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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
January 9, 2024, at 9:30 A.M. CST
Matthew Training Center, Foss Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Commission Chairperson Kristie Fiegen called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner Gary Hanson and Commissioner Chris Nelson; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorneys Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac and Patrick Steffensen; and Administrative Staff Mikayla Frick.
Also present were Kara Semmler, South Dakota Telecommunications Association; Pam Bonrud and Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy; David Smith, South Dakota Farmers Union; and Joshua Haiar.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; Carey Roesel, Inteserra Consulting Group representing Impact Telecom LLC; Basil Copeland, James Garren, Kavita Maini and Dave Peterson representing PUC Staff; and Jeff Berzina, Aaron Bjorkman, Cyndee Fang, Shannon Heim, Bleau LaFave, Crystal Lail and Kristi Wallman, NorthWestern Energy.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2024, January 9, 2024, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2024/puc01092024.mp3.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on December 19, 2023 (Deputy Executive Director: Leah Mohr)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on December 19, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 56 contacts since the last report was prepared for the December 19, 2023, Commission meeting.
Four contacts were related to telecommunications services, 25 contacts were related to electric services, five contacts were related to natural gas services, two contacts were related to wireless telecommunications services, three contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy, one contact was related to carbon pipelines and 15 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,420 of the 1,431 contacts received in 2023 have been resolved.
15 of the 17 contacts received in 2024 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC23-051 In the Matter of the Application of Impact Telecom, LLC for Certificates of Authority to Provide Local Exchange and Interexchange Telecommunications Services in the State of South Dakota (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Carey Roesel, Inteserra Consulting Group representing Impact Telecom LLC, stated that the company’s initial filing letter contained an error and clarified that Impact Telecom is seeking authority to provide interexchange telecommunications services only and does not intend to pursue authority to provide local exchange telecommunications services. Ms. Kara Semmler, South Dakota Telecommunications Association, stated that in consideration of the clarification provided by Impact Telecom, SDTA will withdraw its Petition to Intervene.
Due to the withdrawal of the request, the Commission took no action.
Electric
1. EL23-016 In the Matter of the Application of Northwestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Authority to Increase its Electric Rates (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL23-016. An audio recording can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2024, January 9, 2024, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2024/puc01092024.mp3.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and approve the rates, tariff sheets, terms and conditions stipulated therein. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:24 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Leah Mohr .
Leah Mohr
Deputy Executive Director
puc@state.sd.us
January 9, 2024
