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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting 
May 19, 2026, at 9:30 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 Attorneys Amanda Reiss and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Darren Kearney, Brittany Mehlhaff, and Joseph Rezac; Public Utilities Manager Patrick Steffensen; and Administrative Staff Joy Irving.

           Also present were Alex Gilbert, Dakota Range III, JD Hanson, North Bend Wind, and Brett Koenecke.

           Joining the meeting by telephone were Jeffrey Decker, Rick Edwards, Paul Mantz and Emilie Ng, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation; Rick Gutierrez, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC; Adam Burham and Jason Keil, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy; and James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. representing South Dakota Large Customer Group.

           An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, May 19, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc05192026.mp3.

Consumer Reports

1.        Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

           The report was presented by Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney. The Commission received a total of 38 contacts since the last report was prepared for the May 8, 2026, Commission meeting.

           Three contacts were related to telecommunications services, 26 contacts were related to electric services, one contact was related to wireless service, one contact was related to natural gas, one contact was related to unwanted calls and the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was referred to South Dakota One Call and five contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.

           593 of the 602 contacts received in 2026 have been resolved.

Gas and Electric

1.        GE26-001      In the Matter of the Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation for Approval of an Order Authorizing it to Issue up to $500 Million of Securities Including $305 Million of Replacement Securities (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

        Ms. Emily Ng, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation, requested the Commission authorize NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation to issue up to $300 million in secured debt securities and up to $200 million in unsecured debt securities.  Mr. Patrick Steffensen, Public Utilities Manager, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request with the conditions that Commission authorization does not constitute the Commission’s determination of any utility ratemaking issues and that the issuance of securities does not mean that the Commission is in any way prohibited at some future date from finding NorthWestern’s capital structure in need of adjustment. Ms. Ng responded to Commissioners’ questions.

        Commissioner Hanson moved the Commission authorize NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation to issue up to $300 million in secured debt securities and up to $200 million in unsecured debt securities, with the conditions that Commission authorization does not constitute the Commission’s determination of any utility ratemaking issues and that the issuance of securities does not mean that the Commission is in any way prohibited at some future date from finding NorthWestern’s capital structure in need of adjustment. Motion carried 3-0.

Telecommunications

1.        TC26-002      In the Matter of the Filing for Approval of the Carrier Partner for Interconnected VoIP Provider Amendment to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Bandwidth.com CLEC, LLC for the State of South Dakota (Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

            Mr. Rick Gutierrez, Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, asked that the Commission approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Bandwith.com CLEC, LLC for the State of South Dakota. Peerless Network of South Dakota LLC did not appear. Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended the Commission approve the request.

        Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the amendment to the interconnection agreement. 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)

            Ms. Amanda Reiss, staff attorney, recommended the Commission approve the motion for procedural schedule submitted by Staff. Mr. Jason Keil, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy (BHE), stated that BHE agreed with Staff’s request on the condition that one of BHE’s witnesses, who would be unavailable for the evidentiary hearing, be allowed to appear remotely.  Mr. James Moore, representing South Dakota Large Customer Group agreed with Staff’s recommended procedural schedule and did not object to BHE’s request for remote testimony. Mr. John D. McKee Sr., intervenor, did not appear.  The Commission did not take action on the request for remote testimony and stated that BHE, or any other party, can formally file such a request for Commission consideration in the future.

        Commissioner Nelson moved to grant Staff’s motion for approval of the procedural schedule. Motion carried 3-0.

2.        EL26-009       In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Economic Development Plan and 2025 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)

            Chairman Nelson deferred the docket to a later commission meeting.

Natural Gas

1.        NG26-003      In the Matter of the Filing by NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Economic Development Plan and 2025 Economic Development Report (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)

            Chairman Nelson deferred the docket to a later commission meeting.

            Mr. Darren Kearney, Staff Analyst, presented to the Commission results from an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) survey that Staff conducted to understand how ADLSs are performing at wind farms in South Dakota.  The Commission asked questions on the survey results and Staff’s findings.  Overall, Staff found that the ADLS systems are performing as expected; however, a windfarm’s location, equipment failures, and possible false positive detections may be causing wind turbine lights to be on more frequently during the night at certain projects.  Mr. Kearney communicated that the survey results will help Staff in addressing future complaints made to the Commission on wind turbine lighting, should the Commission receive any. Alex Gilbert, Dakota Range III Wind Farm, and JD Hanson, North Bend Wind Farm, provided additional explanation to the Commission on how ADLSs operate. The ADLS survey results presentation can be found at: 2026 Info EL7 – PUC Staff’s Aircraft Detection Lighting System Performance Presentation and a recording of the discussion can be found at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc05192026.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
May 8, 2026