The bill amends South Dakota law regarding the fees associated with applications to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). It specifies that applicants must deposit a minimum fee and may be required to pay additional amounts based on the actual costs incurred by the commission for investigating and processing applications. The maximum fee is capped at one-quarter of one percent of the first one hundred million dollars of estimated construction costs, with provisions for increasing this cap if an environmental impact statement is required. The minimum fee is set at twenty thousand dollars and is nonrefundable unless ordered otherwise by the commission.

Importantly, the bill introduces a prohibition on using funds from the South Dakota public utilities commission gross receipts tax fund to reimburse the commission for any additional costs incurred. This change aims to ensure that the commission's operational costs are covered through the fees charged to applicants rather than relying on the gross receipts tax fund. The provisions of this bill apply to both pending and future permit applications before the commission.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 12/27/2024: 49-41B-12
Senate Commerce and Energy Engrossed, 03/06/2025: 49-41B-12
Enrolled, 03/12/2025: 49-41B-12