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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
September 9, 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 Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst and Amanda Reiss, Staff Analysts Darren Kearney, Brittany Mehlhaff, and Eric Paulson; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; Administrative Staff Joy Irving.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Pipeline Safety Program Manager Mary Zanter; Lisa Agrimonti, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., representing Big Stone Energy Storage Project, LLC; Eric Pauli, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Meredith Moore, Cutler Law Firm, representing City of Garretson; and Jordan Doane, City of Garretson.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, September 9, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc09092025.mp3.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on August 14, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on August 14, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 23 contacts since the last report was prepared for the August 26, 2025, Commission meeting.
One contact was related to telecommunications services, nine contacts were related to electric services, three contacts were related to wireless services, two contact was related to wind energy, one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call, and seven contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
905 of the 919 contacts received in 2025 have been resolved.
Electric
1. EL25-018 In the Matter of Big Stone Energy Storage Project, LLC’s Petition for a Declaratory Ruling Regarding Otter Tail Power Company’s Energy Efficiency Program’s Cost Recovery Fee (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney; Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Lisa Agrimonti, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., representing Big Stone Energy Storage Project, LLC requested the Commission dismiss without prejudice the Petition for a Declaratory Ruling and close the docket. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request, noting that the matter has been resolved in another docket.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant Big Stone Energy Storage Project, LLC’s Motion to Withdraw the Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Close the Docket. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL25-031 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Transmission Cost Recovery Eligibility and Rate Adjustment (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: 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. Eric Pauli, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, had no objection to the request.
Commissioner Hanson 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.
Pipeline Safety
1. PS25-001 In the Matter of the PUC Staff’s Complaint Against Garretson Natural Gas Utilities (Pipeline Safety Manager: Mary Zanter; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Mary Zanter, Pipeline Safety Program Manager, requested the Commission approve the Stipulation and assess a $5,000 civil penalty, with $2,500 suspended, pursuant to the agreement between Staff and Garretson Natural Gas Utilities (Garretson). Ms. Meredith Moore, Cutler Law Firm, representing City of Garretson requested the Commission approve of the Stipulation, which provided for a portion of the penalty to be suspended conditioned upon Garretson’s compliance with a Plan of Action. Ms. Moore, Ms. Reiss and Ms. Zanter responded to Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Stipulation and assess a penalty of $5,000 against Garretson with $2,500 suspended pursuant to the terms of the Stipulation and Plan of Action, and that the suspended amount will be forgiven upon compliance with the Plan of Action. Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 9:56 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
September 9, 2025
