PUC reduces NorthWestern Energy natural gas rate increase request

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission approved a reduced rate increase for NorthWestern Energy’s natural gas customers in South Dakota at the commission’s regularly scheduled meeting in Pierre today, Dec. 17, 2024. The rate approved by the commission was presented in a settlement stipulation offered jointly by NorthWestern Energy and PUC staff. The rate change represents the company’s first natural gas rate increase request in 13 years. NorthWestern Energy requested a 9.1 percent total bill increase, and the commission authorized a reduced total bill increase at 7 percent.

The commission’s actions came after a nearly six-month analysis of NorthWestern Energy’s request to increase rates for its South Dakota natural gas customers to generate approximately $6 million in additional annual revenue. After engaging in extensive discovery and settlement discussions, NorthWestern Energy and PUC staff were able to reach a settlement agreement with an overall revenue deficiency of $4,599,335. This result reduced the company requested 30% base rate increase to the granted 23.5% increase which results in a 1.8% increase per year since the last rate case. As a result, a typical residential customer using an average of 100 therms per month will see an increase of $6.47 in their monthly bill.

“NorthWestern has met the requirement to provide safe, reliable service at reasonable rates,” stated PUC Chairperson Kristie Fiegen. “The rates paid by South Dakota families are well below the national average,” she said.

The approved settlement agreement includes many terms designed to balance the interests of NorthWestern Energy and their South Dakota customers. As part of the settlement, NorthWestern agreed to a rate moratorium preventing the company from requesting an increase in base rates effective prior to Jan. 1, 2028. Parties also agreed to increase the residential customer service charge by $2.00 per month.

PUC Vice Chairman Gary Hanson noted the process by the PUC staff and NorthWestern representatives that arrived at the settlement agreement. “I am certain there was give and take in the discussions, and even some arm twisting. The settlement reflects a tremendous amount of work.”

NorthWestern Energy’s last base rate increase for natural gas customers was filed on May 20, 2011. The company states a rate increase is necessary to ensure that customers will continue to be served by a financially sound company with access to low-cost capital to continue efficient investments that ensure reliable, safe energy service for customers.

“The rate increase is reasonable and fair,” said PUC Commissioner Chris Nelson. “It is very commendable that NorthWestern stayed out of the rate increase arena for 13 years given the amount of investment made to continue to provide safe and reliable service,” Nelson said.

NorthWestern Energy submitted its application to the PUC on June 21, 2024. New rates will go into effect for natural gas customers in the company’s South Dakota territory on Dec. 19, 2024.

The full docket can be viewed on the PUC’s website at puc.sd.gov, Commission Actions, Natural Gas Dockets, 2024 Natural Gas Dockets, NG24-005 – In the Matter of the Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation dba NorthWestern Energy for Authority to Increase Rates for Natural Gas Utility Service in South Dakota.

– 30 –

Rounds Nominates The Gathering Well of Sioux Falls for Angels in Adoption Award

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced that he has nominated The Gathering Well for the 2024 Angels in Adoption award, presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCAI).

“It is an honor to nominate The Gathering Well for this year’s Angels in Adoption award,” said Rounds. “This nonprofit organization has helped connect foster and adopted children with families in the Sioux Falls area. The Gathering Well not only cares for families’ immediate needs but also provides children and parents with tools to navigate the changes that come with fostering and adoptions. They are doing the important pro-life work that has a proven ability to change lives.”

“When a family is able to learn, practice and implement trauma-informed care, they are beginning generational change. These courageous families are cycle-breakers. If we desire for our state to care well for the children God has given us, it is our duty to empower families to be as healthy and resourced as possible,” said Cara DeHaan, Executive Director of The Gathering Well. “A foster or adoption placement isn’t the end of the journey. It is the beginning.”

