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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
October 12, 2021, at 1:30 P.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 Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards and Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Patrick Steffensen and Darren Kearney; Staff: Juli Hedrick.
Present were: Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing South Dakota Rural Electric Association and Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Vast Broadband.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Kevin Crosby, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc., Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Jason Keil and Jana Smoot White, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy; Jason Grenier, Otter Tail Power Company; Chris Larson, Clay Union Electric, Inc.; Shane Griese, City of Vermillion; Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on September 28, 2021 (Staff: Leah Mohr)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on September 28, 2021. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
The Commission received a total of 52 contacts since the last report was prepared for the September 28, 2021, Commission meeting
Fourteen contacts were related to telecommunications services, 18 contacts were related to electric services, four contacts were related to natural gas services, four contacts were related to wireless services, one contact was related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy and 10 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,553 of the 1,588 contacts received in 2021 have been resolved.
Electric
1. EL20-022 In the Matter of the filing by Otter Tail Power Company regarding its 2021-2023 Energy Efficiency Partnership Triennial Plan (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL20-022. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2021, October 12, 2021, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2021/puc10122021.mp3
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve Otter Tail Power Company’s request to modify its 2021-2023 Energy Efficiency Partnership Triennial Plan. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL21-011 In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc., dba Black Hills Energy to Amend its Cogeneration and Small Power Production Service Tariff (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Jana Smoot White, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy, asked that the Commission approve the Settlement Stipulation and dismiss the docket. Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation. Mr. Kevin Crosby, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc., Mount Rushmore National Memorial, was also in agreement with the requests.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation, approve the terms and conditions stipulated therein and close the docket. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL21-028 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2022 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel), 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. Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Xcel, stated Xcel had no objection to staff’s request.
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.
Items for Commission Discussion
A discussion took place between the Commission and Commission Staff regarding the proper path forward for updating electric service territory agreement mapping data when certain situations arise. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2021, October 12, 2021, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2021/puc10122021.mp3
Public Comments
Mr. Chris Larson, Clay Union Electric, Inc., made a public comment.
There being no further business, at the hour of 2:31 p.m. the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/Juli Hedrick .
Juli Hedrick
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
October 12, 2021
