolved.
84 of the 92 complaints received in 2015 have been resolved.
Electric
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern), asked that the Commission approve its Fuel Adjustment Clause tariff revisions effective February 1, 2015. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve NorthWestern's request effective February 1, 2015.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the tariff revisions effective February 1, 2015. Motion carried 3-0.
Telecommunications
Ms. Margo Northrup, Riter, Rogers, Wattier & Northrup, LLP, representing Local Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (LECA), asked for Commission approval of revisions to LECA's Access Tariff No. 1. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve LECA's request effective January 1, 2015.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the revisions to LECA's Access Services Tariff No. 1. Motion carried 3-0.
Leadership
1. Election of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission (General Counsel: John Smith)
As provided in SDCL 49-1-8, the Commission took up for discussion and action its leadership going forward.
Commissioner Hanson moved to nominate Commissioner Nelson for the position of Chairman. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Nelson moved to nominate Commissioner Fiegen for the position of Vice Chairman. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 2:19 p.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Joy Lashley .
Joy Lashley
Administrative Assistant
PUC Email
January 20, 2015
