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Funds Available to Assist Income-Eligible Persons with Energy Bills through Energy Assistance Program; Apply through May 31
Information Available at Energy Assistance Program
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Minnesota Department of Commerce urge income-eligible Minnesotans to apply for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce has increased income eligibility, so more Minnesotans qualify than ever before. About one in four Minnesota households are now eligible for energy assistance. Commerce has also raised the Energy Assistance Program crisis benefit per household. Income-qualified homeowners or renters can now receive up to $3,000 to pay past-due energy bills, to prevent energy disconnections, get service reconnected, and to cover costs for emergency fuel deliveries. The crisis benefits are especially important for households heated by propane or heating oils, who have seen their heating costs increase on average from $1,500 to $2,500 per household. Minnesotans who use propane or heating oils can apply for the Energy Assistance Program to refill their tanks.
With one application to the Energy Assistance Program, households may also qualify for water bill assistance and for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which can permanently reduce household energy costs. Connect to the application process at Energy Assistance Program .
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Commission Calendar and Upcoming Events
Current information available at: https://mn.gov/puc/about-us/calendar/
Date
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Time
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Event
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| May 3 |
10am |
Agenda Meeting: Natural Gas Innovation Act Frameworks to evaluate Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity and Cost-Effectiveness of Resources and Innovative Plans |
| May 4 |
6pm |
Public Meeting: Rose Creek Wind Project Informational and Scoping Meeting - Austin Conference Center |
| May 5 |
10am |
Agenda Meeting: Xcel-City of Kasson Service Area Transfers; Byron Solar Site and Route Alternatives; Xcel Energy Solar Garden Tariff Tenant Protection and Ineligible Funds Recovery |
| May 5 |
6pm |
Public Meeting: Rose Creek Wind Project Informational and Scoping Meeting - Virtual |
| May 10 |
10am |
Planning Meeting: Presentations by MN PUC Data Student Workers and Humphrey School Capstone Project Presentation |
| May 10 |
1pm/6pm |
Public Meeting: Dodge County Wind Project, Route Permit and Certificate of Need Informational and Scoping Meeting - Kasson State Theater |
| May 11 |
6pm |
Public Meeting: Dodge County Wind Project, Route Permit and Certificate of Need Informational and Scoping Meeting - Virtual |
| May 12 |
10am |
Agenda Meeting: Otter Tail Power Rate Case - Final Rates; Intervenor Access to Resource Plan Modeling Licenses |
| May 17 |
10am |
Planning Meeting: Department of Commerce Update on ECOAct and META; Great River Energy Update on Battery Storage Project |
| May 18 |
1pm |
Planning Meeting: Commission's Quarterly Meeting with Minnesota MISO Utilities |
| May 19 |
10am |
Agenda Meeting: CO2 Pipeline Rulemaking Investigation; 2021 MN Utilities' Biennial Transmission Plan (Tentative) |
| May 31 |
10am |
Planning Meeting: TBD |
| June 1 |
10am |
Agenda Meeting: Xcel 2021 Integrated Distribution Plan and Certification Requests (Tentative) |
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Notable Commission Decisions or Actions
Filings can be accessed using the docket number at: MN PUC eFiling Search
April 14, 2022 Decisions
Frontier Communications Virtual Separation Investigation (Docket 21-150) The Commission closed its Virtual Separation investigation and determined that no further action is needed. The Commission kept the Frontier service quality investigation open (Docket 18-122) and required Frontier to file a report after the order is issued, and on February 1st of each year on the following topics: 1) Frontier’s current plans for fiber and other investment in Minnesota, 2) changes in its Minnesota staffing levels from the prior year, and 3) service quality metrics previously reported quarterly in docket 18-122.
In a previous Commission restructuring plan docket after Frontier’s bankruptcy (Docket 20-504) the Commission opened a separate investigation related to virtual separation (Docket 21-150). Virtual separation is an analytical tool used by Frontier to understand, monitor, and improve its overall operating performance; intended to identify and isolate individual state-related indirect costs across its 25-state footprint.
April 20-21, 2022 Actions
Sherco Solar Public Hearing (GS-21-191, TL-21-190, TL-21-189) The Commission held in-person and virtual public hearings on the application of Xcel Energy for a site permit and two route permits for the construction of the Sherco Solar project, a proposed 460-megawatt project and two 345-kilovolt transmission lines.
Approximately 63 people attended the meetings; 20 people provided comments and asked questions about the project. Among the interested citizens in attendance were representatives from the city of Becker and Clear Lake Township, as well as several representatives from local and state-wide labor unions.
Some commenters expressed support for the project and the potential benefits to the community and potential employment/workforce opportunities. Those not supportive of the project raised concern about the economic and workforce impacts related to the decommissioning of the Sherco coal-fired plant, the loss of property tax revenue, the general equity of the transition, and questioned the overall reliability of renewable energy. The Commission anticipates making a decision on the site and route permits in late Summer/early Fall 2022.
April 21, 2022 Decisions
Xcel Energy Distributed Energy Tariff Modifications (21-433) The Commission approved a modification to the standard provisions of the uniform statewide contract for cogeneration and small power production facilities relating to issues regarding net metering and PV demand credits for tenants when a landlord is the customer billed by Xcel Energy. The Commission required Xcel Energy to notify the tenant, and bill the DER owner/landlord all costs, if the owner/landlord disconnects the DER system from the tenant’s meter.
April 22, 2022 Actions
Tribal Nations Planning Meeting on CO2 Pipeline Rulemaking (21-847) The Commission met with interested Tribal Nations to discuss and review the Commission's investigation into liquified carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines and whether to pursue a rulemaking. The agenda and staff overview of the topic is available here. Members of the public may submit public comments on this topic via the Commission’s Comment Page.
