May 21, 2019 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com PUC Gives Nod To Otter Tail Power Co. To Increase Rates PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission today approved a return on equity rate for Otter Tail Power Co. that paves the way for the company to increase base rates charged to its 11,700 customers in northeastern South Dakota. Return on equity is a measure of profitability a company can generate on its shareholder investments. The commission approved an 8.75 percent rate of return on equity at its regular meeting in Pierre on May 14. Otter Tail Power Co. argued for a rate of 10 percent; the PUC staff recommended a rate of 8.25 percent. The commission’s action came after a year-long analysis of Otter Tail Power Co.’s request to increase customer base rates to generate approximately $5.98 million in additional annual revenues. The final revenue requirement as a result of today’s decision is expected to be presented jointly by Otter Tail Power Co. and the PUC staff for commission approval on May 28. Most of the issues surrounding the rate increase request were settled in an agreement between Otter Tail Power Co. and the PUC staff that the commission approved on March 1, except for the rate of return on equity, on which the two sides did not agree. Further information about the rate of return on equity was presented to the commission at an evidentiary hearing in Pierre on March 26. Otter Tail Power Co. and the PUC staff filed briefs with the commission before today’s decision. As part of the approved comprehensive rate increase, the company will move the recovery of some costs related to investment and operating expenses into base rates. These specific costs had been collected through mechanisms known as transmission cost recovery and Mowing Regulations For The State Right of Way erested in his spot? PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation would like to remind landowners of mowing regulations for the state right of way. Administrative Rule 70:04:06:06 states: No mowing of the right of way may begin in the west river counties of Gregory, Lyman or Tripp before June 15 and east of the Missouri River before July 10. All mowing by permit must be completed by Sept. 1 each year. In accordance with the administrative rule, abutting landowners on state highways are given preference to mow right-of-way ditches. Other persons wishing to mow must obtain a waiver from the abutting landowner. Any person wanting to mow Interstate right-of-way ditches must apply for a permit, with preference being given to abutting landowners. Other persons wishing to mow must also obtain a waiver from the abutting landowner. The application/permits needed for mowing the right of way for interstate, state-owned railroad right of way and the abutting landowner waiver are located on the DOT website at http://sddot.com/resources/forms/. The department may mow medians and areas within the rights of way prior to June 15 to control noxious weeds and provide increased safety to the traveling public. For questions, please contact the appropriate area engineer, contact information is available here: http://sdINTERESTED IN THIS SPOT? Support dot.com/contact/, or call theyour ad here. Call 665-5884 to place office of Operations at 605.773.3571. l 665-5884 to your ad here. www.missourivalleyshopper.com nterested in this spot? GE Jensen www.missourivalleyshopper.com ll 665-5884 to rs your ad here. 8 6 4 1 2 3 5 6 9 4 9 3 8 7 1 7 2 4 6 2 4 8 3 5 5 8 9 7 1 3 2 6 5 4 5 1 9 3 l 6665-5884 to 1 7 2 e9your ad 8 here. 7 erested in his spot? Construction Irene, South Dakota Need Home Repairs Done? www.missourivalleyshopper.com • Carpentry • Windows • Doors • Cabinets • Decks • Painting Sudoku #2 Call 605-263-3927 6 5 4 1 3 7 2 9 8 7 8 3 2 4 9 6 1 5 M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y 1 2 9 6 8 5 7 3 4 2 4 8 9 7 1 3 5 6 3 9 6 8 5 4 1 7 2 5 7 1 3 6 2 8 4 9 4 6 5 7 2 3 9 8 1 Fill the puzzle so that every row, every column, and every 9 3 2 4 1 8 5 6 7 section7contain6the numbers 1-9 withoutRrepeating a number. 