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Public Service Commissioners receive 2024 annual public-comment report showing 889 contacts
Summary
Staff presented the Public Service Commissioners with a year-end public input report for calendar year 2024 showing 889 recorded contacts across utilities and regulatory categories; staff agreed to draft a news release summarizing the findings.
Stacy, a staff member, presented the Public Service Commissioners with the agency's public input annual report for calendar year 2024, saying, "You should have a report in front of you," and that the report covers informal complaints, public input for cases, information requests, general comments and referrals to other agencies.
The report recorded 889 total contacts for 2024, Stacy said, and she emphasized the scope: "This does not include any formal cases that would be docketed." The annual tally includes informal contacts across multiple subject areas and companies, with staff noting that totals fluctuate year to year depending on high-profile cases.
Key figures in the report included 105 contacts in siting matters (80 of those related to the Summit CO2 pipeline case), 169 contacts for weights and measures, 82 for gas utilities (including 66 related to the MDU gas rate case and five related to the Xcel gas rate case), 55 for electric utilities (12 of which were recorded for the Otter Tail electric rate case) and 291 referrals. Stacy summarized the informal complaint totals by company: 35 for CenturyLink, 0 for Dakota Natural Gas, 10 for MDU, 6 for Otter Tail and 39 for Accel. She said the counts are in line with a five-year history for most firms.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how items are categorized and what qualifies as an informal complaint. Stacy explained that "anything that somebody calls me with" initially counts as an informal complaint when it is against a regulated company, and only rare instances are elevated to a formal complaint if a law or rule appears to have been violated. She also said siting-related complaints are often referred to the Public Utilities Division because analysts there handle those cases.
Staff and commissioners discussed data-quality practices for the complaint tracking system. Stacy said she has encouraged staff to include fuller closure notes in the system when they resolve contacts so records better reflect outcomes. Commissioners praised the level of detail in the monthly and annual reports and noted the record will help demonstrate public input under recent legislation.
A commissioner suggested issuing a news release to accompany the annual report. Stacy agreed to prepare one, saying she would "work on putting something together." No formal action or vote was taken during the discussion.
The meeting then moved on to other administrative items.
