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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
December 8, 2021, at 9:30 A.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 Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Kristen Edwards; Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson and Darren Kearney; Grain Warehouse: Paul Kenefick-Aschoff; Staff: Juli Hedrick.
Present were: Steve Kolbeck, Xcel Energy; Brett Koenecke, May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP representing North Bend Wind Project, LLC; Bob Mercer, KELOland News
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioners: Kristie Fiegen, Gary Hanson; Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager: Deb Gregg; Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC; Eric Flower, Jesse Peterson, James Denniston, John Chow, Mary Morrison, Christopher Franks and Christopher Buboltz, Xcel Energy; Jeffrey Decker, NorthWestern Energy; Ryan Berger and Carly Filler, Brightmark Full Circle RNG, LLC.
Consumer Reports
The Commission received a total of 68 contacts since the last report was prepared for the November 23, 2021, Commission meeting.
Sixteen contacts were related to telecommunications services, 15 contacts were related to electric services, 13 contacts were related to natural gas services, six contacts were related to wireless services, four contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy, one contact was related to carbon pipelines, one contact was referred to One Call and 11 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,820 of the 1,840 contacts received in 2021 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC21-116 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 ACN Communication Services, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, requested the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.
2. TC21-117 In the Matter of the Batch Hot Cut Removal Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and ACN Communication Services, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, requested the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.
3. TC21-118 In the Matter of the Approval of an Unbundling and Resale Requirements Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and ACN Communication Services, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, requested the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL21-014 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2020 Demand Side Management Report and 2022 Proposed Demand Side Management Plan (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL21-014. An audio recording of the discussion can be found under the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2021, December 8, 2021, Recording located at:
https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2021/puc12082021.mp3
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve Xcel Energy’s 2020 Demand Side Management Status Report and tracker account, the performance incentive earned for 2020, the proposed 2022 Demand Side Management Plan, and the proposed 2022 Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Factor of $0.000554 per kWh with a January 1, 2022, effective date.
Commissioner Nelson moved to amend the motion to remove the Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters Program and correspondingly reduce the 2022 Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Factor. Motion to amend failed 1-2. Commissioners Fiegen and Hanson dissenting.
Main motion carried 3-0.
2. EL21-018 In the Matter of the Application by North Bend Wind Project, LLC for a Permit to Construct and Operate the North Bend Wind Project in Hyde County and Hughes County, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Brett Koenecke, May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP representing North Bend Wind Project, LLC, requested the Commission adopt the revised procedural schedule. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Nelson moved to adopt the revised procedural schedule. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL21-019 In the Matter of the Filing by Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Tariff Revisions to Its Rates for Small Power Production and Cogeneration (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Xcel Energy, requested the Commission approve Xcel Energy’s tariff revisions with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve Xcel Energy’s tariff revisions with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Motion carried 3-0.
4. EL21-025 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2022 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Xcel Energy, requested the Commission approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG21-008 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of a Contract with Deviations with Brightmark Full Circle RNG, LLC (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Mr. Jeffrey Decker, NorthWestern Energy, requested the Commission approve Northwestern Energy’s contract with deviations with Brightmark Full Circle RNG, LLC and the associated tariff revisions. Mr. Ryan Berger, Brightmark Full Circle RNG, LLC agreed to the request made by NorthWestern Energy. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the request with an effective date of December 8, 2021.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy’s contract with deviations with Brightmark Full Circle RNG, LLC and the associated tariff revisions with an effective date of December 8, 2021. Motion carried 3-0.
/s/ Juli Hedrick
Juli Hedrick
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
December 8, 2021
