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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
November 6, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. CST
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Commissioner 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, Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Darren Kearney, Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Patrick Steffensen and Jon Thurber; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Joy Irving.
Also present were Sarah Norcott, Pam Bonrud, Reed McKee, Brad Wenande, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy; Brian Sandvig, Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc.; James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Schulz & Smith P.C. representing Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc. and Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC; Bob Mercer, Keloland News; and Will Rolfes, IUOE 49.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Steven Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Brian Murphy, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC; Jeffrey Decker, NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy; Henry Shi, HWG LLP representing Clarity Telecom, LLC; and Marc Krasney, Clarity Telecom, LLC.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, November 6, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc11062025.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 October 23, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on October 23, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 30 contacts since the last report was prepared for the October 23, 2025, Commission meeting.
Three contacts were related to telecommunications services, 16 contacts were related to electric services, two contacts were related to natural gas services, one contact was related to wireless services, two contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy, one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call and four contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,081 of the 1,095 contacts received in 2025 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC25-034 In the Matter of the Joint Application of Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Bluepeak and Certain Subsidiaries for Approval of Asset Transfer, Request for Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation, and Request for Relinquishment of Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Designation (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket TC25-034. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, November 06, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc11062025.mp3.
Commissioner Nelson moved to Defer to the November 18, Commission meeting. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL25-033 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Infrastructure Rider Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analysts: Eric Paulson, Brittany Mehlhaff; 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 $250,000 and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Mr. Steven Kolbeck, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, did not object to the request.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to assess a filing fee in the amount of up to $250,000 to account for actual expenses incurred in review of this filing commencing from the filing date and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL25-034 In the Matter of the Filing by Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC regarding its Notification of Intent to Apply for a Permit for an Energy Conversion Facility (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
Ms. Jennie Fuerst, staff attorney, summarized staff’s letter filed on October 28, 2025, that identified several options for an affected area and local review committee. Ms. Fuerst recommended the Commission designate a 5-mile radius for the affected area. Mr. Brian Murphy, representing Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LL, had no concerns with Staff’s recommendation.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to designate the affected area as a 5-mile radius from the proposed project location and moved that the Commission designate a local review committee consisting of those persons identified in PUC staff’s October 28, 2025, letter for the 5-mile affected area excluding unincorporated towns with no mayor. Motion carried 3-0.
Natural Gas
1. NG23-015 In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of a Contract with Deviations with Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc. (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket NG23-015. Specifically, the Commission heard oral argument from the Parties regarding Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc.’s Motion to Reopen the Docket. All Parties appeared and were represented by counsel. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2025, November 6, 2025, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2025/puc11062025.mp3.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant in part and deny in part the Motion to Reopen the Docket, finding that the Commission lacks jurisdiction over the question of the validity of the underlying agreement and therefore denying as to the request to consider vacatur; but finding the commission has jurisdiction over application of tariffs and commission orders and therefore granting in part for further exploration of the operational and service concerns for firm and interruptible service as noted in staff’s October 23 Response. Nothing in this order shall constitute a determination by the commission as to the merits or outcome of the investigation of the claims this order seeks to explore. Motion carried 3-0.
Leadership
1. Election of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission (Commission Attorney: Kristen Edwards)
Chairman Hanson moved to nominate Commissioner Nelson for the position of Chairman. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Hanson moved to nominate Commissioner Fiegen for the position of Vice Chairperson. 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
November 6, 2025
