Commission Minutes | previous page
South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
May 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. CDT
Room 413, Capitol Building
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF COMMISSION MEETING
Commission Chairman Chris Nelson called the meeting to order. Present were Commissioner Kristie Fiegen and Commissioner Gary Hanson; Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorney Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Darren Kearney, Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, and Joseph Rezac; Public Utilities Manager Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Janeth Merriman.
Also present were Staff Attorney Jennie Fuerst; Ian Dobson, Benjamin Halama, Steven Kolbeck, and Laurie Wold, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; Zeviel Simper, Dorsey & Whitney LLP representing Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, Brian Rounds, AESL Consulting, and Meghan O’Brien, South Dakota Searchlight.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Staff Attorney Amanda Reiss; Jason Keil and Douglas Law, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy; James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Schultz & Smith P.C. representing South Dakota Large Customer Group; Chad Kinsley, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Ken Schlimgen, Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Brad Sylliaasen, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; and Basil Copeland, Colton Kennedy, and Ryan Pfaff, Staff Consultants.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, May 8, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc05082026.mp3.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 55 contacts since the last report was prepared for the April 23, 2026, Commission meeting.
Two contacts were related to telecommunications services, 22 contacts were related to electric services, four contacts were related to wireless service, two contacts were related to natural gas, one contact was related to gas and electric service, two contacts were related to wind energy, four contacts were related to unwanted calls and the Do Not Call Registry, two contacts were referred to South Dakota One Call and 16 contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
558 of the 564 contacts received in 2026 have been resolved.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on April 23, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Meeting Held on April 23, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. EL26-003 In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy for Authority to Increase Rates For its Utility Service in South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Mr. James Moore, Woods Fuller Shultz & Smith representing Dakota Panel, Fischer Furniture, Inc., Forest Products Distributors, Inc., GCC Dacotah, Inc., Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc., Pete Lien & Sons, Inc., the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, and Spearfish Forest Products Inc., collectively known as the South Dakota Large Customer Group (SDLCG) asked the Commission to grant intervention to each of the entities named in the SDLCG Petition to Intervene. Mr. Jason Keil, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy, and Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, did not object to the request.
Commissioner Nelson moved the Commission grant intervention to each of the entities named in the SDLCG’s Petition to Intervene. Motion carried 3-0.
2. EL26-010 In the Matter of the Joint Request for Approval of an Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement between Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Staff Analyst: Darren Kearney)
Mr. Chad Kinsley, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Mr. Ken Schlimgen, Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. asked the Commission to approve the Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement. Mr. Darren Kearney, staff analyst, recommended that the Commission approve the requested service rights exception between Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the requested Electric Service Territory Exception Agreement between Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL25-024 In the Matter of the Application of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Authority to Increase its Electric Rates (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac, Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Zeviel Simpser, attorney for Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy, requested the Commission grant the Parties’ Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation, thereby resolving all issues in this rate case. Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, recommended approval of the Settlement Stipulation. The intervenor, Mr. Steven Wegman, did not appear. A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL25-024. An audio recording can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, May 8, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc05082026.mp3.
Commissioner Hanson moved to grant the Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and approve the rates, tariff sheets, terms and conditions stipulated therein.Motion carried 3-0.
There being no further business, at the hour of 11:37 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
May 8, 2026
