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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 17, 2024, at 1:30 P.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING

            Commission Chairperson Kristie Fiegen called the meeting to order. Present were Vice Chairman Gary Hanson and Commissioner Chris Nelson; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Brittany Mehlhaff, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen and Jon Thurber; Grain Warehouse Manager Cody Chambliss; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Mikayla Frick.

            Also present were Steve Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Matthew Bogue, South Dakota Farm Bureau; Liv Stavick, South Dakota Agri-Business Association; and Brenda Forman, South Dakota Association of Cooperatives.

            Joining the meeting by telephone were Michael Donahue, Rebecca Eilers, Benjamin Hamala, and Jody Lando, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Paula Foster, Jason Grenier, Josh Humburg, Emily Ketelsen, Todd Langston and Cristina Zuniga, Otter Tail Power Company; Mollie Smith, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., representing Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency; Kavita Maini, KM Energy Consulting, LLC and Daniel Jurgens.

            An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2024, June 17, 2024, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2024/puc06172024.mp3.

           (Note): For the purpose of continuity, these minutes match the agenda and are not necessarily in chronological order.

Administration

1.         Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on June 4, 2024 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

            Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on June 4, 2024. Motion carried 3-0.

Consumer Reports

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

            The Commission received a total of 58 contacts since the last report was prepared for the June 4, 2024, Commission meeting.

            Thirteen contacts were related to telecommunications services, 25 contacts were related to electric services, four contacts were related to natural gas services, six contacts were related to wireless telecommunications services, three contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy, and six contacts were referred to South Dakota One Call.

            572 of the 586 contacts received in 2024 have been resolved.

Grain

1.         GW23-001        In the Matter of PUC Staff’s Complaint Against Banghart Properties, LLC, Gettysburg, South Dakota (Grain Warehouse Program Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

            Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, noted that on June 17, 2024, Banghart Properties, LLC (Banghart) requested to withdraw its application for a grain buyer license for the licensing period commencing July 1, 2024, therefore, no further action was necessary in this docket.  Banghart did not appear personally or by phone. 

            The matter having become moot, the Commission took no action.

Electric

1.         EL23-025      In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2024 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

            A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL23-025. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2024, June 17, 2024, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2024/puc06172024.mp3.     

            Chairperson Fiegen deferred the docket to a later meeting.

2.         EL24-015        In the Matter of the Application by Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency for a Facility Permit for a 345-kV Transmission Facility and Associated Facilities in Grant County, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Amanda Reiss)

           The Commission considered the Party Status application filed by Daniel and Tamra Jurgens.  Mr. Daniel Jurgens was present telephonically and requested to be granted Party Status. Ms. Mollie Smith, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., representing Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, and Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, did not object to the request.

           Commissioner Hanson moved to grant Party Status to Daniel and Tamra Jurgens. Motion carried 3-0.

3.      EL24-017        In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s 2023 South Dakota Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2024 Annual Filing to Update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)

           Mr. Jason Grenier, Otter Tail Power Company, requested the Commission approve Otter Tail’s 2023 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report, the 2023 Financial Incentive of $157,500, and approve the proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be lowered to $0.00134/kWh for July 2024 through June 2025. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the company’s request.

           Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve Otter Tail Power Company’s 2023 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report, the 2023 Financial Incentive of $157,500 and the proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be lowered to $0.00134/kWh for July 2024 through June 2025. Motion carried 3-0.

4.      EL24-020        In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Rate Schedule, Section 13.09, Phase-In Rider (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: LoganSchaefbauer)

           Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, requested the Commission assess Otter Tail Power Company 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. Ms. Emily Ketelsen, Otter Tail Power Company, supported the request.

           Commissioner Hanson 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.

            There being no further business, at the hour of 2:29 p.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.

 

  /s/ Janeth A. Merriman                 .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
June 17, 2024