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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, February 24, 1998; 10:00 A.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 468
Pierre, South Dakota

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING

Chairman Burg called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  Present were Commissioner Pam Nelson, Commissioner Laska Schoenfelder, Executive Director Bill Bullard, General Counsel Rolayne Ailts Wiest, Staff Attorneys Camron Hoseck and Karen Cremer, Fixed Utilities Division Director Greg Rislov, Fixed Utilities Division Deputy Director Harlan Best, Utility Analysts Bob Knadle, Dave Jacobson and Steve Wegman, Consumer Representative Leni Healy and Administrative Secretary Shirleen Fugitt.

Also present were Bob Miller, South Dakota Electric Utilitiy Companies; Luann Dart, South Dakota Rural Electric Association; Rich Coit, SDITC; Dave Gerdes representing NSP and MCI; and Lori Grode, Court Reporter.

Joining the meeting by phone were Robert Marmet, DTG; Mary Lohnes, Midco Communications; Neil Schmid, FirsTel; Alan Dietrich, Paul Bachman and Mike Sydow, NWPS; Marv Sorenson, Karen Huizenga, Barb Clausen and Dale Richeson, MidAmerican Energy; Dennis Terry, Anderson Consulting; Martin Weeks and John Billings, City of Vermillion; John Gors and Paul Roberts, Clay Union Electric; Jon Lehner, Tom Welk, Tammi Wilka and Colleen Sevold, U S WEST; and Colin Horst and Walter Jacob, Americatel Corporation.        

Administration

1.         Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meetings Held On February 3  (2 meetings) and February 10, 1998.  (Staff: Shirleen Fugitt.)

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the minutes of the meetings listed above.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Consumer Affairs

1.         Status Report On Consumer Utility Inquiries And Complaints Recently Received By The Commission.  (Consumer Representative:  Leni Healy.)

Ms. Healy presented an update on consumer inquiries and complaints received since the last Commission meeting.

Telecommunications

4.         TC97-192        IN THE MATTER OF U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND ITS ABILITY TO SERVE SOUTH DAKOTA CUSTOMERS.  (Staff Analyst:  Harlan Best.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Tom Welk, representing U S WEST, explained the Motion for Continuance.  Ms. Wiest recommended that the Commission could suspend the procedural schedule and grant the continuance.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to suspend the procedural schedule and grant the Motion for Continuance.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Electric

1.         EL98-002         IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT FILED BY PAUL MUTH, MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA, AGAINST NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY REGARDING AN ACCOUNTING OF COSTS.  (Staff Analyst:  Dave Jacobson.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Mr. Jacobson requested deferral.  Action was deferred.

Gas/Electric

1.         GE97-003        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY FOR APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO ITS ELECTRIC AND GAS TARIFFS.   (Staff Analyst:  Dave Jacobson.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Marv Sorenson, MidAmerican Energy, explained the filing.  Mr. Jacobson recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the filing.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Telecommunications

1.         TC96-044        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR AN AMENDMENT TO ITS CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Mr. Hoseck recommended approval of an amended Certificate of Authority.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the amended Certificate of Authority.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

2.         TC97-091        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF CALLS FOR LESS, INC. DBA CFL FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Cremer recommended approval.

Chairman Burg moved to approve the application.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Commissioner Schoenfelder concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

3.         TC97-109        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF FIRSTEL, INC. TO OFFER NEGOTIATED RATES.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Neil Schmid, FirsTel, explained the request for waivers.  Ms. Cremer recommended approval of waivers to ARSD 20:10:24:02 (7) and (12). 

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve waivers to ARSD 20:10:24:02 (7) and (12).  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

5.         TC97-193        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF NEW CENTURY TELECOM, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Mr. Hoseck explained the application and recommended approval with restrictions on advance payments, deposits and prepaid calling cards.

Commissioner Nelson moved to grant a Certificate of Authority with the restrictions noted above.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

6.         TC98-003        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF TELEPHONE COMPANY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Cremer recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the application.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

7.         TC98-005        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF NORCOM ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Dave Jacobson.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Paul Bachman, NWPS, explained the filing with further explanation from Dave Jacobson.  Mr. Jacobson recommended approval of the application and that the Commission waive ARSD 20:10:24:02(8). 

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the filing and the waiving of ARSD 20:10:24:02(8).  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

8.         TC98-013        IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF AMERICATEL CORPORATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES IN SOUTH DAKOTA.  (Staff Analyst:  Tammi Stangohr.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Walter Jacob, Americatel Corporation, explained the filing with further explanation from Mr. Hoseck.  Mr. Hoseck recommended approval with restrictions on advance payments, deposits and prepaid calling cards.

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the application with the restrictions noted above.  Commissioner Schoenfelder seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

9.         TC98-014        IN THE MATTER OF THE FILING BY U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO ITS EXCHANGE AND NETWORK SERVICES CATALOG.  (Staff Analyst:  Harlan Best.  Staff Attorney:  Camron Hoseck.)

Colleen Sevold, U S WEST, explained the filing.  Mr. Best recommended approval.

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to approve the filing.  Commissioner Nelson seconded and Chairman Burg concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

Addendum

Electric 

1.         EL97-020         IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE CITY OF VERMILLION FOR DETERMINATION OF PURCHASE PRICE OF ELECTRIC FACILITIES IN ANNEXED AREAS.  (Staff Analyst:  Bob Knadle.  Staff Attorney:  Karen Cremer.)

Ms. Wiest recommended issuing an order to show cause and directing the executive director to set a procedural schedule. 

Commissioner Schoenfelder moved to issue an order to show cause and to direct the executive director to set a procedural schedule.  Chairman Burg seconded and Commissioner Nelson concurred.  Motion passed 3-0.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

_____________________________
Shirleen Fugitt
Administrative Secretary