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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
November 21, 2023, at 9:30 A.M. CST
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Commission Chairperson Kristie Fiegen called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner Gary Hanson; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorneys Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Brittany Mehlhaff, Joseph Rezac and Patrick Steffensen; and Administrative Staff Mikayla Frick.
Also present were Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; and David Smith, South Dakota Farmers Union.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioner Chris Nelson; Chris Buboltz and Chris Franks, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Rhonda Erickson and Darcy Neigum, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.; Jordan Sillerud, Otter Tail Power Company; and Jeff Decker, Luke Hanson and Emily Ng, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2023, November 21, 2023, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2023/puc11212023.mp3.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on November 7, 2023 (Deputy Executive Director: Leah Mohr)
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on November 7, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 47 contacts since the last report was prepared for the November 7, 2023, Commission meeting.
Seven contacts were related to telecommunications services, 13 contacts were related to electric services, six contacts were related to natural gas services, one contact was related to wireless services, five contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, two contacts were related to carbon pipelines, and 13 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,316 of the 1,330 contacts received in 2023 have been resolved.
Electric
1. EL23-026 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2024 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, requested the Commission approve the company’s updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2024. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the request. Mr. Chris Buboltz, Xcel Energy, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2024. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL23-030 In the Matter of the Filing by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. for Approval of Tariff Revisions to Its Rates for Rate 95 and Rate 96 (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
Ms. Rhonda Erickson, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., requested the Commission approve the company’s tariff revisions with an effective date of January 1, 2024. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the company’s request. Mr. Darcy Neigum, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the company’s requested tariff changes effective January 1, 2024. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL23-033 In the Matter of the Petition of Otter Tail Power Company for Approval of the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Rate (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer and Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, requested the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date in the amount of up to $50,000. Mr. Jordan Sillerud, Otter Tail Power Company, supported 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.
Gas & Electric
1. GE23-002 In the Matter of the Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation for Approval of an Order Authorizing It to Issue Up to $350 Million of Securities (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation, requested the Commission grant a waiver from the 30-day review requirement as provided in SDCL 49-34A-31. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the company’s request for a waiver from the 30-day review requirement as provided in SDCL 49-34A-31. Commissioner Fiegen moved to amend the motion to extend the timeframe of the docket to January 1, 2024. Amended motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG23-023 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Northern Natural Gas Interim Rate Refund Method (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, requested the Commission approve the company’s proposed refund method effective December 2, 2023. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the request. Mr. Luke Hanson, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the proposed refund method effective December 2, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.
2. NG23-024 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of its Refund Plan regarding Its Recovery of Manufactured Gas Plant Site Remediation Costs (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, requested that the Commission approve NorthWestern Energy’s refund plan regarding its recovery of Manufactured Gas Plant Site remediation costs with an effective date of December 1, 2023. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the request.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy’s refund plan regarding its recovery of Manufactured Gas Plant Site remediation costs with an effective date of December 1, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:16 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Leah Mohr .
Leah Mohr
Deputy Executive Director
puc@state.sd.us
November 21, 2023
