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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
February 2, 2021, at 1:30 P.M. CST
Matthew Training Center, Foss Building
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING

Commissioner Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were: Commissioner Gary Hanson; Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards; Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom; and Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy.

Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioner Kristie Fiegen; Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff and Joseph Rezac; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Ted Smith, Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. dba Sioux Valley Energy; Ross Loomans, Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative; Mara Ascheman and Shawn Bielke, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy.

Administration

          Approval of the Minutes of the Gross Receipts Tax Hearing Held on January 14, 2021, and Commission Meeting Held on January 19, 2021 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)

          Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the January 14, 2021 Gross Receipts Tax Hearing Minutes and the January 19, 2021, Commission Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 3-0.

Consumer Reports

          The Commission received a total of 87 contacts since the last report was prepared for the January 19, 2021, Commission meeting.

          Eight contacts were related to telecommunications services, 46 contacts were related to electric services, six contacts were related to natural gas services, four contacts were related to wireless services, six 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, one contact was referred to One Call and 14 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.

          1,268 of the 1,268 contacts received in 2020 have been resolved and 156 of the 165 contacts received in 2021 have been resolved.

Electric

1.      EL20-034        In the Matter of the Joint Request for Service Rights Exception between Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. dba Sioux Valley Energy and Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

          Mr. Ted Smith, Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. dba Sioux Valley Energy (Sioux Valley), asked that the Commission approve the requested service rights exception between Sioux Valley and Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the joint request.

         Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the requested service rights exception between Sioux Valley-Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Lyon Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. Motion carried 3-0.

2.      EL20-035        In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of a Modification to the Back of the Company’s Standard Billing Form and Disconnection Notice (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

          Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, asked that the Commission approve the revised tariff sheets. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the revised tariff sheets effective February 21, 2021.
         Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the revised tariff sheets effective February 21, 2021. Motion carried 3-0.

There being no further business, at the hour of 1:49 p.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.      

/s/Macy Jo Murren_______.
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
February 2, 2021