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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 10, 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 Commissioners: Kristie Fiegen and Gary Hanson; Commission Attorney: Karen Cremer; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson and Jon Thurber;  Staff: Leah Mohr and Brittany Olson; and Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy.

         Joining the meeting by telephone were: Commission Attorney: Adam de Hueck; Staff Analysts: Joseph Rezac and Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC; Jim Cremer, Bantz, Gosch and Cremer LLC representing Northern Valley Communications, LLC; Jody Londo and Allison Shilinski, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; and Lynn Wolters and Amber Stalboerger, Otter Tail Power Company.

Administration

1.      Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on May 13, 2021 (Staff: Macy Jo Murren)

         Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the May 13, 2021, Commission Meeting. Motion carried 3-0.

Consumer Reports

         The Commission received a total of 84 contacts since the last report was prepared for the May 25, 2021, Commission meeting.

         Twenty contacts were related to telecommunications services, 30 contacts were related to electric services, six contacts were related to natural gas services, seven contacts were related to wireless services, five contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, five contacts were related to wind energy, 10 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC and one contact was referred to One Call.

         912 of the 928 contacts received in 2021 have been resolved.

Telecommunications

1.      TC21-018        In the Matter of the Adoption of the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

         Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.

         Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the adoption of the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

2.      TC21-019        In the Matter of the Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Peerless Network of South Dakota, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

         Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.

         Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

3.      TC21-022        In the Matter of the Approval of an Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs) – Resale Forbearance Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Nebraska Technology and Telecommunications Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.

                  Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

4.      TC21-024        In the Matter of the Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Northern Valley Communications, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Mr. Jim Cremer, Bantz, Gosch and Cremer LLC representing Northern Valley Communications asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.

                  Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

5.      TC21-026        In the Matter of the Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

         Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.

         Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

6.      TC21-027        In the Matter of the Approval of an Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs) – Resale Forbearance Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Clear Rate Communications, Inc. for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

         Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.

                  Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

Electric

1.      EL21-013        In the Matter of the Filing by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Revised Welcome Brochures (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, asked that the Commission approve the revised welcome brochures.

        Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the revised welcome brochures. Motion carried 3-0.

2.      EL21-017        In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Phase-In Rider Rate (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

         Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve Staff’s request 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. Ms. Lynn Wolters, Otter Tail Power Company, agreed with Staff’s recommendation.

        Commissioner Fiegen 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.

Commission Discussion     

A discussion was held regarding the concept of periodic progress reports for permitted wind energy facilities.  Staff Analyst Jon Thurber provided a sample construction report that can be viewed at https://puc.sd.gov/commission/dockets/electric/2021/informational/2021InfoEL7.pdf.  No other persons appeared to speak to this discussion item.  The Commission supported staff’s reporting proposal on a voluntary basis. 

There being no further business, at the hour of 9:51 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.      

/s/Macy Jo Murren            .
Macy Jo Murren
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
June 10, 2021