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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
May 24, 2022, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION HEARING
Commissioner Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner: Gary Hanson; Commission Attorneys: Karen Cremer and Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor: Greg Rislov; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff and Eric Paulson; Consumer Affairs Staff: Deb Gregg; Staff: Mikayla Frick.
Present were: Jason Sutton representing LTD Broadband LLC; Kara Semmler, representing South Dakota Telecommunications Association; John Schmidt.
Joining the meeting by telephone was Commissioner: Kristie Fiegen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards; Katelyn Lynch-Butcher and Renee White, MidAmerican Energy Company.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on April 28 and May 10, 2022 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meetings held on April 28 and May 10, 2022. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
- Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 50 contacts since the last report was prepared for the May 10, 2022, Commission meeting.
Eleven contacts were related to telecommunications services, eight contacts were related to electric services, two contacts were related to wireless services, six contacts were related to natural gas services, one contact was related to gas and electric services, four contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, four contacts were related to carbon pipelines, one contact was related to wind energy, four contacts were referred to One Call and nine contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
706 of the 729 contacts received in 2022 have been resolved.
Gas and Electric
1. GE22-001 In the Matter of the Filing by MidAmerican Energy Company for Approval of a Revised Customer Information Welcome Booklet (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket GE22-001. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2022, May 24, 2022, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2022/puc05242022.mp3
Commissioner Hanson moved to defer the docket to a later meeting. Motion carried 3-0.
Telecommunications
1. TC21-001 In the Matter of the Application of LTD Broadband LLC for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier for Purposes of Receiving Federal Universal Service Support (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Jason Sutton, representing LTD Broadband, LLC, made an oral request to revise LTD Broadband LLC’s Petition for Reconsideration or Rehearing to include a request to amend the Application in regard to some of the census blocks as a basis for reconsideration or rehearing. A lengthy discussion took place for docket TC21-001. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2022, May 24, 2022, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2022/puc05242022.mp3
Commissioner Fiegen moved to defer the docket to a later meeting to provide LTD Broadband, LLC time to submit a written motion to amend the Petition for Reconsideration or Rehearing and allow the parties an opportunity to respond. Motion carried 3-0.
Items for Commission Discussion
Commissioners discussed information disseminated by MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) regarding anticipated summer load and generation. Chairman Nelson directed commission advisors to send a letter to the South Dakota jurisdictional MISO utilities requesting that each utility submit a response to the PUC regarding generational capabilities and expected summer load.
Public Comment
Mr. John Schmidt made public comments about the electric grid.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:54 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
May 24, 2022
