Consumer Assistance | Energy | Telecom | Warehouse | Commission Actions | Miscellaneous
arrow Commission Minutes | previous page

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting 
July 28, 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 Darren Kearney; Commission Attorney Kristen Edwards; Staff Attorneys Jennie Fuerst, Amanda Reiss, and Logan Schaefbauer; Staff Analysts Eric Paulson, Joseph Rezac and Jon Thurber; Executive Director Leah Mohr; Public Utilities Manager Patrick Steffensen; Consumer Affairs Manager Deb Gregg; and Administrative Staff Joy Irving.

           Also present were Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP representing City of Faith Municipal Telephone Company, West River Telecommunications Cooperative, and South Dakota Rural Electric Association (SDREA); Steve Barnett, SDREA; and Meghan O’Brien, South Dakota Searchlight.

           Joining the meeting by telephone were Ryan Taylor, Cutler Law Firm, LLP representing Santel Communications Cooperative and TrioTel Communications, Inc.; Heather Kranz, TrioTel Communications, Inc.; Marlene Bennett, Consortia Consulting representing TrioTel Communications, Inc., City of Faith Municipal Telephone Company and Kennebec Telephone Company; Debbie Brown, City of Faith Municipal Telephone; Troy Schilling and Shannon Wendel, West River Telecommunications Cooperative; Matt Collins, Kennebec Telephone Company; James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. representing South Dakota Large Customer Group and Crowned Ridge Energy Storage I, LLC; Jason Keil and Douglas Law, Black Hills Energy; Meredith Moore, Cutler Law Firm, LLP representing Basin Electric Cooperative; Daniel Brown, East River Electric Cooperative, Inc.; John Knight, Green Oviatt Law Firm LLP representing Codington Clark Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Linda and Tim Lindgren; John McKee Sr.; and Emily Mack.

           An audio recording of the meeting can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, July 28, 2026, recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc07282026.mp3.

Consumer Reports

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

            The Commission received a total of 40 contacts since the last report was prepared for the July 14, 2026, Commission meeting.

           One contact was related to telecommunications services, 20 contacts were related to electric services, nine contacts were related to wireless service, two contacts were related to unwanted calls and the Do Not Call Registry, one contact was referred to the Grain Warehouse Program, and seven contacts were related to issues not regulated by the PUC.    

           851 of the 862 contacts received in 2026 have been resolved.

Administration

1.          Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on June 30 and July 14, 2026 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

            Commissioner Fiegen moved to approve the Minutes of the Meetings Held on June 30 and July 14, 2026. Motion carried 3-0.

Telecommunications

1.      In the Matter of the Request for Certification Regarding the Use of Federal Universal Service Support in Dockets TC26-006, TC26-011, TC26-013, TC26-015, and TC26-020

           TC26-006        In the Matter of the Request of Santel Communications Cooperative Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391676) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)
Mr. Ryan Taylor, Cutler Law Firm, LLP, representing Santel Communications Cooperative Inc. requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, Public Utilities Manager, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request.

           TC26-011        In the Matter of the Request of TrioTel Communications, Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Areas: McCook 391669 and Tri-County Telecom 391682) (Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
Mr. Ryan Taylor, Cutler Law Firm, LLP, representing TrioTel Communications, Inc. requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Ms. Jennie Fuerst, staff attorney, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request. Ms. Heather Kranz, TrioTel Communications, Inc. responded to Commissioners’ questions.

           TC26-013        In the Matter of the Request of City of Faith Municipal Telephone Company for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391653) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)
Ms. Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP, representing City of Faith Municipal Telephone Company requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, Public Utilities Manager, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request.

           TC26-015      In the Matter of the Request of West River Telecommunications Cooperative for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: Mobridge - 391671) (Staff Analyst: Patrick Steffensen)

            Ms. Darla Pollman Rogers, Riter Rogers, LLP, representing West River Telecommunications Cooperative requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Mr. Patrick Steffensen, Public Utilities Manager, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request.

           TC26-020        In the Matter of the Request of Kennebec Telephone Co., Inc. for Certification Regarding Its Use of Federal Universal Service Support (Study Area: 391668) (Staff Attorney: Jennie Fuerst)
Ms. Marlene Bennett, Consortia Consulting representing Kennebec Telephone Co., Inc. requested the Commission provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the proper use of Federal Universal Service Support. Ms. Jennie Fuerst, staff attorney, recommended the Commission grant the company’s request.

            Commissioner Fiegen moved to provide a certification to the Federal Communications Commission and to the Universal Service Administration Company regarding the use of Federal Universal Service Support in each of the above dockets. 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. John McKee Sr. requested to withdraw as an Intervenor. Mr. Douglas Law, Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy, James Moore, Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. representing South Dakota Large Customer Group, and Ms. Amanda Reiss, Staff Attorney, supported the request. Mr. McKee and Mr. Law responded to Commissioners’ questions.

            Commissioner Hanson moved to grant Mr. McKee’s Motion for Withdrawal of Intervention. Motion carried 3-0.

4.         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)

            The Commission considered all pending applications for party status, which can be found at https://puc.sd.gov/Dockets/Electric/2026/EL26-014PartyStatus.aspx.  A lengthy discussion took place for docket EL26-014. An audio recording of the discussion can be found on the PUC website under Commission Actions, Commission Meeting Archives, 2026, July 28, 2026, Recording located at: https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2026/puc07282026.mp3.

            Commissioner Nelson moved to grant in part and deny in part the party status applications and petition to intervene in alignment with Staff’s objection filed on July 16, 2026.

            Commissioner Fiegen moved a substitute motion to grant intervention to those party status applications for which Staff recommended approval, as well as SDREA, East River and Basin and to deny the remainder which were recommended by staff to be denied. Substitution motion failed 1-2.  Commissioners Nelson and Hanson dissenting.

            Commissioner Hanson moved to amend the main motion in order to follow the recommendation of Staff’s July 16, 2026 objection with the exception of granting the application of SDREA to intervene. Motion to amend the main motion carried 2-1. Commissioner Nelson dissenting.

            Commissioner Nelson’s Main Motion as amended carried 2-1. Commissioner Fiegen dissenting.

           There being no further business, at the hour of 10:46 a.m., the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission meeting adjourned.

                                                                                                                                      
  /s/ Janeth A. Merriman                 .
Janeth A. Merriman
Administrative Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
July 28, 2026