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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, November 12, 1996; 10:00 A.M.
State Capitol Building, Room LCR-1
Pierre, South Dakota

NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission before 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 12, 1996, at 605-773-3201 (Consumer Hotline: 1-800-332-1782).

AGENDA OF THE AD HOC COMMISSION MEETING

Natural Gas

1. NG96-015 IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY FOR TARIFF REVISIONS. (Staff Analysts: Greg Rislov and Bob Knadle. Staff Attorney: Camron Hoseck.)

On July 2, 1996, the Commission received a filing from Northwestern Public Service Company (NWPS) of revised tariff sheets to be included in the company's Natural Gas Rate Book. According to NWPS, these tariff revisions are proposed in response to market conditions in the competitive natural gas industry. The company has established an effective date of August 1, 1996, for implementation of the proposed tariff revisions. On July 10, 1996, PAM Natural Gas, LLC, (PNG) filed a petition to intervene in this matter. The Commission granted intervention to PNG on July 17, 1996. Staff met with NWPS and PNG on October 17, 1996, and a settlement was reached on most of the issues generated by the filing. The parties agreed to move to request Commission approval of the settled issues, thus allowing an effective date of November 1, 1996, for most of the new tariff filings. The issues not settled would be scheduled for hearing. A hearing was held on November 5, 1996, at the State Capitol. During the hearing, the Commission heard evidence regarding a settlement agreement reached between the parties along with evidence regarding rate inclusion of manufactured gas site remediation costs.

TODAY, shall the Commission approve the settlement agreement reached between the parties thereby approving NWPS's revised tariff sheets to be included in the company's Natural Gas Rate Book?

1. TC95-131 IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF GLOBAL TELEMEDIA INTERNATIONAL, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA. (Staff Analyst: Harlan Best. Staff Attorney: Karen Cremer.)

On December 12, 1995, the Commission received an application from Global TeleMedia International (Global) for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the state of South Dakota. Global intends to provide 1+ service to residential and commercial customers and to provide 1+ Calling Cards to residential and customers. On November 7, 1996, Global submitted additional information needed by Staff to complete its analysis.

TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to Global?

2. TC96-153 IN THE MATTER OF THE INVESTIGATION OF LOCAL COMPETITION ISSUES. (Staff Attorneys: Camron Hoseck and Karen Cremer.)

On June 24, 1996, the Commission considered a request from Commissioner Schoenfelder that the Commission open a docket concerning local competition issues. The docket would investigate what rules or policies should be implemented by the Commission to govern local competition issues, such as interconnection, resale, and the unbundling of network elements. On August 7, 1996, the Commission issued its Order opening a docket in this matter. On August 9, 1996, the Commission received the FCC's rules on local competition and interconnection. Following its review of these rules, Staff suggested that the Commission discuss various issues raised by the rules with the affected parties regarding, among other things, how any future TELRIC study should be conducted and a discussion of the default proxies. A ad hoc meeting of September 19, 1996, the Commission voted to open a docket to establish prices for U S WEST's network elements and interconnection and to establish the wholesale rates for U S WEST's retail services. The Commission further voted to rely upon the proxies contained in 47 C.F.R. § 51.513 and to establish interim wholesale rates for retail services pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 51.611. Subsequently, the Commission appealed the aforementioned rules and requested a stay of those rules from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Presently, the appeal is pending and the rules are stayed. Also related to this matter is the Commission's Final Order in Dockets TC95-087, TC96-038, TC96-050, TC96-054 and TC96- 083. Therein the Commission concluded that it will decide the issue of how local exchange providers will be regulated pursuant to state and federal law and it would consider slamming restrictions, both under the auspices of this docket.

TODAY, shall the Commission rescind its oral ruling of September 19, 1996, based on the subsequent actions of the Commission and consequential ruling by the court? And, how shall the Commission proceed in its consideration of how local exchange providers will be regulated pursuant to state and federal law and of slamming restrictions?

3. TC96-179 IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF ITS STATEMENT OF GENERALLY AVAILABLE TERMS. (Staff Analyst: Harlan Best. Staff Attorneys: Camron Hoseck and Karen Cremer.)

On October 30, 1996, the Commission received a filing from U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) for approval of its Statement of Generally Available Terms. The filing includes information classified as proprietary by U S WEST. On November 7, 1996, U S WEST filed with the Commission a request for confidential treatment of certain information. On October 31, 1996, the Commission electronically transmitted notice of the filing and the intervention deadline of November 8, 1996, to interested individuals and entities. Intervention in this docket has been sought by Dakota Cooperative Telecommunications, Inc. (DCT), MCI Telecommunications Corporation (MCI), AT&T Communications of the Midwest, Inc. (AT&T), Midco Communications (Midco), Telecommunications Action Group (TAG), Sprint Communications, L.P. (Sprint) and the South Dakota Independent Telephone Coalition, Inc. (SDITC).

TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to DCT, MCI, AT&T, Midco, TAG, Sprint, SDITC and any other entity that may timely file? And, shall the Commission assess a filing fee of up to $100,000?

William Bullard Jr.

Executive Director

Friday, November 8, 1996