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PUC approves multiple routine items; grants six-month extension for proposed capacity plant
Summary
At its July 13 meeting the South Dakota PUC certified three telecom applicants for federal universal-service support, granted a waiver of certain annual reporting rules, approved service-territory agreements and tariff revisions, and granted a six-month extension for a proposed generation facility while party status was granted in an energy storage docket.
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission on July 13 approved several routine dockets and took a handful of discrete actions during a meeting that also included a lengthy hearing on Knife River's petition (EL25-032).
The commission voted to provide certification to the Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administrative Company for Northern Valley Communications, James Valley Cooperative Telephone Company and James Valley Wireless (dockets TC26-003, TC26-004 and TC26-005). Jim Kramer, representing the applicants, said the filings (submitted May 13) were in order and staff recommended certification.
The commission granted a waiver of ARSD provisions related to certain annual reporting requirements (TC26-010) to address items inadvertently left after a 2025 rulemaking; commission counsel and staff said the pending rulemaking RM26-001 will resolve the issue going forward.
In electric dockets, the commission approved a six-month extension for Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency and Missouri River Energy Services to explore alternative sites and examine interconnection issues for a proposed capacity power plant (EL25-028); staff did not object. The extension was granted to February (date noted in the record) to allow the applicants time to evaluate options.
The commission approved a service-territory exchange between the city of Vermillion and Clay Union Electric so a proposed apartment development can be served by a single provider (EL26-012). City and cooperative representatives said the agreement was negotiated by the parties and staff recommended approval.
The commission also approved a tariff revision for Otter Tail Power (E26017) to formalize a customer application process for requests such as pole relocations, undergrounding lines or temporary construction service, effective Aug. 1, 2026. Brandon Johnson of Otter Tail described examples of typical uses for the tariff change and staff supported approval.
Northwestern Public Service Corporation (doing business as Northwestern Energy) and Central Electric Cooperative presented a consent and agreement memorializing service rights for customers served since 1976; staff recommended approval and the commission approved the agreement (EL26-018). Staff noted the service-territory boundaries do not change with this agreement but the formal record of service rights is clarified.
In the Crown Ridge Energy Storage docket (EL26-014), the commission granted party status to Timothy and Linda Lindgren and to Coddington Clark Electric Cooperative after the Lindgrens described proximity and noise concerns and the cooperative said it wants notice and an opportunity to review agreements with the applicant.
Following these items the commission announced its next regular meeting for July 28 and adjourned.
Votes at a glance: certifications for TC26-003/004/005 — approved (unanimous); TC26-010 waiver — approved (unanimous); EL25-028 extension — approved (majority); EL26-012 Vermillion/Clay Union exchange — approved (unanimous); E26017 Otter Tail tariff revision — approved (unanimous); EL26-018 Northwestern/Central consent — approved (unanimous); EL26-014 party status grants — approved (unanimous).