8 1 5 9 M I S S O U I VA L L E Y Sudoku #1 4 2 3 MV Shopper MV Shopper Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Book 68 6 Sudoku #4 3 5 4 7 6 3 9 7 6 1 2 8 4 1 5 2 2 8 7 4 7 3 6 9 1 7 8 2 1 7 2 9 5 4 6 1 8 6 1 5 Missouri Valley 8 9 3 6 2 9 3 4 5 8 7 6 7 2 8 3 4 2 9 1 9 5 1 8 3 6 4 5 9 4 5 3 8 6 5 1 4 9 7 3 5 6 8 2 3 4 1 5 6 7 2 8 9 2 8 6 5 8 FAX IT 605-665-5882 4 9 5 3 1 6 7 7 9 1 8 2 9 3 3 3 4 6 4 5 8 6 2 7 4 9 1 5 8 1 6 2 PLACE YOUR 9 7HERE5. 4 3 AD 8 EASY 2 3 5 9 2 6 9 6 1 8 7 4 1 Last Tuesday’s Sudoku Solution #8 8 7 6 4 1 5 9 Sudoku 7 1 3 9 6 2 #3 5 2 5 4 8 3 9 7 6 8 7 3 5 2 4 9 2 5 1 6 4 8 4 1 3 7 9 8 2 7 6 8 2 4 1 3 3 9 2 5 7 6 1 5 4 1 9 8 3 6 www.missourivalleyshopper.com 5 2 8 9 6 1 7 3 4 2 5 3 1 7 5 5 7 3 7 3 1 7 4 5 9 3 1 2 7 6 9 1 6 8 7 8 2 4 3 9 4 2 5 4 3 5 6 6 8 1 2 7 5 9 8 5 4 5 7 1 4 8 5 2 3 1 2 4 8 6 1 1 9 7 3 5 6 9 5 8 4 2 7 3 5 7 4 6 © 2008 KrazyDad.com EA BOOK 68 #1 su do ku make our determination today,” Hanson said. “The commission works hard to make sure the rates we set are reasonable for ratepayers in South Dakota,” PUC Vice Chairman Chris Nelson said. “We also have an obligation to ensure Otter Tail is financially sound. I’m comfortable that the decisions this commission has made are fair to the ratepayers and the investors,” he concluded. Commissioner Kristie Fiegen made the motion to set the rate of return on equity. “I have made a thorough review of the filed material, direct and cross-examination, and briefs. I believe with Otter Tail’s forthcoming expansion and its track record of service, a return on equity of 8.75% achieves a fair balance of ratepayer and investor interests while still giving substantial consideration to the factors that supported the PUC staff’s recommendation,” Fiegen stated. On Oct. 18, 2018, as allowed by state law, Otter Tail Power Co. implemented interim rates based on their initial request, that resulted in a 10.1 percent rate increase across all customer classes. Today’s action by the commission will result in a lower rate. Company representatives will work with the PUC staff to present a refund plan for commission approval at a later date. The Otter Tail Power Co. rate increase request docket can be viewed on the PUC’s website at www.puc.sd.gov, Commission Actions, Electric Dockets, 2018 Electric Dockets, EL18-021 – In the Matter of the Application of Otter Tail Power Company for Authority to Increase Its Electric Rates. Public Universities Respond To State Workforce Needs PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Board of Regents this week approved new academic program requests from four public universities to meet emerging workforce and community development needs across the state. The following actions, sorted by the university making the request, were approved: Dakota State University • A new undergraduate certificate in data analytics equips students to solve data-driven business problems and to assist in analytics-driven decision making. The 12 credit-hour certificate, to be available online, may lead to further study in computer science or analytics at DSU. This is an ideal foundational certificate for students pursuing careers as a www.missourivalleyshopper.com business or marketing analyst or as business intelligence and analytics developers. Web site at Visit our South Dakota School of www.missourivalleyshopper.com Mines & Technology • Three specializations, formerly under the umbrella of an Visit our interdisciplinary studies major at WebMines, will SD site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com REPO! Challenging Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad 2 3 YOU NEED IT TODAY? NO PROBLEM! 5 9 9 3 1 58 8 3 4 7 9 216 W. 4th St. • YANKTON,SD 5 2 7 5 605-665-5884 4 Shopper 1 4 4 6 3 27 4 9 5 2 7 erested in this Sudoku #6 4 spot? 3 9 2 5 9 3 4 7 2 1 8 665-5884 3 place your ad here. 214 99 to 8 6 6 3 5 6 2 2 4 6 1 8 4 1 6 7 1 9 6 6 1 9 2 8 7 3 2 96 1 6 7 1 INTERESTED IN THIS SPOT? 3 8 2 5 2 8 4 5 7 58 1 9 4 8 2 4 CALL 665-5884 TO 7 59 32 3 4 9 1 8 9 2 3 4 5 1 6 7 environmental cost recovery riders. Both riders were previously approved and reviewed annually by the commission. The settlement approved by the commission included a phase-in rider to recover appropriate costs related to the company’s Merricourt wind project in North Dakota and its Astoria