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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
December 22, 2020, at 9:30 A.M. CST
Room 414, 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: Joseph Rezac, Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber, Patrick Steffensen, Brittany Mehlhaff; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Sharon Thomas, Spectrotel, Inc. dba OneTouch Communications dba Touch Base Communications; Jon Baker, Willow Creek Wind Power, LLC; Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, P.C. representing Willow Creek Wind Power, LLC; Ben Halama, Matt Harris, Steve Kolbeck, Chris Shaw, Darin Schottler, Stan Dufault, Chris Buboltz, Mara Ascheman, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; and Kathy Baerlocher, Nathan Bensen, Travis Jacobson, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.
Administration
- Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on November 24, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the November 24, 2020, Commission Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
The Commission received a total of 43 contacts since the last report was prepared for the December 9, 2020, Commission meeting.
Four contacts were related to telecommunications services, nine contacts were related to electric services, four contacts were related to natural gas services, two contacts were related to gas and electric services, two contacts were related to wireless services, five contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to Keystone XL Pipeline and 16 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,216 of the 1,231 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC20-049 In the Matter of the Request of Spectrotel, Inc. dba OneTouch Communications dba Touch Base Communications to Transfer Its Certificate of Authority to Provide Interexchange Long Distance Services and Local Exchange Services in South Dakota to Spectrotel of the West LLC (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Sharon Thomas, Spectrotel, Inc. dba OneTouch Communications dba Touch Base Communications (Spectrotel), asked that the Commission grant a transfer of its Certificate of Authority to Provide Interexchange Long Distance Services and Local Exchange Service in South Dakota to Spectrotel of the West LLC. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission grant Spectrotel’s request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to grant Spectrotel’s request to transfer its Certificate of Authority to Provide Interexchange Long Distance Services and Local Exchange Services in South Dakota to Spectrotel of the West LLC. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL15-020 In the Matter of the Application by Wind Quarry Operations, LLC, for a Wind Energy Facility Permit for the Willow Creek Wind Energy Facility and Associated Facilities (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Miles Schumacher, Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, P.C. representing Willow Creek Wind Power, LLC, asked that the Commission release the road bond. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve Willow Creek Wind Power, LLC’s request and authorize the executive director or commission counsel to execute any necessary documents to release the road bond.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant the Motion for Release of Road Bond and authorize the executive director or commission counsel to execute any necessary documents to release the road bond. 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: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel), asked that the Commission approve Xcel’s 2021 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2021.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2021. Motion carried 3-0.
3. 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)
Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel), asked that the Commission approve Xcel’s 2021 Infrastructure Rider Adjustment factor of $0.011897 per kWh and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2021. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve Xcel’s request and approve the project eligibility of the four new wind projects with special rate treatment of the Community Wind North project.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the proposed projects as eligible for recovery and approve the Infrastructure Rider Adjustment factor of $0.011897 per kWh and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2021, approve special rate treatment of the Community Wind North project, and require updates to Attachment 12B in future Infrastructure Rider filings. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG20-011 In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. for Approval of Its South Dakota Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2021-2023 (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Nathan Bensen, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU), asked that the Commission approve the portfolio of natural gas conservation programs for 2021-2023. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve MDU’s request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve MDU’s Natural Gas Conservation Portfolio Plan for 2021-2023. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:21 a.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
December 22, 2020
