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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
October 13, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Gary Hanson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner: Chris Nelson; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorney; Kristen Edwards; and Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson, Lorena Reichert, Brittany Mehlhaff, Darren Kearney and Jon Thurber; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Richard Coit, South Dakota Telecommunications Association; Jason Topp, Qwest Corp. dba CenturyLink QC; Lisa Agrimonti, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. representing Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC; and Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy. Amber Christenson, self; Rick Hartley, Codington County Highway Superintendent; Brian Riniker and Sean Harrington, Crowned Ridge Wind, LLC joined the meeting by telephone to provide public comment.
Administration
1. Approval of Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on September 29, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting held on September 29, 2020. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Staff Attorney: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 46 contacts since the last report was prepared for the September 29, 2020, Commission meeting.
Six contacts were related to telecommunication services, 24 contacts were related to electric services, five contacts were related to natural gas services, two contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to the Keystone XL Pipeline, five contacts were related to the Grain Warehouse program, two contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC and one contact was referred to One Call.
920 of the 958 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC19-048 In the Matter of the Application of Standard Tandem, LLC for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Local Exchange and Interexchange Long Distance Services in South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Lorena Reichert; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket TC19-048. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, October 13, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc10132020.mp3.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the Joint Stipulation and grant the Application of Standard Tandem for a Certificate of Authority to Provide Local Exchange and Interexchange Long Distance Services in the State of South Dakota, including staff’s conditions. Motion carried 3-0.
2. TC20-050 In the Matter of the Approval of an Unbundled Network Elements – Resale Forbearance Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Sprint Communications Company, LP (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corp. dba CenturyLink QC (CenturyLink), asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve CenturyLink’s request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion Carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL18-053 In the Matter of the Application of Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC for a Permit of a Wind Energy Facility and a 345-kV Transmission Line in Deuel County (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended the Commission approve the Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC escrow account agreement with an allowance for immaterial changes. Ms. Lisa Agrimonti, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. representing Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC, asked that the Commission approve Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC’s escrow account agreement.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC’s escrow account agreement. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL20-026 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2021 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, asked that the Commission asses 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. Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, did not object to the request.
Commissioner Hanson 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.
Public Comment
Ms. Amber Christenson, Mr. Sean Harrington, Mr. Brian Riniker and Mr. Rick Hartley made public comments. A lengthy discussion was held regarding Crowned Ridge Wind Farm and Crowned Ridge II Wind Farm. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2020, October 13, 2020, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc10132020.mp3.
There being no further business, at the hour of 11:00 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren_______
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
October 13, 2020
