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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
July 8, 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 Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; and Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.
Joining the meeting by telephone were: Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Staff Analysts: Lorena Reichert, Jon Thurber, and Darren Kearney; Eric Pauli, Xcel Energy; Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz and Lebrun, PC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC.; Brian Murphy and David Gil, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC; Mark Bastasch, Bridget Canty, and Meghan Semiao, sPower, representing Prevailing Wind Park, LLC; Lisa Agrimonti, Fredrickson & Byron, P.A., representing Prevailing Wind Park LLC; Ted Smith, Sioux Valley Energy; Nick Ferens, self; Brian Riniker, self; Paul Shoenfelder, self; Lisa Shoenfelder, self; Amber Christenson, self; Kelli Pazour, self; Sherman Fuerniss, self; and Brett Koenecke, May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP, representing Meridian Wind Project, LLC
Administration
1. Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on June 23, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on June 23, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
The Commission received a total of 54 contacts since the last report was prepared for the June 23, 2020, Commission meeting.
Five contacts were related to telecommunications services, 19 contacts were related to electric services, three contacts were related to natural gas services, nine contacts were related to wireless service, five contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, four contacts were related to wind energy, eight contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC and one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call.
560 of the 572 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Electric
1. EL18-026 In the Matter of the Application by Prevailing Wind Park, LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility in Bon Homme County, Charles Mix County and Hutchinson County, South Dakota, for the Prevailing Wind Park Project (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL18-026. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, July 8, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc07082020.mp3
Commissioner Nelson moved to confirm that sound testing does not need to be conducted at the Hubner residence and that flexibility shall be afforded for testing at the Schoenfelder residence. Motion carried 3-0.
2. 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)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL19-003. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, July 8, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc07082020.mp3
Commissioner Nelson moved to affirm that pursuant to the January 9, 2020 Order Approving Temporary Waiver, Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC may end curtailment of turbines. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL20-013 In the Matter of the Application by Meridian Wind Project, LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility and a 345-kV Transmission Facility in Hyde County, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Nick Ferens asked that the Commission grant him party status. Mr. Brett Koenecke, May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP, representing Meridian Wind Project, LLC, had no objection to Mr. Ferens’ request. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended the Commission grant party status to Mr. Ferens.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant party status to Nick Ferens. Motion carried 3-0.
4. EL20-020 In the Matter of the Joint Request for an Electric Service Rights Exception between Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy and Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. dba Sioux Valley Energy (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Eric Pauli, Xcel Energy, and Mr. Ted Smith, Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, asked that the Commission approve the requested service rights exception between Xcel Energy and Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. Ms. Lorena Reichert, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the requested service rights exception between Xcel Energy and Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 11:03 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren_______
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
July 8, 2020
