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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
December 10, 2019, at 9:30 A.M. CST
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Gary Hanson called the meeting to order. Commissioners: Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards and Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber, Patrick Steffensen, Joseph Rezac and Eric Paulson; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; and Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.
Present were:
Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Hilary Meyer, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks; Lynn Rapp, self; Brenda Moore, Energiekontor US Inc; Bob Mercer, KELO reporter; Christian Bohn and Steffen Steinel, Lookout Solar Park I, LLC
Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Shani Harmon, Orrick, LLP, representing Lookout Solar Park I, LLC; Vicky Moody, Combined Public Communications, LLC; and Jennifer Roesler, Jessica Peterson, Jon Packer, Benjamin Halama and Chris Shaw, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy.
Administration
1. Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on November 26, 2019. (Staff: Joy Lashley)
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on November 26, 2019. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 57 contacts since the last report was prepared for the November 26, 2019 Commission meeting.
Thirteen contacts were related to telecommunication services, 17 contacts were related to electrical services, seven contacts were related to natural gas services, one contact was related to gas and electric service, eight contacts were related to wireless service, three contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to Wind Energy, and seven contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
Contacts received in 2019: 1,177 of the 1,192 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC19-046 In the Matter of the Application of Combined Public Communications, LLC for Certificate of Authority to Provide Interexchange Long Distance Services as an Alternative Operator Service (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket TC19-046. An audio of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2019, December 10, 2019, recording located at: http://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2019/puc12102019.mp3.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant Combined Public Communications, LLC a Certificate of Authority to provide interexchange long distance services as an alternative operator service. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL19-019 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2018 Demand Side Management Report and 2020 Proposed Demand Side Management Plan (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL19-019. An audio of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2019, December 10, 2019, recording located at: http://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2019/puc12102019.mp3.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve Xcel’s 2018 Demand Side Management Status Report and tracker account, the performance incentive earned for 2018, the proposed 2020 Demand Side Management Plan, and the proposed 2020 Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Factor of $0.000477 per kWh with a January 1, 2020, effective date. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL19-032 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2020 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL19-032. An audio of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2019, December 10, 2019, recording located at: http://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2019/puc12102019.mp3.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL19-035 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2020 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL19-035. An audio of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2019, December 10, 2019, recording located at: http://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2019/puc12102019.mp3.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the proposed projects as eligible for recovery and approve the Infrastructure Rider Adjustment factor of $0.008873 per kWh and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2020. Additionally, Xcel shall provide annual information reports on the performance metrics of the Blazing Star II and Freeborn Wind Projects as detailed in the Staff Memorandum and that this motion shall not constitute a prudency determination from the Commission with respect to any of the facilities associated with this docket. Motion carried 3-0.
ADDENDUM TO THE
AGENDA OF COMMISSION MEETING
1. EL18-059 In the Matter of Lookout Solar Park I, LLC for a Permit of a Solar Energy Facility in Oglala Lakota County (Staff Analysts: Jon Thurber, Darren Kearney; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL18-059. An audio of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2019, December 10, 2019, recording located at: http://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2019/puc12102019.mp3.
Commissioner Hanson deferred the docket until a later date.
There being no further business, at the hour of 11:17 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Joy Lashley .
Joy Lashley
Administrative Specialist
PUC Email
December 10, 2019
