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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
September 15, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
SDDOT Commission Room, Becker-Hansen Building, 700 E. Broadway Ave.
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING

Commissioner Gary Hanson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner: Chris Nelson; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Grain Warehouse Program Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom; and Brett Koenecke, May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP representing Meridian Wind Project, LLC.

Joining the meeting by telephone were: Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Lorena Reichert, Darren Kearney and Jon Thurber; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; and Brandon Sehn, Dakota AgSynergy.

Administration
1.    Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on August 18 and September 1, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)

            Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meetings held on August 18 and September 1, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.

Consumer Reports

1.      Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Staff Attorney: Deb Gregg)
           
           Due to a technical issue, consumer contact statistics were not available. Ms. Deb Gregg, Consumer Affairs Program Manager, gave a general update, which can be found at https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc09152020.mp3.

Grain Warehouse

1.      GW20-003      In the Matter of the Request for Approval of Settlement Stipulation regarding Violations of SDCL 49-45 by Dakota AgSynergy (Grain Warehouse Program Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)        

            A lengthy discussion took place for docket GW20-003. An audio of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, September 15, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc09152020.mp3.     
         
           Commissioner Hanson moved to adopt the Stipulation and Amended Settlement Agreement as outlined in PUC Staff’s letter filed on September 11, 2020 which includes ordering  Dakota AgSynergy to  pay a fine of $3,000.00. Motion carried 3-0.

Electric

1.      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. Jon Thurber, staff analyst, requested that the Commission grant staff’s Amended Motion for Adoption of Procedural Schedule, subject to a change in evidentiary hearing dates. Mr. Brett Koenecke, May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP representing Meridian Wind Project, LLC, asked that the Commission grant Meridian Wind Project, LLC’s Motion to Extend Deadline for Commission Action and grant the Procedural Schedule proposed by staff.

         Commissioner Nelson moved to grant Applicant’s Motion to Extend Deadline for Commission Action and grant the Amended Motion for Adoption of Procedural Schedule, with the change in evidentiary hearing dates requested by staff. Motion carried 3-0.

2.      EL20-025        In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2021 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess the statutory filing fee in the amount of up to $50,000.00 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, did not object.

        Commissioner Fiegen moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $50,000.00 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Motion carried 3-0.

There being no further business, at the hour of 9:52 a.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.    

/s/Macy Jo Murren_______
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
September 15, 2020