Commission Minutes | previous page
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
May 8, 2025, at 1:30 P.M. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Commission Chairman Gary Hanson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner Chris Nelson and Commissioner Kristie Fiegen; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst, Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac and Patrick Steffensen; Grain Warehouse Program Manager Cody Chambliss; Grain Warehouse Inspector Paul Kenefick-Aschoff; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; Administrative Staff Joy Lashley and Janeth Merriman.
Also present were Matt Olsen, Nathan Jensen, Paula Foster, Brad Tollerson, Dean Lee, Randy Synstelien, and Cary Stephenson, Otter Tail Power Company; David Smith, South Dakota Farmers Union; and Brian Rounds, AESL Consulting.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Jason Keil and Lynn Kendall, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy; Pam Bonrud, Paul Mantz, and Rick Edwards, NorthWestern Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy; Brad Stahl, All Star Trading, Inc.; Paul Tschetter, Boyce Law Firm, representing All Start Trading, Inc.; Scott Breedlove; and Jordan Sillerud, Emily Ketelsen, Amber Grenier, Preston Weaver, Tim Beddow, and Preston Riewer, Otter Tail Power Company.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, May 8, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc05082025.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 April 10 and 22, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meetings held on April 10 and 22, 2025. 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 April 22, 2025, Commission meeting.
Eight contacts were related to telecommunications services, 16 contacts were related to electric services, four contacts were related to wireless services, eight contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, nine contacts were related to carbon pipelines, three contacts were referred to South Dakota One Call, and 10 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
539 of the 551 contacts received in 2025 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC23-046 In the Matter of the Petition of North American Local, LLC for Approval of Reclassification as a Facilities-Based Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, asked that the Commission allow the company to withdraw its petition and close the docket. Neither the Petitioner, North American Local, LLC, nor SDTA were in attendance.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant the Petitioner’s Request to withdraw its petition and close the docket. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL24-038 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Rate Schedule, Section 13.09, Phase-In Rider (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL24-038. An audio recording can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, May 8, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc05082025.mp3.
Mr. Cary Stephenson, Otter Tail Power Company, asked that the Commission approve the proposed Phase-In Rider Rates and revised tariff sheets with an effective date of September 1, 2025. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the Per Meter revenue requirement and Per Meter charges, effective September 1, 2025 and deferred to the Commission regarding a decision on recovery of the Abercrombie Solar and Solway Solar projects, with the Percent of Bill revenue requirement and factor being dependent upon that decision. Mr. Randy Synstelien and Mr. Nathan Jensen, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve Otter Tail Power Company’s Phase-In Rider Rates and revised tariff sheets with an effective date of September 1, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL25-008 In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Approval of Its 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Jennie Fuerst)
Mr. Jason Keil and Ms. Lynn Kendall, Black Hills Power Inc. dba Black Hills Energy, requested the Commission approve the company’s 2024 Economic Development Report and the 2025 Economic Development Plan. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the requests. Mr. Jason Keil and Ms. Lynn Kendall, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy’s 2024 Economic Development Report and its 2025 Economic Development Plan. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL25-011 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2025 Economic Development Plan and 2024 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Jennie Fuerst)
Mr. Rick Edwards and Mr. Paul Mantz, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, requested the Commission approve the company’s 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the request. Mr. Rick Edwards, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy’s 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan. Motion carried 3-0.
Grain
1. GW25-001 In the Matter of PUC Staff’s Settlement Agreement with All Star Trading, Inc. for Violations of SDCL 49-45-1 and SDCL 49-45-26 (Grain Warehouse Manager: Cody Chambliss; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. Brad Stahl, All Star Trading, Inc. (All Star), stated that he does not oppose the agreement between All Star and PUC staff. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, requested the Commission approve the joint settlement stipulation and settlement agreement and assess the civil penalty of $11,000 agreed by Staff and All Star. Mr. Brad Stahl, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Stipulation and assess a penalty of $11,000 against All Star. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG25-002 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2025 Economic Development Plan and 2024 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Brittany Mehlhaff; Staff Attorneys: Amanda Reiss, Jennie Fuerst)
Mr. Rick Edwards and Mr. Paul Mantz, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, requested the Commission approve the company’s 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan. Ms. Brittany Mehlhaff, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the request. Mr. Rick Edwards, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy Public Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy’s 2024 Economic Development Report and 2025 Economic Development Plan. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 3:18 p.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
May 8, 2025