Station simple-cycle natural gas fired energy conversion facility near Astoria, South Dakota. The negotiated settlement also included a provision to offset the phase-in revenue requirements associated with these plant investments with adjustments to reflect the net benefit of additional load in the Lake Norden, South Dakota, area and the net savings associated with the retirement of the Hoot Lake plant in Minnesota. The company further agreed to wait until 2022 to file its next request to increase base rates, at which time the phasein rider is expected to be discontinued. Otter Tail Power Co.’s last general rate increase was approved by the commission in April 2011. Since then, the company cited significant system investments and increased operations and maintenance costs as the reason for seeking an adjustment now. Among the projects and improvements Otter Tail Power Co. has implemented are an extensive customer information system, replacing a decades-old program. PUC Chairman Gary Hanson noted the depth and breadth of the facts, data and evidence presented in the case. “I found this docket to be fascinating. There was a tremendous amount of work and thought committed to this process by PUC staff and Otter Tail. Both sides presented strong cases. I appreciate the acumen of all participants that led to the information that helped us now be offered as standalone majors. The current interdisciplinary studies major will be eliminated. The new majors, all leading to a bachelor of science degree, are in atmospheric & environmental sciences; science, technology, and society; and preprofessional health sciences. • The atmospheric & environmental sciences major is the only meteorology-related undergraduate program offered in the state. • The science, technology, and society major combines rigorous coursework in natural sciences with a firm grounding in the social sciences and humanities for those students seeking to combine science and engineering with a stronger linkage to the human dimensions of scientific progress. • The pre-professional health sciences major prepares students for graduate study and professional advancement in fields such as occupational therapy or medicine. South Dakota State University • A new minor in engineering management will provide students with enhanced skills in production strategy, project management, engineering systems management, and cost analysis. The 18 credithour minor will appeal to students enrolled in engineering, applied science, and technology disciplines. This minor will be available through online delivery. • A new undergraduate certificate in preconstruction planning offers foundational skills in plan layout and development, construction materials, and commercial building methods, along with an understanding of building mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The 12 credithour certificate is stackable to degrees in construction technology and construction management at SDSU, and will be available online. • Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree in computational science and statistics at SDSU www.missourivalleyshopper.com In Print and Online! Call 665-5884 for great specials at your local restaurants! Bright Blue, 64,219 miles, Salvage Title $2,995 The right job is just one click away. Check out the 2014 Ford Focus SE Visit our Web site at AS IS www.missourivalleyshopper.com Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad will be required to select a specialization in either data science, mathematics, or statistics to complete their academic preparation leading to a distinct career path. Officials expect these specializations to further assist in recruiting highquality graduate students into the Ph.D. program. University of South Dakota • New undergraduate certificates in introduction to child life and advanced child life will prepare child life specialists for certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals. The two 12 credit-hour certificates are designed to be taken consecutively and are of particular interest to social workers who interact with children in hospitals and other settings. In Print and Online! 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