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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 9, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Telephonic – This was the seventh meeting the Commission held telephonically due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Chairman Gary Hanson called the telephonic meeting to order.
Joining the meeting by telephone were:
Commissioners: Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorneys: Adam de Hueck and Karen Cremer; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards and Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Lorena Reichert, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen, Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber and Brittany Mehlhaff; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.
Bill Van Camp, Olinger, Lovald, McCahren, Van Camp and Thompson, P.C. for AT&T Mobility; Darla Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP for Venture Communications Cooperative; Bill Taylor, Taylor Law Firm, P.C. for Lookout Solar Park I, LLC; Jason Keil, Black Hills Power Inc. dba Black Hills Energy; Matt Schmahl, West River Electric Cooperative; Bryce Haugen and Lynn Wolters, Otter Tail Power Company; Sam Wagner and Katelyn Lynch-Butcher, MidAmerican Energy Company.
Administration
1. Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on May 26, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on May 26, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 43 contacts since the last report was prepared for the May 26, 2020 Commission meeting.
Five contacts were related to telecommunication services, 11 contacts were related to electrical services, four contacts were related to natural gas service, two contacts were related to wireless service, six contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to the Keystone XL Pipeline, and 13 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC and one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call.
472 of the 485 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Complaint
1. CT20-001 In the Matter of the Complaint of Venture Communications Cooperative against AT&T Mobility (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Darla Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing Venture Communications Cooperative, and Bill Van Camp, Olinger, Lovald, McCahren, Van Camp and Thompson, P.C. representing AT&T Mobility, asked that the Commission approve the Stipulation and grant the Request for Waiver of ARSD 20:10:01:09. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the stipulation and grant the waiver request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the stipulation and grant the request for waiver of ARSD 20:10:01:09. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
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)
Commissioner Hanson deferred the docket to a later Commission meeting.
2. EL20-012 In the Matter of the Joint Request for Approval of an Amended Electric Service Territory Boundary Agreement between Black Hills Power Inc. dba Black Hills Energy and West River Electric Cooperative (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Jason Keil, Black Hills Power Inc. dba Black Hills Energy, requested that the Commission approve the Joint Request for approval of an Amended Electric Service Territory Boundary Agreement between Black Hills Power Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (Black Hills Energy) and West River Electric Cooperative. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Amended Electric Service Territory Boundary Agreement between West River Electric Cooperative and Black Hills Energy. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL20-019 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Phase-In Rider Rate (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, asked that the Commission assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000, to account for actual expenses incurred in the review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Ms. Lynn Wolters, Otter Tail Power Company, did not object to staff’s request.
Commissioner Nelson 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.
Natural Gas
1. NG20-003 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of Its 2019 Economic Development Activities and 2020 Proposed Budget (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Katelyn Lynch-Butcher, MidAmerican Energy Company, asked that the Commission approve MidAmerican Energy Company’s 2019 Economic Development Activities and 2020 Proposed Budget. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve MidAmerican Energy Company’s 2019 Economic Development Activities and 2020 Proposed Budget. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:12 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren_______
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
June 9, 2020
