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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
June 2, 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 Jennie Fuerst, Amanda Reiss, and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson, and Jon Thurber; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Janeth Merriman.
Also present were Kara Semmler, South Dakota Telecommunications Association; and David Smith, South Dakota Farmers Union.
Joining the meeting by telephone were James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Schultz & Smith P.C. representing Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC; Lauren Donofrio, Otter Tail Power Company; Rebecca Eilers, Cody Holmes, Ryan Flynn-Deonis, Joe Samuel, Chris Shaw and Laurie Tembreull, Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy; and Colton Kennedy, Staff Consultant.
An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, June 2, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc06022026.mp3.
(Note): For the purpose of continuity, these minutes match the agenda and are not necessarily in chronological order.
Consumer Reports
1. Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)
The Commission received a total of 70 contacts since the last report was prepared for the May 19, 2026, Commission meeting.
Three contacts were related to telecommunications services, 53 contacts were related to electric services, one contact was related to wireless service, two contacts were related to natural gas, three contacts were related to unwanted calls and the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was related to wind energy, and seven contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.
629 of the 672 contacts received in 2026 have been resolved.
Administration
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meeting Held on May 8, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)
Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Meeting Held on May 8, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.
Telecommunications
1. TC25-038 In the Matter of the Application of LTE Wireless, Inc. for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of South Dakota (Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)
Mr. Logan Schaefbauer, staff attorney, did not object to the company’s request to withdraw its petition without prejudice. SDTA did not object to the company’s request. The Petitioner, LTE Wireless, Inc., was not in attendance.
Commissioner Fiegen moved to grant the Petitioner’s Request to withdraw its petition without prejudice. Motion carried 3-0.
Electric
1. 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)
Chairman Nelson deferred the docket to a later commission meeting.
2. EL25-033 In the Matter of the Petition of Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for Approval of Its 2026 Infrastructure Project Eligibility and Factor Update (Staff Analysts: Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL25-033. An audio recording can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, June 2, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc06022026.mp3.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the revised 2026 Infrastructure Rider revenue requirements, revised 2026 Infrastructure Rider Adjustment factor, and revised tariff sheet with an effective date of July 1, 2026, as filed on April 29, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.
3. EL26-014 In the Matter of the Application of Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC for a Permit for an Energy Conversion Facility (Staff Analyst: Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
Ms. Jennie Fuerst, staff attorney, requested the Commission assess a filing fee for actual expenses related to the general rate case not to exceed $287,000 and authorize the Executive Director authority to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Mr. James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. representing Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC, did not object.
Commissioner Hanson moved to assess a filing fee for actual expenses not to exceed $287,000 and authorize the Executive Director to enter into necessary consulting contracts. Motion carried 3-0.
4. EL26-016 In the Matter of Otter Tail Power Company’s Petition for Approval of Rate Schedule, Section 13.09, Phase-In Rider (Staff Analyst: Eric Paulson; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)
Ms. Amanda Reiss, 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. Ms. Lauren Donofrio, Otter Tail Power Company, did not object.
Commissioner Nelson 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.
There being no further business, at the hour of 10:17 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.
/s/ Janeth A. Merriman .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
June 2, 2026
