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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
November 19, 2024, 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 Chris Nelson; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst, Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Eric Paulson and Joseph Rezac; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; Deputy Executive Director Leah Mohr; and Administrative Staff Janeth Merriman.
Also present were Steven Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; David Smith, South Dakota Farmers Union; and Bob Mercer, KELO Media Group.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioner Gary Hanson; Lance Steinhart, Lance J.M. Steinhart, P.C. representing TEMPO Telecom, LLC; Cody Holmes, Jessie Peterson, Karl Shlanta Andrew Siebenaler, Lauren Steinhaeuser and Laurie Wold, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Paula Foster and Derek Haugen, Otter Tail Power Company.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2024, November 19, 2024, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2024/puc11192024.mp3.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on November 7, 2024 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on November 7, 2024. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 43 contacts since the last report was prepared for the November 7, 2024, Commission meeting.
One contact was related to telecommunications services, six contacts were related to electric services, one contact was related to natural gas services, four contacts were related to wireless services, four contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to carbon pipelines, 10 contacts were related to wind energy, two contacts were referred to South Dakota One Call, and 14 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,158 of the 1,178 contacts received in 2024 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC23-043 In the Matter of the Filing of TEMPO TELECOM, LLC’s Application for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of South Dakota for the Limited Purpose of Providing Lifeline Service to Qualifying Customers (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Lance Steinhart, Lance J.M. Steinhart, P.C. representing TEMPO Telecom, LLC requested to withdraw its application without prejudice. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended that the Commission grant TEMPO Telecom, LLC’s request and close the docket. SDTA did not attend.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant TEMPO Telecom, LLC’s request to withdraw its Application without prejudice and close the docket. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL24-016 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2023 Demand Side Management Report and 2025 Proposed Demand Side Management Plan (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL24-016. An audio recording can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2024, November 19, 2024, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2024/puc11192024.mp3.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve Xcel’s 2023 Demand Side Management Status Report and tracker account, the performance incentive earned for 2023 and approve Xcel’s 2025 Demand Side Management Plan with the exception that the water heating program and the Horticulture LED lighting program are removed, and the proposed 2025 Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Factor of $0.000452 per kWh, and the associated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2025.
Commissioner Hanson moved to amend the Motion to include the water heating program and change the Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Factor of $0.000457 per kWh. Motion to amend failed 1-2. Commissioners Fiegen and Nelson dissenting.
Back to Commissioner Nelson's original Motion. Motion failed 1-2. Commissioners Fiegen and Hanson dissenting.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve Xcel’s 2023 Demand Side Management Status Report and tracker account and the performance incentive earned for 2023. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve Xcel’s 2025 Demand Side Management Plan with the exception that the water heating program and the Horticulture LED lighting program are removed and the proposed 2025 Demand Side Management Cost Adjustment Factor of $0.000452 per kWh, and the associated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL24-030 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2025 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
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, 2025. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the request. Mr. Cody Holmes, Xcel Energy, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the updated Transmission Cost Recovery rate factor and updated tariff sheet with an effective date of January 1, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL24-034 In the Matter of the Petition of Otter Tail Power Company for Approval of the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider Rate (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
Ms. Jennie Fuerst, 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. Derek Haugen, Otter Tail Power Company, supported the request.
Commissioner Nelson 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.
There being no further business, at the hour of 11:00 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
November 19, 2024
