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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
January 4, 2021, at 1:30 P.M. CST
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards; Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom and Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing Brookings Municipal Utilities dba Swiftel Communications.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioners: Gary Hanson and Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson and Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; John Prendergast, Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP representing Brookings Municipal Utilities dba Swiftel Communications; Laura Julius and Steve Meyer, Brookings Municipal Utilities dba Swiftel Communications; Amanda Hosch, Cory Root, Katelyn Lynch-Butcher and Renee White, MidAmerican Energy Company.
Administration
Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on December 9 and 22, 2020 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the December 9 and 22, 2020, Commission Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
The Commission received a total of 33 contacts since the last report was prepared for the December 22, 2020, Commission meeting.
Eight contacts were related to telecommunications service, 14 contacts were related to electric services, three contacts were related to natural gas services, three contacts were related to wireless services, one contact was related to the Do Not Call Registry, and four contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,250 of the 1,264 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC20-060 In the Matter of the Petition of Brookings Municipal Utilities dba Swiftel Communications to Relinquish Its Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in Study Area Code 399009 (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing Brookings Municipal Utilities dba Swiftel Communications (Swiftel), asked that the Commission grant Swiftel’s petition to relinquish its designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier in Study Area Code 399009. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve Swiftel’s request with an effective date of January 31, 2021.
Commissioner Hanson moved to grant Brookings Municipal Utilities dba Swiftel Communications request for relinquishment of Eligible Telecommunications Carrier designation in Study Area Code 399009 with an effective date of January 31, 2021.Motion carried 3-0.
2. TC20-061 In the Matter of Staff’s Petition for an Order to Show Cause Against National Access Long Distance, Inc. (Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission issue an Order to Show Cause as to why National Access Long Distance, Inc.’s Certificate of Authority should not be revoked after the company did not respond to staff’s multiple attempts to contact the company in response to a customer complaint.
Commissioner Nelson moved to issue an Order to Show Cause. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG20-012 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of Refund Plan regarding Northern Natural Gas Interim Rate Refund (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Katelyn Lynch-Butcher, MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican), asked that the Commission approve the Refund Plan regarding Northern Natural Gas Interim Rate Refund. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the proposed refund on less than 30 days’ notice effective January 7, 2021.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the proposed refund on less than 30 days’ notice effective January 7, 2021. Motion carried 3-0.
Leadership
1. Election of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission (Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck)
Commissioner Hanson moved to nominate Commissioner Nelson for the position of Chairman. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Nelson moved to nominate Commissioner Fiegen for the position of Vice Chairperson. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 1:55 p.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren.
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
January 4, 2021
