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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 23, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Chairman Gary Hanson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commissioner: Chris Nelson; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss; Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; and Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.
Joining the meeting by telephone were: Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Lorena Reichert, Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Brian Weiss, Amanda Hosch, Peggi Allenback and Katelyn Lynch-Butcher, MidAmerican Energy Company; Jason Grenier, Otter Tail Power Company; Pam Bonrud, Paul Mantz, Rick Edwards and Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy.
Administration
1. Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on June 9, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on June 9, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 33 contacts since the last report was prepared for the June 9, 2020, commission meeting.
Ten contacts were related to telecommunication services, 10 contacts were related to electrical services, three contacts were related to wireless service, three contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy, five contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC and one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call.
513 of the 518 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Electric
1. EL20-014 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2020 Economic Development Plan and 2019 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL20-014. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, June 23, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc06232020.mp3
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy’s 2019 Economic Development Report and 2020 Economic Development Plan. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL20-016 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s 2019 South Dakota Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2020 Annual Filing to Update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson, Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL20-016. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, June 23, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc06232020.mp3
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve Otter Tail Power Company’s 2019 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report, the 2019 Financial Incentive of $209,700 and the proposed Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor of $0.00195/kWh with an effective date of July 1, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG19-012 In the Matter of the Application of MidAmerican Energy Company for Authority to Continue Its Incentive Gas Supply Procurement Plan in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Katelyn Lynch-Butcher, MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican), asked that the Commission approve MidAmerican’s request to withdraw the docket without prejudice. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve MidAmerican’s request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve MidAmerican’s request to withdraw the docket without prejudice. Motion carried 3-0.
2. NG20-002 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2020 Economic Development Plan and 2019 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Rick Edwards, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, asked that the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s 2020 Economic Development Plan and 2019 Economic Development Report. Ms. Lorena Reichert, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy’s 2019 Economic Development Report and 2020 Economic Development Plan. Motion carried 3-0.
3. NG20-004 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of a Contract with Deviations with Rustic Acres Hutterite Colony (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, asked that the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s contract with deviations with Rustic Acres and the associated tariff revisions with an effective date of July 1, 2020. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s request.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy’s contract with deviations with Rustic Acres and the associated tariff revisions with an effective date of July 1, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:26 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren_______
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
June 23, 2020