The Gathering Well is an adoption and foster care support community that supports, educates and inspires adoptive and foster families with relevant connection opportunities and resources. As a nonprofit, they offer community and tools to adoptive and fostering families. They host free monthly gatherings with adoptive and foster families in the area where they offer meals and training. The Gathering Well also offers more in-depth trainings on caregiver health, trauma-informed parenting and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®). You can learn more by going to their website at https://gathering-well.org/ or by watching a joint video with Rounds and The Gathering Well.

They also partner with the University of South Dakota (USD) to provide hands-on training for Occupational Therapy (OT) graduate students at their monthly gatherings. “The Gathering Well is such a great organization to work with,” said Michelle Arens, an OT student at USD. “I have been volunteering with them for about 4 years now and am so glad I’ve had this opportunity! It has greatly affected me and everything I have learned here will help me be a better OT in the future. This program is such a blessing to so many families and has so many great people involved with it!”

“Volunteering with The Gathering Well has been nothing short of an amazing experience. Each month I look forward to building a greater connection with the children, hearing about their lives, and empowering them through TBRI® principles,” said Brook Wilson, an OT student at USD. “Everyone on the staff works together to make it a wonderful night for parents and children alike.”

The Gathering Well founders, Cara DeHaan and Shannon Ehli, are certified TBRI® practitioners and have experience themselves with the joys, and sometimes hardships, of adoption. Cara and her husband Eric are parents to five children, two of whom are adopted from Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Shannon is the mother of three children, one of whom was adopted from Haiti at the age of six. They understand the journey and started this nonprofit as a way to come alongside other families with much needed community and education. “It is easy for caregivers to feel alone after bringing a new member into their family,” said Cara. “When the excitement fades and traditional parenting methods are no longer effective, families often feel they don’t ‘fit’ into their communities, churches, and even extended family any more. Our desire is to meet them where they are at, equip them with the most recent evidence-based practices and rekindle their hope.”

Rounds is a member of the CCAI. Each year, Members of Congress are invited to nominate an outstanding family or organization from their state to receive an Angels in Adoption award. CCAI is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe and loving homes through adoption. For more information, visit CCAI’s website.

Rounds is currently accepting applications for 2025 Angels in Adoption Award. For more information, please visit rounds.senate.gov/adoption.

###

Today’s agenda for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting includes on the docket “1.      HP24-001        In the Matter of the Application by SCS Carbon Transport LLC for a Permit to Construct a Carbon Dioxide Transmission Pipeline” where they will specifically be discussing “TODAY, shall the Commission assess a filing fee not to exceed $875,782? AND shall the Commission authorize the executive director to enter into necessary consulting contracts? AND shall the Commission grant party status to those who have filed thus far? OR how shall the Commission proceed?”

However, there has been no report to date whether Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen plans to recuse herself from the proceeding.   Why does that matter? Because Commissioner Fiegen had recused herself from pipeline proceedings twice before, as described in her letter of recusal from 2022, citing a conflict of interest:

As written in the letter from 2022,

I have recently been informed that the proposed pipelines would cross land owned by my sister-in-law (my husband’s sister) and her husband. This route is similar to the route in Docket HP14-002 in which I also disqualified myself due to the same conflict of interest as in this docket. Pursuant to SDCL 49-1-9, a Public Utilities Commissioner may not participate in a proceeding in which the Commissioner has a conflict of interest. Given this familial relationship, I am regretfully disqualifying myself from participating in this proceeding.

As required by SDCL 49-1-9, I hereby certify that I am disqualifying myself from participating in this docket and request that you appoint an elected constitutional officer, other than the attorney general, as a member of the Commission in my place. In order to give notice of my disqualification, I am filing this letter in Docket HP22- 001.

In 2022, Commissioner Fiegen very properly recused herself because of a familial relationship where the pipeline crossed her sister-in-law’s land.  As I am informed this morning, there has been no change to that portion of the route at this time in this new application.  However, looking at the new docket (HP24-001), a similar recusal would not appear to have been filed yet as it had twice before.

