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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
October 11, 2016, at 1:00 P.M. CDT
Room 414, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Chairman Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commissioner: Gary Hanson; Commission Counsel: Karen Cremer and Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Darren Kearney, Joseph Rezac, Eric Paulson, Brittany Mehlhaff, Lorena Reichert, and Jon Thurber; Consumer Affairs Supervisor: Deb Gregg; and Staff: Katlyn Gustafson.
Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Kristen Edwards, staff attorney; Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC; and Eric Pauli, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on September 27, 2016. (Staff: Joy Lashley)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on September 27, 2016. 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 66 contacts since the last report was prepared for the September 27, 2016, Commission meeting.
Eight contacts involved telecommunication services, 13 contacts involved electrical services, six contacts were related to natural gas services, seven contacts were related to wireless service, 12 contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, two contacts were related to Wind Energy and 18 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
Complaints received in 2014: 1,914 of the 1,916 have been resolved.
Complaints received in 2016: 1,124 of the 1,155 have been resolved.Electric
1. EL16-032 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of its 2017 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission assess Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Mr. Eric Pauli, Xcel Energy, stated Xcel Energy has no objections to staff’s request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Motion carried 3-0.
Telecommunications
1. TC16-055 In the Matter of the Approval of a Lifeline/Link Up and Tribal Lifeline Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Midcontinent Communications (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC (CenturyLink), asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement between CenturyLink and Midcontinent Communications. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, stated that the agreement was properly filed, properly executed, and does not appear to contain discriminatory provisions, and no comments were filed. Mr. Steffensen recommended that the Commission grant approval.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.
2. TC16-056 In the Matter of the Approval of a Wireline Interconnection Agreement between CenturyLink Communications Company, LLC and New Horizons Communications Corp. (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba Communications Company, LLC (CenturyLink), asked that the Commission approve the interconnection agreement between CenturyLink and New Horizons Communications Corp. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, stated that the agreement was properly filed, properly executed, and does not appear to contain discriminatory provisions, and no comments were filed. Ms. Mehlhaff recommended that the Commission grant approval.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the interconnection agreement.Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 1:05 p.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Joy Lashley .
Joy Lashley
Administrative Assistant
PUC Email
October 11, 2016
