# South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Rule Changes Summary The Public Utilities Commission updated its rules to modernize filing procedures, reduce paperwork burdens on telecommunications companies, and clarify requirements for energy facility permits and carrier designations. Companies filing documents with the commission can now submit them electronically or by mail, with new 24-hour advance filing deadlines for materials to be considered at commission meetings. For transmission line projects, applicants must now provide digital shapefiles compatible with mapping software, and the commission can publish these online for public review. Telecommunications companies seeking local exchange service certificates must now provide more detailed financial and operational information upfront—including audited financial statements, customer billing plans, and anti-switching policies—while some outdated requirements like facsimile numbers and federal tax IDs were removed. Wireless providers offering lifeline-only service must annually report their rates and plans to the commission. Several obsolete telecommunications rules were repealed, including requirements about comparable usage plans and equal access provisions that no longer reflect current industry practices.
AI-generated from the adopted rule text — verify against the official documents.
The effect of the rules will be clarification of filing requirements; alignment of rules with corresponding statutes; removal of unnecessary filing burdens for telecommunications companies; updated telecommunications rules that more closely reflect telecommunications technology; greater emphasis on the importance of compliance with One Call Notification; and remaining current with federal regulations concerning pipeline safety.