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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
January 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST. The meeting commenced at the conclusion of the Show Cause Hearing.
Matthew Training Center, Foss Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Commission Chairman Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner Kristie Fiegen; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst, Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Darren Kearney, Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac and Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; Deputy Executive Director & Finance Manager Cindy Kemnitz and Administrative Staff Janeth Merriman.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Commissioner Gary Hanson; Marlene Bennett, Consortia Consulting representing Beresford Municipal Telephone Company; Austin Hansen, Beresford Municipal Telephone Company; Curt Kabris, Steve Meyer, and Yura Chong-Elverud, City of Brookings Municipal Telephone dba Swiftel Communications; Patrick McCann, Midcontinent Communications; Zeviel Simpser, Dorsey & Whitney LLP representing Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Sarah Norcott, NorthWestern Energy; Catherine Sabers, Black Hills Service Company, LLC; and William Taylor, Taylor Law Firm, P.C. representing LIUNA.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, January 13, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc01132026.mp3.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on December 2 and December 16, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Commission Meeting held on December 2 and December 16, 2025. Motion carried 3-0.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 62 contacts since the last report was prepared for the December 16, 2025, Commission meeting.
Ten contacts were related to telecommunications services, 21 contacts were related to electric services, four contacts were related to natural gas services, two contacts were related to gas and electric service, three contacts were related to wireless services, six contacts were related to the Do Not Call Registry, two contacts were related to wind energy, one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call and 13 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
1,212 of the 1, 218 contacts received in 2025 have been resolved.
17 of the 26 contacts received in 2026 have been resolved.
Telecommunications
1. TC25-036 In the Matter of the Application by Beresford Municipal Telephone Company for an Amended Certificate of Authority (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Marlene Bennett, Consortia Consulting representing Beresford Municipal Telephone Company (Beresford), requested the Commission grant Beresford’s request for an Amended Certificate of Authority to provide local exchange services in South Dakota and grant a waiver of ARSD 20:10:32:10.03 (1-8) and (10-22). Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended the Commission grant the company’s requests.
Commissioner Hanson moved to grant Beresford’s request for an Amended Certificate of Authority and grant a waiver of ARSD 20:10:32:03 (1-8) and (10-22). Motion carried 3-0.
2. TC25-059 In the Matter of the Application of City of Brookings Municipal Telephone dba Swiftel Communications for an Amended Certificate of Authority (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac)
Mr. Curt Kabris, City of Brookings Municipal Telephone dba Swiftel Communications (Swiftel), requested the Commission grant Swiftle’s request for an Amended Certificate of Authority to provide local exchange services in South Dakota and grant a waiver of ARSD 20:10:32:10.03 (1-8) and (10-22). Mr. Joseph Rezac, staff analyst, recommended the Commission grant the company’s requests.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant Swiftel’s request for an Amended Certificate of Authority and grant a waiver of ARSD 20:10:32:03 (1-8) and (10-22). Motion carried 3-0.
3. TC25-060 In the Matter of Midcontinent Communications Waiver Request for Number Block Release (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket TC25-060. An audio recording can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, January 13, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc011326.mp3.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the request for Waiver of Utilization Threshold Requirements with the previsions that Midco be required to utilize the first 1000 block before going on to a second 1000 block and that Midco provides a report to the Commission in three years as to the actual utilization of these numbers. Motion Carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL10-016 In the Matter of the Application of Great River Energy and Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for a Permit to Construct a 10.6 Mile, 345 kV Transmission Line (CapX2020) in Brookings County Near White, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Zev Simpser, Dorsey & Whitney LLP representing Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Xcel) requested the commission release Xcel’s Bond. Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, did not object to the request. Mr. Simpser answered Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Hanson moved to grant Xcel’s motion to release bond no. 190056035. Motion carried 3-0.
Gas and Electric
1. GE25-001 In the Matter of the Joint Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation, Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., for Approval of Merger (Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)
Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, recommended the Commission approve the motion for procedural schedule. Ms. Sarah Norcott, NorthWestern Energy, and Ms. Catherine Sabers, Black Hills Service Company, LLC supported the motion for procedural schedule. William Taylor, Taylor Law Firm, P.C. representing LIUNA did not object to the motion for procedural schedule. Mr. Schaefbauer answered Commissioners’ questions.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant Joint Applicants and Staff’s motion for approval of the procedural schedule. Motion carried 3-0.
Other Items
Ms. Kristen Edwards, Commission Counsel, provided an overview of South Dakota open meetings requirements. The information for the Commission’s review can be found at https://puc.sd.gov/commission/Dockets/Admin/2025/info25-001/OpenMeetingsPresentation.pdf. This presentation satisfies the Commission’s annual review requirement pursuant to SDCL 1-25-13. In compliance with SDCL 1-25-13, the Commissioners were provided with the explanation of the open meetings laws published by the attorney general. This presentation completes the review as required for 2026.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:50 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
January 13, 2026
