Commission Minutes | previous page
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
February 11, 2025, at 1:30 P.M. CST
Library Commons, Mackay Building, 800 Governors Drive
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Darren Kearney and Joseph Rezac; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Janeth Merriman.
Also present were Cody Honeywell and Aaron Scheibe, May Adam Law Firm, representing SCS Carbon Transport LLC; and Bob Mercer, Keloland News.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioner Kristie Fiegen; Staff Analyst Jon Thurber; Paula Foster, Amber Grenier, Derek Haugen and Jordan Sillerud, Otter Tail Power Company; Eric Bogue, representing Minnehaha County, Brian Jorde, Domina Law Group representing Intervenors; and Sylvester Jacobs.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, February 11, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc02112025.mp3.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting and the Gross Receipts Tax Hearing Held on January 14, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting, and the Gross Receipt Tax Hearing held on January 14, 2025. Motion carried 2-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 85 contacts since the last report was prepared for the January 28, 2025, Commission meeting.
Four contacts were related to telecommunications services, 16 contacts were related to electric services, three contacts were related to natural gas services, one contact was related to gas and electric service, five contacts were related to wireless services, 39 contacts were related to carbon pipelines, six contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was referred to One Call and 10 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,359 of the 1,359 contacts received in 2024 have been resolved.
278 of the 294 contacts received in 2025 have been resolved.
Electric
1. 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)
Mr. Derek Haugen, Otter Tail Power Company, requested the Commission approve the company’s requested tariff revisions with an effective date of March 1, 2025. Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the company’s tariff revision request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the tariff revisions and TCR rate factors with an effective date of March 1, 2025. Motion carried 2-0.
Hydrocarbon and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines
1. HP24-001 In the Matter of the Application by SCS Carbon Transport LLC for a Permit to Construct a Carbon Dioxide Transmission Pipeline (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorneys: Kristen Edwards, Logan Schaefbauer)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket HP24-001. An audio recording can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, February 11, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc02112025.mp3.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant intervention to those listed in her February 10, 2025 filing.
Commissioner Nelson made a substitute motion to accept all from Staff’s filing except Julie Burkhart. Motion carried 2-0.
Commissioner Nelson moved to deny party status to everyone for whom Party Status has not already been granted, except for those who are listed on Commissioner Fiegen’s deferral list, filed in the docket on February 10, 2025, and Julie Burkhart, and to defer action on those for whom Party Status has not been granted or denied. Motion carried 2-0
There being no further business, at the hour of 2:11 p.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
February 11, 2025
