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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 6, 2020, 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. Present were: Commissioners: Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards and Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber, Lorena Reichert, Patrick Steffensen, Brittany Mehlhaff, Joseph Rezac and Eric Paulson; Grain Warehouse; Cody Chambliss and Paul Kenefick- Aschoff; and Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.

Present were:
Laura Rowe, May, Adam, Gerdes, and Thompson, LLP, representing Engelman Commercial Group LLC dba BC Trading Corp.; and Brian Rounds representing AESL Consulting.

Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck; Matt Harris, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Jason Keil, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy; Kallie Bentz, MidAmerican Energy Company; and Carl Engelman, Engelman Commercial Group LLC dba BC Trading Corp.

Administration

1.     Approval of Minutes of the Commission meetings held on February 3 and 18, 2020. (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)

     Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meetings held on February 3 and 18, 2020.  Motion carried 3-0.

Consumer Reports

1.     Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

The Commission received a total of 58 contacts since the last report was prepared for the February 18, 2020 Commission meeting.

Twelve contacts were related to telecommunication services, 24 contacts were related to electrical services, four contacts were related to natural gas services, one contact was related to gas and electric service,  two contacts were related to wireless service, eight contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, and seven contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC. 

Contacts received in 2020: 202 of the 209 have been resolved.

Electric

1.     EL18-003     In the Matter of the Application by Dakota Range I, LLC and Dakota Range II, LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility in Grant County and Codington County, South Dakota, for the Dakota Range Wind Project (Staff Analysts: Jon Thurber, Darren Kearney; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)

Mr. Matt Harris, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel), asked that the Commission approve the Motion for Approval of Transfer of Permit. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve Xcel’s request.

     Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Motion for Approval of Transfer of Permit. Motion carried 3-0.

2.     EL20-001     In the Matter of the Joint Request for Approval of an Amended Electric Service Territory Boundary Agreement between Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

Mr. Jason Keil, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE), asked that the Commission to approve the Amended Service Territory Boundary Agreement between Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. and BHE. Ms. Lorena Reichert, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the Amended Service Territory Boundary Agreement. 

Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the Amended Service Territory Boundary Agreement between Black Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Black Hills Energy. Motion carried 3-0.

3.     EL20-006     In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of Tariff Revisions to Its 2019 Transmission Cost Recovery Reconciliation and 2020 Transmission Cost Recovery Factors (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, requested the Commission assess the statutory filing fee. Ms. Kallie Bentz, MidAmerican Energy Company, did not object.

     Commissioner Nelson 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.

Grain Warehouse

1.     GW20-001     In the Matter of PUC Staff’s Complaint Against Engelman Commercial Group, LLC dba BC Trading Corp. (Warehouse Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)

Ms. Laura Rowe, May, Adam, Gerdes and Thompson LLP, representing Engelman Commercial Group LLC dba BC Trading Corp. and Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, asked that the Commission grant the Joint Motion and approve the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement.

     Commissioner Hanson moved to grant the Joint Motion and approve the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

     There being no further business, at the hour of 9:46 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.

/s/Macy Jo Murren
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
March 6, 2020