Without a new recusal being filed, is it Commissioner Fiegen’s intention to sit for these meetings?

Or will we see an announcement of her recusal today with a new substitute member appointed for purposes of hearing the pipeline?

Without providing many details, yesterday South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued a Media Advisory yesterday that he would be holding press conference today to announce more criminal charges in a public corruption case involving a former state government employee. 

No information is available as to whether this relates to current cases involving a Department of Social Services employee who embezzled and spent millions on items including clothes and lotions, or the Department of Revenue employees who were involved in schemes to alter vehicle titles. 

The press conference will be held around 2:30 PM today.

Coming up….

Make sure you catch the next episode of the South Dakota Political Show coming later this week as your hosts sit down for an interview with South Dakota Republican Party Chairman John Wiik.

If any of the readers in a legal or public policy organization are looking, I was asked to post a note from a recent USD Law School student who just completed finals, and is looking for writing work/an internship while they study up for the bar exam:

I am a recent December 2024 J.D. graduate from the University of South Dakota. I am seeking a post-graduate internship to refine my legal research, writing, and analytical skills while gaining valuable experience in a professional legal setting. As an Omaha, NE-based law school graduate, I am seeking to gain practical legal experience while contributing to a legal team beyond local boundaries. Thank you for your consideration.

Drop me a note for contact info.

Here we go again.

On his way out the door, President Joe Biden thought it was somehow a good idea to grant clemency to Sioux Falls Fish Farm salesman Toby Ritesman who deceived investors and robbed them of more than a million dollars:

Tobias Ritesman, who called himself “The Tiger,” will get a reprieve on his nine-year prison sentence starting Dec. 22 — in time for Christmas. Ritesman was among 1,500 people whom the Biden administration granted clemency to as the one-term president prepares to depart office. It was the largest number of pardons and clemency granted in one day by a president.

and..

The mass clemency only applied to prison sentences and left in place the other sentencing conditions. For Ritesman, 48, that includes three years of parole and restitution of $680,000.

Read that here.

It could have been worse, as at least restitution was left in place. Unlike the pardon granted to Paul Erickson in 2021 by President Trump during his last term, who also bilked investors out of millions.

Experts say a South Dakota criminal no longer has to pay his victims nearly $3 million in restitution after President Trump pardoned him and labeled his crimes “minor.”

and..

Erickson was not prosecuted for the assistance he allegedly provided to Butina. Instead, in a separate case, authorities accused him of defrauding dozens of people in numerous business schemes. His pattern – which he repeated multiple times over many years – was to pitch an investment opportunity to friends and acquaintances, convince them to invest, and then pocket the money rather than putting it into the investment.

To resolve those allegations, Erickson pleaded guilty in 2019 to wire fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay more than 50 victims a total of about $3 million in restitution.

Read that story here.

The Erickson pardon was far more egregious, but both come off as examples of unequal justice and turn a cold eye towards victims of their swindling and schemes receiving the renumeration in terms of money and time for the perpetrator’s reflection on their crimes they were supposed to be provided by the court.

From Facebook, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pictured here enjoying the Army/Navy Game with President-Elect Trump.

Help Is on the Way
By Sen. John Thune

Next month, Americans will turn the page on the Biden presidency. For many Americans, that day can’t come soon enough. The last four years have been characterized by a number of crises. With President Trump back in office and Republican majorities in Congress, I can assure you that help is on that way.

Addressing the Biden border crisis will be one of our top priorities. President Biden has overseen four record-breaking years of illegal immigration. His open-border policies created this crisis and opened the door to 10 million illegal border crossings on his watch. Border Patrol, border cities, and places far from the border have been overwhelmed by illegal immigrants and illegal drugs that can be traced back to the chaos at the border.

Republicans will get right to work to make a once-in-a-generation investment in border security and immigration enforcement. We’ll provide the resources needed to execute the tough border security policies Americans can expect from President Trump.

