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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 14, 2023, at 9:30 A.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING

     Commission Chairperson Kristie Fiegen called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioners Gary Hanson and Chris Nelson; Commission Attorney Adam de Hueck; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys Kristen Edwards and Amanda Reiss; Staff Analysts Eric Paulson and Joseph Rezac; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Staff Mikayla Frick.

     Also present were Kara Semmler, South Dakota Telecommunications Association; Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing Venture Communications Cooperative; and Fay Jandreau, Venture Communications Cooperative.

     Joining the meeting by telephone were Commission Attorney Karen Cremer; Staff Analyst Patrick Steffensen; Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC; Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy; and Kathy Baelocher, Nathan Benson, Travis Jacobson, Larry Oswald and Tara Vesey, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.

     An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2023, March 14, 2023, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2023/puc03142023.mp3.

Consumer Reports

1.     Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

     The Commission received a total of 45 contacts since the last report was prepared for the February 28, 2023, Commission meeting.

     Six contacts were related to telecommunications services, 16 contacts were related to electric services, three contacts were related to natural gas services, three contacts were related to wireless services, four contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, two contacts were related to carbon pipelines, one contact was related to wind energy and 10 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.

     1,728 of the 1,729 contacts received in 2022 have been resolved.
     245 of the 268 contacts received in 2023 have been resolved.

Telecommunications

1.     TC13-026     In the Matter of Study Area Boundaries for Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

     Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, referred the Commission to staff’s memo, which stated that since the last certification made by the Commission, staff is aware of three boundary changes (Docket Nos. TC21-041, TC22-057 and TC22-069) that should be submitted to the Federal Communications Wireline Competition Bureau by March 15, 2023.

     Commissioner Nelson moved to certify the current study area boundaries, as described by staff. Motion carried 3-0.

2.     TC23-001     In the Matter of the Approval of the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Wide Voice, LLC (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

     Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC (CenturyLink), asked that the Commission approve the interconnection agreement between CenturyLink and Wide Voice, LLC. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, stated that the agreement was properly filed, properly executed, and does not appear to contain discriminatory provisions, and no comments were filed. Ms. Reiss recommended that the Commission grant approval.

     Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the Interconnection Agreement. Motion carried 3-0.

3.     TC23-002     In the Matter of the Approval of the Carrier Partner for Interconnected VoIP Provider Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Wide Voice, LLC (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

     Mr. Jason Topp, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the interconnection amendment between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Wide Voice, LLC. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, stated that the amendment was properly filed, properly executed, and does not appear to contain discriminatory provisions, and no comments were filed. Ms. Reiss recommended that the Commission grant approval.

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

Electric

1.     EL23-005     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 Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

     Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU), 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. Mr. Travis Jacobson, MDU, stated MDU does not object to the request.

     Commissioner Fiegen 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.

2.     EL23-006     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 Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Kristen Edwards)

     Ms. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission assess Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU), 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. Travis Jacobson, MDU, stated MDU does not object to the 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.

Natural Gas

1.     NG23-001     In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of its Natural Gas Tariff Revisions regarding Revised New Service Connection Fee (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

     Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern), asked that the Commission approve the proposed tariff revisions. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve NorthWestern’s request effective March 15, 2023.

     Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the proposed tariff revisions with an effective date of March 15, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.

2.     NG23-004     In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a Subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., for Approval of Its Revised Conservation Tracking Adjustment (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

     Mr. Nathan Benson, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU), asked that the Commission approve MDU’s revised Conservation Tracking Adjustment of $0.015 per dk and the associated Conservation Program Tracking Mechanism Rate 90 tariff sheet, with an effective date of April 1, 2023. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve MDU’s request.

     Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.’s request for approval of the revised Conservation Tracking Adjustment of $0.015 per dk and the associated Conservation Program Tracking Mechanism Rate 90 tariff sheet, with an effective date of April 1, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.

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

 

 /s/ Leah Mohr                 .
Leah Mohr
Deputy Executive Director
puc@state.sd.us
March 14, 2023