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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
September 29, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present was Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.
Joining the meeting by telephone were: Commissioners: Gary Hanson and Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorneys: Adam de Hueck and Karen Cremer; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson, Patrick Steffensen, Brittany Mehlhaff, Darren Kearney and Jon Thurber; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Robert Mocas, Easton Telecom Services, LLC; Brian Murphy, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC; Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz and Lebrun, PC, representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC.; Richard Lampeter, Epsilon Associates representing Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC; David Hessler, Hessler Associates, Inc., representing Staff; Amber Christenson, self; and Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy.
Administration
1. Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on September 15, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on September 15, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Staff Attorney: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 133 contacts since the last report was prepared for the September 1, 2020, Commission meeting.
Nineteen contacts were related to telecommunications services, 52 contacts were related to electric services, five contacts were related to natural gas services, four contacts were related to gas and electric service, 13 contacts were related to wireless service, nine contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy, one contact was related to the Keystone XL Pipeline, 26 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC and three contacts were referred to One Call.
874 of the 912 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC20-048 In the Matter of the Application of Easton Telecom Services, L.L.C. for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Local Exchange Services in South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Robert Mocas, Easton Telecom Services, L.L.C. (Easton), asked that the Commission approve a Certificate of Authority to provide local exchange services in South Dakota. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve Easton’s request subject to the conditions that Easton not offer any prepaid services, including prepaid calling cards, and not accept or require any deposits or advance payments, for retail purposes, without prior approval of the Commission, and be subject to rural safeguards.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant Easton Telecom Services, L.L.C.’s request for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Local Exchange Services in South Dakota, including Staff’s recommended conditions. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. 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, September 29, 2020, recording located at https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc09292020.mp3 .
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the 2020 Sound Level Measurement Protocol dated September 16, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG20-007 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of its Gas Transportation Tariff Revisions Regarding Fuel Retention Percentage (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy, asked that the Commission approve NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy’s (NorthWestern) Gas Transportation Tariff Revisions regarding fuel retention percentage. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve NorthWestern’s request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the proposed tariff revisions effective October 1, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Public Comment
Ms. Amber Christenson made public comments.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:05 a.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren_______
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
September 29, 2020