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Other Commission Decisions and Actions
Filings can be accessed using the docket number at: MN PUC eFiling Search
Other Actions
April 7, 14, 21 Agendas
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Docket Number
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Date
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Utility Name |
Decision Description |
| 21-141 |
4/7/22 |
Minnesota Power
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The Commission considered the route alternatives and related matters addressed in the report by the Department of Commerce for the Minnesota Power Duluth Loop Reliability Project, and decided that it did not need to take any additional action.
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21-590
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4/7/22 |
Xcel Energy
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The Commission approved Xcel’s request for reconsideration of its January 24, 2022 Order approving the Power Purchase Agreement with St. Paul Cogeneration, with respect to the cost recovery method.
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17-410
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4/7/22 |
Xcel Energy
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The Commission denied the requests of Ms. Madson and the Association of Freeborn County Landowners to reconsider its January 24, 2022 decision regarding noise monitoring at the Freeborn Wind Project.
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21-152
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4/21/22 |
Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation (MERC)
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The Commission approved MERC’s 2020 annual Revenue Decoupling Report and Revenue Decoupling Rate Adjustment.
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18-711 & 17-478
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4/21/22 |
Dakota Electric Association (DEA)
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The Commission approved updates to DEA’s Distributed Energy Interconnection tariffs from the rate case and separate interconnection dockets.
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Notable New Dockets or Filings
Filings can be accessed using the docket number at: MN PUC eFiling Search
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Docket
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Date
|
Filing or Docket Summary
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| 22-158 |
4/1/22 |
Xcel Energy 2021 Electric CIP Tracker, DSM Financial Incentive, and 2022/2023 CIP Adjustment Factor |
| 22-159 |
4/13/22 |
Otter Tail Power 2021 Annual Safety, Reliability and Service Quality Report and SAIFI, SAIDI, and CAIDI Reliability Standards |
| 22-160 |
4/1/22 |
Xcel Energy 2021 Gas CIP Tracker, DSM Financial Incentive, and 2022/2023 CIP Adjustment Factor |
| 22-161 |
4/1/22 |
Xcel Energy Renewable Connect Pilot Program Filing and Tracker Account Report |
| 22-162 |
4/1/22 |
Xcel Energy 2021 Annual Safety, Reliability and Service Quality Report and SAIFI, SAIDI, and CAIDI Reliability Standards |
| 22-163 |
4/1/22 |
Minnesota Power 2021 Annual Safety, Reliability and Service Quality Report and SAIFI, SAIDI, and CAIDI Reliability Standards |
| 22-165 |
4/4/22 |
Otter Tail Power CIP Tracker Account, DSM Incentive and Conservation Cost Recovery Adjustment Factor Petition |
| 22-167 |
3/31/22 |
CenterPoint Energy Annual Gas Affordability Program Report |
| 22-168 |
4/4/22 |
Dakota Electric 2021 Annual Safety, Reliability and Service Quality Report and SAIFI, SAIDI, and CAIDI Reliability Standards |
| 22-169 |
4/7/22 |
Minnesota Power and City of Pierz Service Exception Agreement |
| 22-174 |
4/11/22 |
Otter Tail Power Petition for Approval of its Energy-Intensive, Trade Exposed Rider Surcharge Rate |
| 22-179 |
5/2/22 |
Xcel Energy Petition for Approval of Annual Forecast of Fuel and Purchased Energy Rates / Automatic Adjustment Charges |
| 22-181 |
4/12/22
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Minnesota Power Line 8 HVTL Project in Jay Cooke State Park
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| 22-182 |
NA
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DOC Investigation into 911 Emergency Services (No Filing Yet)
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| 22-183 |
4/15/22
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Great Plains Natural Gas Petition for Recovery of Updated Gas Utility Infrastructure Costs
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| 22-190 |
4/20/22
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Petroleum Fuel Company's Petition for Approval of a Gas Transport Contract with Pine Bend RNG, LLC under 216B..045
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| 22-193 |
4/21/22
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Greater MN Gas Annual Gas Service Quality Report
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| 22-195 |
4/22/22
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MN Energy Resources Petition for Approval of 2023 NG Extension Project Rider Surcharges for the Rochester Energy Project
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| 22-197 |
4/26/22
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Todd-Wadena and Lake Region Elec. Coop Service Area Exception Agreement
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| 22-209 |
4/29/22
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MN Energy Resources 2021 CIP Tracker Account, DSM Incentive and Conservation Cost Recovery Adjustment Factor Petition
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| 22-210 |
4/29/22
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Xcel Energy 2021 Natural Gas Service Quality Report
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| 22-211 |
4/29/22
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Great Plains 2021 Natural Gas Service Quality Report
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| 22-212 |
5/2/22
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Nokomis Energy Formal Complaint and Petition for Relief Against Xcel Energy under the Interconnection Agreement, Section 10
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| 22-213 |
5/2/22
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CenterPoint Energy 2021 Natural Gas Service Quality Report
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| 22-214 |
5/2/22
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Otter Tail Power Petition for Approval of Annual Forecast of Fuel and Purchased Energy Rates / Automatic Adjustment Charges
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| 22-215 |
5/2/22
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CenterPoint Energy 2021 CIP Report, DSM Incentive
|
| 22-216 |
5/2/22
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Minnesota Power Petition for Approval of Annual Forecast of Fuel and Purchased Energy Rates / Automatic Adjustment Charges
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Contacts and More Information
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
121 7th Place E, Suite 350 Saint Paul, MN 55101-2147
Local: (651) 296-0406 | Toll Free: 1 (800) 657-3782
consumer.puc@state.mn.us
Direct Contact: Will Seuffert, Executive Secretary Will.seuffert@state.mn.us
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