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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
Thursday, August 16, 2001; 9:30 A.M.
State Capitol Building, Room 412
Pierre, South Dakota
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION MEETING
Chairman Jim Burg called the meeting to order. Present were Commission Pam Nelson;
Commission Advisor Greg Rislov; Commission Counsel Rolayne Ailts Wiest; Staff Attorney Karen Cremer; Staff Analysts Mary Healy, Harlan Best and Dave Jacobson; Deputy Executive Director Sue Cichos; and Administrative Secretary Amy Kayser.
Also present were Richard D. Coit, SDITC; Allen Nelson, Jim Pahl and Rodney Gunn, West River Electric Association, Inc.; and Brian Meyer, Citizens Telecommunications Company of Nebraska, Inc.
Joining the meeting by telephone were Colleen Sevold and Tom Welk, Qwest Corporation; Alan Diedrich and Janet Kittams-Lalley, HELP! Line Center; Suzan Stewart, Marv Sorenson, and Greg Schaefer, MidAmerican Energy Company; and Mary Lohnes, Midcontinent Communications.
Administration
1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Commission Meetings Held On July 24 and 27, 2001. (Staff: Mary Giddings.)
Ms. Kayser noted that there was a correction made in the spelling of the first name of Geoff Heig in the July 24, 2001, minutes.
Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the July 24 and 27, 2001, Commission meetings with the correction as noted above. Chairman Burg seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Consumer Issues
1. Status Report On Consumer Utility Inquiries And Complaints Recently Received By The Commission. (Consumer Affairs: Mary Healy.)
Mary Healy presented an update on inquiries and complaints and responded to Commissioner's questions concerning the effect high natural gas prices had on low income consumers.
2. IN THE MATTER OF DISMISSING COMPLAINTS CC01-001, CT01-027, CT01-028, CT01- 030 AND CT01-033.
Ms. Cremer recommended that the complaints be dismissed and the dockets closed.
Chairman Burg moved to dismiss the complaints and close the dockets in CC01-001, CT01-027, CT01-028, CT01-030, and CT01-033. Commissioner Nelson seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Action was deferred in TC98-176 and CT99-002.
Electric
Jim Pahl, representing West River Electric Association, Inc., explained its petition. Ms. Cremer recommended that the Commission find that the PUC does not have jurisdiction.
Chairman Burg moved to find that the Commission does not have jurisdiction. Commissioner Nelson seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Natural Gas
Suzan Stewart, representing MidAmerican Energy Company, explained the request for a test period extension.
Chairman Burg moved to grant a waiver of ARSD 20:10:13:44 and he further moved to allow use of a 2000 test year for its natural gas rate case with the filing to be made by November 1, 2001. Commissioner Nelson seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Telecommunications
Brian Meyer, representing Citizens Telecommunications Company of Nebraska, Inc., requested permission to withdraw its request for a certificate of authority and requested that the docket be closed.
Commissioner Nelson moved to allow the petition to be withdrawn and she further moved to close the docket. Chairman Burg seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Ms. Cremer recommended that action be deferred. Action was deferred.
Ms. Cremer recommended that action be deferred. Action was deferred.
Mr. Jacobson explained the certificate of authority application of New Access Communications LLC and recommended that it be approved with restrictions from offering prepaid calling cards, accepting advance payments and customer deposits; and subject to rural safeguards.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant New Access Communications LLC a certificate of authority with restrictions as noted above and subject to rural safeguards. Chairman Burg seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Mr. Jacobson recommended that the certificate of authority be granted with restrictions from offering prepaid calling cards, accepting advance payments and customer deposits.
Chairman Burg moved to grant Total Call International, Inc. a certificate of authority with restrictions as noted above. Commissioner Nelson seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Ms. Cremer recommended that intervention be granted.
Chairman Burg moved to grant intervention. Commissioner Nelson seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Chairman Burg moved to approve the agreement. Commissioner Nelson seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Mr. Best recommended that the waiver from using the Commission's cost study model be granted.
Chairman Burg moved to grant the waiver from using the Commission's cost study model. Commissioner Nelson seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Mr. Best recommended that the waiver from using the Commission's cost study model be granted.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant the waiver from using the Commission's cost study model. Chairman Burg seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Mr. Jacobson explained the application and recommended that it be approved with restrictions from offering prepaid calling cards, advance payments and customer deposits; with a waiver of ARSD 20:10:24:02(08); and with an effective date of September 1, 2001.
Commissioner Nelson moved to grant a certificate of authority to World Communications Satellite Systems, Inc. with restrictions and waiver as noted above and with an effective date of September 1, 2001. Chairman Burg seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Action was deferred.
Meeting adjourned.
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Mary R. Giddings
Administrative Secretary
