Meeting
IMPORTANT! SD Public Utilities Commission - public input on 345 kV (EL26-028)
Thursday, October 22, 2026 · 11:00am
Rosholt Community Center, 19 E. Main St., Rosholt
Big Stone South to Hankinson to Bison facility permit 345 kV (EL26-028) Email puc@state.sd.us, or mail PUC, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501. Include EL26-028, your full name, mailing address, email and phone. Accepted until the decision; no party status needed (PUC Siting Guide, page 2).
“On September 8, 2026, the Commission received an Application from Otter Tail Power Company (Applicant) for a Transmission Facility Permit for an electric transmission line in Grant and Roberts Counties, South Dakota. Specifically, Applicant proposes to construct a new 345kV electric transmission line ("the Project"). The South Dakota portion of the Project consists of approximately 71 miles of 345 kV transmission line that runs from the existing Big Stone South Substation located west of Big Stone City, South Dakota, to the South Dakota - North Dakota border at a location northeast of New Effington, South Dakota, between Lien and Victor Townships. The Project will consist of single-circuit transmission structures constructed on steel, single-pole (monopole) structures. The Project will also involve modifications to the existing Big Stone South Substation to accommodate new breaker positions, switches for the new singlecircuit 345 kV transmission line, and relocation of the 345 kV Big Stone South to Ellendale termination into the substation. Facility components will also include temporary laydown/staging areas, pulling/tensioning sites, and access roads. The Project is expected to be located along 1,286.4 acres of right-of-way located in South Dakota. The Project would have a 150-foot rightof-way along the length of the transmission line. The Project estimates construction costs between $190.6 to $228.7 million and is expected to start construction in 2030, complete in 2033, and in service by the first quarter of 2034. The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to SDCL Chapters 1-26 and 49-41 B and ARSD Chapter 20: 10:22. Pursuant to SDCL 49-418-15 and 49-418-16, the Commission will hold the following public input meetings: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. CT Milbank School Theater 1001 E. Park Avenue Milbank, SD 57252 Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 11 :00 a.m. CT Rosholt Community Center 19 E. Main St. Rosholt, SD 57260 The purpose of the public input meetings will be to hear public comments regarding the Application and the Project. At the meetings, Applicant will present a brief description of the Project, after which interested persons may appear and present their views, comments, and questions regarding the Application. A copy of the Application is on file with the Grant and Roberts County Auditors and at the Commission's office in Pierre. The Application and all other documents in the docket, including detailed maps of the Project, may be accessed on the Commission's web site at puc.sd.gov under Commission Actions, Commission Dockets, Electric Dockets, 2026 Electric Dockets, EL26-028. Pursuant to SDCL 49-418-17 and ARSD 20: 10:22:40, the parties to this proceeding are currently the Applicant and the Commission Staff. Each municipality, county, and governmental agency in the area where the facility is proposed to be sited; or any person residing in the area where the facility is proposed to be sited, or any directly interested person, may be granted party status in this proceeding by making timely written application to the Commission. Applications for party status will be available at the public input hearing or may be obtained from the Commission's web site or by contacting the Commission. Applications for party status must be filed with the Commission on or before 5:00 p.m., CT, November 9, 2026. The Commission will also accept comments in writing from anyone, either by mail, personal delivery, or e-mail until the time of the decision. You only need to apply for party status if you want to participate formally in the case by putting on actual testimony or other factual evidence, conducting discovery, cross-examining witnesses, making legal arguments, and to preserve your right to appeal to the courts if you do not believe the Commission's decision is legally correct. You do not need to have party status in order to submit written comments. Following the public input meeting, the Commission may schedule a formal evidentiary hearing conforming to SDCL Chapter 1-26 to consider issues raised by any party or the Commission itself. At such a formal hearing, all parties will have the opportunity to appear, present evidence, and cross-examine the other parties' witnesses and exercise all other rights afforded by SDCL Chapters 1-26, 49-1, and 49-418 and ARSD Chapters 20: 10:01 and 20: 10:22, including rights of appeal to the courts. For approval, Applicant must show that the proposed Project will comply with all applicable laws and rules, will not pose a threat of serious injury to the environment nor to the social and economic condition of inhabitants or expected inhabitants in the siting area, will not substantially impair the health, safety or welfare of the inhabitants, and will not unduly interfere with the orderly development of the region with due consideration having been given to the views of governing bodies of affected local units of government. Based upon these factors, the Commission will decide whether a permit to construct should be granted, denied, or granted upon such terms, conditions, or modifications of the construction, operation, or maintenance as the Commission finds appropriate. It is therefore ORDERED, that the Commission will hold public input meetings on the Application and Project on the following dates: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. CT at the Milbank School Theater, 1001 E. Park Avenue, Milbank, SD 57252; AND Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 11 :00 a.m. CT at the Rosholt Community Center, 19 E. Main St., Rosholt, SD 57260. It is further ORDERED, that pursuant to SDCL 49-418-17 and ARSD 20:10:22:40, applications for party status should be filed on or before 5:00 p.m., CT, on November 9, 2026. 2 Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, these hearings will be held in physically accessible locations. Please contact the Public Utilities Commission at (605) 773-3201 at least 48 hours prior to the hearing if you have special needs so arrangements can be made to accommodate you.”