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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
Tuesday, May 22, 2001; 1:30 P.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 412
Pierre, South Dakota
NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 5:00 p.m. on May 21, 2001.
NOTE: Notice is further given to persons with disabilities that this Commission meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. If you have special needs, please notify the Commission and we will make all necessary arrangements.
AGENDA OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Administration
1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meeting Held On May 8, 2001. (Staff: Mary Giddings.)
Consumer Issues
1. Status Report On Consumer Utility Inquiries And Complaints Recently Received By The Commission. (Consumer Affairs: Mary Healy.)
The Commission has received 1453 consumer contacts during 2001. 126 of the complaints were received since the May 8, 2001, meeting.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: 92 of the contacts involved telecommunications. 19 contacts concerned billing issues; 4 contacts concerned the unauthorized switching of telecommunications services; 12 contacts involved telemarketers; 3 contacts concerned poor service; 4 contacts concerned increased long distance rates; 3 contacts concerned disconnects; and the remaining contacts involved unlisted numbers, above ground cables, pay phone rates, interrupted service, billing for unauthorized services; delayed service, cellular service, long distance blocks and international calls.
ELECTRICITY: 22 of the contacts involved electricity issues. 9 of the contacts involved disconnection; 3 contacts were billing issues; and the remaining involved power outage, late fees, easement boundary and poor business practice.
NATURAL GAS: 12 of the contacts involved natural gas. 4 contacts concerned high gas prices; 4 contacts concerned disconnects; 2 involved energy assistance information and 2 concerned customer billing.
1343 complaints have been resolved informally during 2001.
Natural Gas
On March 19, 2001, Mr. Nightingale requested a master metering variance for five apartment buildings in Huron, South Dakota, in accordance with ARSD 20:10:26:04(3) and 20:10:26:04(6). Currently each unit has four gas meters which supply gas to four furnaces, two water heaters, and one gas dryer and one electric meter serving all four apartments. Mr. Nightingale has requested a hearing on the master metering variance request. A hearing was held on April 18, 2001.
TODAY, what is the Commission's decision?
On May 11, 2001, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. filed for approval of an amendment to a Contract with Deviations with Morris Asphalt, Inc. The amendment extends the term for natural gas service to Morris' asphalt facility located at Fort Pierre, South Dakota, at a rate that deviates from the currently authorized Rate 66 applicable to all natural gas service provided by MDU in the East River Natural Gas System.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant intervention to any who may have filed? AND, if none, shall the Commission approve the Amendment to the Contract with Deviation?
Telecommunications
1-800-Reconex, Inc. is seeking a Certificate of Authority to provide resold long distance telecommunication services in South Dakota. The applicant intends to provide 800/888 inbound long distance, travel cards, and prepaid long distance service. On May 11, 2001, 1-800-Reconex requested to withdraw its application.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the withdrawal and close the docket?
Touch America Services, Inc. seeks approval to transfer its Certificate of Authority to provide non-dominant competitive resold and facilities-based interexchange telecommunications services and alternative operator services to its indirect parent Touch America. Touch America Services has also given notice to the Commission of the proposed pro forma assignment of interexchange assets from Touch America Services to Touch America. Touch America Services is requesting that the Commission grant a waiver of Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:10:34:02.01 governing unauthorized changes in carriers.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant a Certificate of Authority to Touch America Services, Inc.?
NOS Communications, Inc. (NOS) is seeking a Certificate of Authority to provide local exchange telecommunications services throughout South Dakota. NOS intends to offer all forms of local services, including measured, flat rate, PBX, Centrex, and value added service on a facilities-based and resold basis. On May 10, 2001, SDITC filed a Petition to Intervene in this matter.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant Intervention to SDITC?
On April 23, 2001, a Resale Agreement between Qwest Corporation (Qwest) and Ciera Network Systems, Inc. (Ciera) was filed with the Commission for approval. According to the parties, the agreement is a negotiated agreement which sets forth the terms, conditions and prices under which Qwest will provide services for resale to Ciera for the provision of local exchange services. Any party wishing to comment on the agreement may do so by filing written comments with the Commission and the parties to the agreement no later that May 14, 2001. Parties to the agreement may file written responses to the comments no later than twenty days after the service of the initial comments. On May 14, 2001, Ciera Network Systems, Inc. requested to withdraw its application.
TODAY, shall the Commission grant the withdrawal and close the docket?
Announcements
1. Several hearings are being scheduled for June 19 and 20, 2001 in room 412 of the State Capitol.
2. A Commission meeting (1:30pm) and hearings (8:30am) are being scheduled for July 10, 2001, in Room 412 of the State Capitol.
3. The next regularly scheduled Commission meeting will be held June 19, 2001, at 1:30pm, in Room 412 of the State Capitol Building.
Sue Cichos
Deputy Executive Director
sue.cichos@state.sd.us
May 15, 2001
