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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 17, 2025, at 9:30 A.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; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst, Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer, Staff Analysts Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac and Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; Administrative Staff Joy Lashley.
Also present were Jason Keil, Jerrad Hammer, Wes Ashton, and Debra Owen, Black Hills Energy.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Lauren Donofrio, Jon Fabre, Jason Grenier and Cristina Zuniga, Otter Tail Power Company; Jeffrey Decker, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, June 17, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc06172025.mp3.
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 June 3, 2025, Commission meeting.
Four contacts were related to telecommunications services, 25 contacts were related to electric services, two contacts were related to natural gas services, one contact was related to gas and electric service, six contacts were related to wireless services, three contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call, and 14 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
677 of the 694 contacts received in 2025 have been resolved.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on May 8 and May 20, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meetings held on May and 20, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 42 contacts since the last report was prepared for the May 20, 2025, Commission meeting.
Three contacts were related to telecommunications services, 15 contacts were related to electric services, two contacts were related to natural gas services, five contacts were related to wireless services, one contact was related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was referred to the Grain Warehouse Program, and 15 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
628 of the 638 contacts received in 2025 have been resolved.
Electric
1. EL25-021 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s 2024 South Dakota Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report and 2025 Annual Filing to Update the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Rider (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
Ms. Cristina Zuniga, Otter Tail Power Company, requested the Commission approve Otter Tail’s 2024 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report, the 2024 Financial Incentive of $195,000, and approve the proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be increased to $0.00187/kWh for July 2025 through June 2026. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the company’s request. Ms. Cristina Zuniga and Mr. Jon Fabre responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve Otter Tail Power Company’s 2024 Energy Efficiency Plan Status Report, the 2024 Financial Incentive of $195,000 and the proposal that the Energy Efficiency Adjustment Factor be increased to $0.00187/kWh for July 2025 through June 2026. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL25-022 In the Matter of the Application of Otter Tail Power Company for Authority to Increase Its Electric Rates in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Patrick Steffensen, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
Ms. Jennie Fuerst, staff attorney, requested the Commission suspend the imposition of the tariff for 180 days beyond June 4, 2025; assess a filing fee for actual expenses related to the general rate case not to exceed $500,000; and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Ms. Lauren Donofrio, Otter Tail Power Company, supported the request. Ms. Lauren Donofrio, responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Nelson moved to suspend the imposition of the tariff for 180 days beyond June 4, 2025; assess a filing fee for actual expenses not to exceed $500,000; and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG25-003 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of a Contract with Deviations with Aberdeen Energy, LLC (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
Mr. Jeff Decker, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy, requested the Commission approve the contract with deviations with Aberdeen Energy, LLC and the associated tariff revisions with an effective date of July 1, 2025. Mr. Eric Paulson, staff analyst, recommended the Commission approve the company’s request.
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve NorthWestern Energy’s contract with deviations with Aberdeen Energy, LLC and the associated tariff revisions with an effective date of July 1, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
Items for Commission Discussion
Representatives from Black Hills Energy discussed a general business update with the commission. The business update included information on wildfire mitigation, operations, and the Lange II generating station. This discussion may be found in the recording of the Commission meeting, accessible at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc06172025.mp3.
There being no further business, at the hour of 11:14 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
June 17, 2025
