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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 16, 2021, 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 were Commission Attorneys: Adam de Hueck and Karen Cremer; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards; Staff: Kaitlyn Baucom; Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing Venture Communications Cooperative; and Bill Van Camp, Olinger, Lovald, McCahren, Van Camp & Thompson, P.C. representing AT&T Mobility.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioners: Kristie Fiegen and Gary Hanson; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen and Joseph Rezac; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Cary Stephenson, David Prazak, Randy Synstelien and Svetlana Fedje, Otter Tail Power Company; Steve Kolbeck and Eric Pauli, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Stephanie Olsen, Kallie Bentz and Katelyn Lynch-Butcher, MidAmerican Energy Company; and Travis Jacobson, Montana-Dakota Utilities Company.
Consumer Reports
The Commission received a total of 74 contacts since the last report was prepared for the March 5, 2021 Commission meeting.
Three contacts were related to telecommunications services, 28 contacts were related to electric services, 27 contacts were related to natural gas services, two contacts were related to gas and electric services, one contact was related to wireless services, six contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was referred to the grain warehouse program, two contacts were referred to One Call and four contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
400 of the 413 contacts received in 2021 have been resolved.
Complaint
1. CT20-001 In the Matter of the Complaint of Venture Communications Cooperative against AT&T Mobility (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, asked that the Commission approve the revised procedural schedule.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to adopt the revised procedural schedule as filed. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL21-001 In the Matter of the Filing by Otter Tail Power Company for Approval of Tariff Revisions to Its Rates for Small Power Production and Cogeneration (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Svetlana Fedje, Otter Tail Power Company, asked that the Commission approve the proposed revisions and rates. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the proposed revisions to Otter Tail Power Company’s rates and revised tariff sheets.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the proposed revisions to Otter Tail Power Company’s rates for Small Power Production and Cogeneration for Qualifying Facilities and revised tariff sheets with an effective date of April 1, 2021.Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL21-003 In the Matter of the Filing of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2020 Economic Development Activities and 2021 Budget (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Eric Pauli, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel Energy), asked that the Commission approve Xcel Energy’s 2020 Economic Development Report and 2021 Economic Development Budget. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the report and budget.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve Xcel Energy’s 2020 Economic Development Report and its 2021 Economic Development Budget. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL21-005 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of Tariff Revisions regarding Its 2020 Transmission Cost Recovery Reconciliation and 2021 Transmission Cost Recovery Factors (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Katelyn Lynch-Butcher, MidAmerican Energy Company, asked that the Commission approve the Transmission Cost Recovery rate factors and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of April 2, 2021. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, recommended that the Commission approve MidAmerican Energy Company’s request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the revised Transmission Cost Recovery rate factors and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of April 2, 2021.Motion carried 3-0.
4. EL21-007 In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., for Approval of the Annual Update to Its Infrastructure Rider Rate (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess a filing fee up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses and to authorize the executive director to enter into consulting contracts as necessary. Mr. Travis Jacobson, Montana-Dakota Utilities Company, agreed with Staff’s recommendation.
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 and give the executive director authority to enter into consulting contracts as necessary.Motion carried 3-0.
5. EL21-009 In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., for Approval of the Annual Update to Its Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Rate (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess a filing fee up to $50,000 to account for actual expenses. Mr. Travis Jacobson, Montana-Dakota Utilities Company, did not have comments.
Commissioner Nelson moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $50,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 9:54 a.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Macy Jo Murren .
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
March 16, 2021