We’ll also have to clean up the economic crisis left by the Biden administration. Prices have risen by more than 20 percent since President Biden took office, spurred in no small part by his reckless spending. All told, it costs a typical household more than $13,000 more per year to maintain the standard of living it enjoyed at the beginning of this administration.

Hardworking Americans have had to cut back on their purchases and scale back their dreams for the future as inflation has taken a bite out of their budgets. Republicans will work to advance pro-growth economic policies, like preserving the Trump tax cuts that delivered higher take-home pay and grew our economy, and we will roll back some of the 1,000-plus Biden regulations that have choked our economy.

The Biden administration’s agenda has also jeopardized our nation’s energy security. Energy prices have increased across the country, and the Biden administration’s actions have threatened the reliability of our already shaky electrical grid. Republicans will work with President Trump to reverse these policies. We will unleash American energy and restore American energy dominance for the sake of our energy security and national security.

It’s been a long four years, but things are about to turn around. President Trump and congressional Republicans will work together to deliver policies that keep our country secure and our economy strong.

###

Hunting Traditions Remain Strong in South Dakota
By: Secretary Kevin Robling  
December 13, 2024    

The noise of wingbeats flying above the cattails creates instant excitement for my two yellow labs. Ducks start landing in the decoys, and my two oldest sons (who are four and six) look up at me with huge smiles on their faces – duck calls in hand and Grandpa by their side. The clock strikes the magic hour, and memories that last a lifetime are created.

A few hours later, the pursuit of our state bird follows, filling the day with cackling roosters, laughter, and high fives. As I tuck the kids into bed after a full day outdoors, my four-year-old looks up and me and says “Dad, that was the best day ever!”  I can’t help but think he’s exactly right.

There is a lot to love about South Dakota, but for many of us, nothing beats Autumn. Autumn in South Dakota features great fishing, beautiful colors in our parks, and, of course, hunting seasons! Hunting is tradition in South Dakota. It’s part of who we are as South Dakotans, and I am so proud to say our traditions have never been stronger!

Hunting participation rates across South Dakota continue to rise, with 24% of South Dakota residents participating in hunting, the highest per-capita rate in the country. While South Dakota offers incredible hunting opportunities for mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, elk, prairie grouse, and waterfowl, we are most known for our world-class pheasant hunting.

South Dakota is the greatest state to pheasant hunt, with over 187,000 residents and nonresidents taking to the fields to hunt our state bird this year! Great habitat and a little help from Mother Nature equal great bird numbers. This combination, coupled with access to these birds, has brought hunters to the fields from across the state and the country.

In 2019, we celebrated 100 years of pheasant hunting. Following this celebration, we began working with Governor Noem on her Second Century Initiative. The goal: to ensure the next 100 years of pheasant hunting are just as great as the first – we’re doing just that!

Habitat is the foundation of wildlife management; it’s the key ingredient to having abundant wildlife populations. As a result, the wildlife division within the Department of Game, Fish and Parks has made habitat development and enhancement our number one priority. Working closely with farmers and ranchers, we have grown quality habitat acres across South Dakota. On top of that, hunters now have more places to hunt, with over 1.6 million acres of private land open for public hunting – a new all-time high enrollment benchmark. Thank you to all the participating landowners.

Whether you’re a lifelong hunter or just looking to get into the sport, there is no greater place to be than South Dakota. Hunting is the truest form of conservation, so hunters are our greatest conservationists.

As the sun starts to set on another amazing hunting season, remember it’s not over yet!

When I say goodnight to my kids, I always ask them if they want me to wake them up early to go hunting in the morning. The other night, my six-year-old looked right at me with a stern face and said, “Dad, stop asking me if I want to go hunting. Of course I do – it’s my favorite thing in the whole world to do!” My response, “Mine too buddy, mine too.” 

Happy hunting!

Kevin Robling is the Cabinet Secretary for the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

###