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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 17, 2015, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Chairman Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commissioners: Kristie Fiegen and Gary Hanson; Commission Counsel: John Smith and Rolayne Wiest; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Brian Rounds, Darren Kearney, Patrick Steffensen, Joe Rezac, and Eric Paulson; Consumer Affairs Supervisor: Deb Gregg; and Staff: Katlyn Gustafson.
Also present were:
Jon Thurber, Black Hills Power, Inc.
Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Brad Schardin, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Michael Fredrich, Black Hills Power, Inc.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on March 2, 2015 (Staff: Joy Lashley)
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on March 2, 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 82 contacts since the last report was prepared for the March 2, 2015 Commission meeting.
13 of the contacts involved telecommunication services, 21 of the contacts involved electrical services, 4 of the contacts involved natural gas service, 4 contacts involved cell phone service, 7 contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, 12 contacts were related to the Dakota Access Pipeline, 1 contact was related to the Keystone XL Pipeline, 1 contact was related to Wind Energy, 1 contact was related to One Call and 18 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,914 of the 1,916 complaints received in 2014 have been resolved.
445 of the 468 complaints received in 2015 have been resolved.
Electric
Mr. Jon Thurber, Black Hills Power, Inc. (BHP), asked that the Commission withdraw BHP's docket as it was determined that economic development cost recovery should be granted through a general rate case prior to filing an economic development plan. Mr. Darren Kearney, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission grant approval to BHP's request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant Black Hills Power, Inc.'s request for withdrawal. Motion carried 3-0.
A lengthy discussion took place regarding docket EL14-108. An audio of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2015, March 17, 2015, recording located at:
http://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2015/puc03172015.mp3
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve BHP's vegetation management activities from April 2013 through November 2014, the 2015 vegetation management budget, and the Vegetation Management Regulatory Asset (VMRA) balance as of November 30, 2014.
Commissioner Nelson moved to amend the motion subject to the condition that such approval shall not preclude Commission review of the project, including project and cost management, accounting data and methods, and the resulting balance in the regulatory asset, for prudence and reasonableness for rate recovery in any determination of rates, including both rate filings by BHP and rate reviews initiated by the Commission and does not guarantee any such recovery. Amendment carried 3-0. Motion as amended carried 3-0.
Mr. Brian Rounds, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the proposed electric service territory boundary agreement between Parker Public Utilities and Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the proposed electric service territory boundary agreement. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:14 a.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Joy Lashley .
Joy Lashley
Administrative Assistant
PUC Email
March 17, 2015
