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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
November 12, 2019, at 1:30 P.M. CST
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING

Commissioner Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Adam de Hueck; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards and Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber, Patrick Steffensen and Eric Paulson; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; and Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.

Present was:
Bob Mercer, KELO reporter

Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Commissioner: Gary Hanson; Bryan Murphy and Kimberly Wells, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC; Chad Lebeau, Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC; Kely Mertz, SWCA, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC; Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz and Lebrun, PC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC; Lynn Wolters, Otter Tail Power Company; and Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy.

Administration

1.     Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on October 30, 2019. (Staff: Joy Lashley)

     Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on October 30, 2019. Motion carried 3-0.

Consumer Reports

1.     Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

The Commission received a total of 37 contacts since the last report was prepared for the October 30, 2019, Commission meeting.

Seven contacts were related to telecommunication services, 6 contacts were related to electrical services, 2 contacts were related to natural gas services, 8 contacts were related to wireless service, 7 contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, 1 contact was related to Wind Energy, 1 contact was related to the Grain Warehouse Division and 5 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.

Contacts received in 2019: 1,092 of the 1,102 have been resolved

Electric

1.     EL19-003     In the Matter of the Application by Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility in Grant and Codington Counties (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)

Mr. Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz and Lebrun, PC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC (Crowned Ridge), asked that the Commission approve the third-party’s credentials and lek survey methodology as required in Condition 45 of the Final Order. Mr. Darren Kearney, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve Crowned Ridge’s request.

     Commissioner Hanson moved to approve Applicant’s proposed independent third-party’s credentials and lek survey methodology. Motion carried 3-0.

2.     EL19-039      In the Matter of the Petition of Otter Tail Power Company for Approval of the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Rate (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess Otter Tail Power Company (Otter Tail), a filing fee in the amount of up to $50,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Ms. Lynn Wolters, Otter Tail, stated Otter Tail doesn’t object to the request.

     Commissioner Fiegen moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $50,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Motion carried 3-0.

Natural Gas

1.      NG19-009      In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of its Refund Plan regarding Its Recovery of Manufactured Gas Plant Site Remediation Costs (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern), asked that the Commission approve NorthWestern’s refund plan regarding its recovery of Manufactured Gas Plant Site remediation costs with an effective date of December 1, 2019. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve NorthWestern’s request.

     Commissioner Nelson approve NorthWestern’s refund plan regarding its recovery of Manufactured Gas Plant Site remediation costs with an effective date of December 1, 2019. Motion carried 3-0.

There being no further business, at the hour of 1:42 p.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.

/s/Joy Lashley     .
Joy Lashley
Administrative Specialist
PUC Email
November 12, 2019