MN PUC July 2022 Newsletter

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July 2022 Newsletter

Commissioners tour solar facility Minnesota Power hosted Chair Katie Sieben and Commissioner John Tuma on a tour of the Laskin Energy Center solar project in Hoyt Lakes and the Heliene solar panel production facility in Mountain Iron on June 14.  The 5.6 MW Laskin solar project is one of three Minnesota Power is building. The company is also constructing a 15.2 MW array near Brainerd, and a 1.6 MW array in Duluth.

Commission Calendar and Upcoming Events

Calendar subject to change. For updated information visit PUC calendar.

Notable Commission Decisions or Actions

Filings can be accessed using the docket number at: MN PUC eFiling Search

June 1, 2022 Decisions

• Xcel Transmission Cost Recovery Rider (21-814)   The Commission approved the Procedural Agreement between the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Xcel providing further time to review Xcel's 2021-2022 Transmission Cost Recovery (TCR) Rider petition. The agreement includes a supplemental filing by Xcel, technical workshops hosted by Xcel, and a comment and reply period on the merits of the entire TCR petition after the supplemental filing.
• Xcel's 2021 Integrated Distribution System Plan and request for certification of distributed intelligence and the Resilient Minneapolis Project (21-694)  The Commission accepted Xcel's 2021 Integrated Distribution System Plan (IDP). Features of this IDP include setting forecasts, proactively planning electric vehicle additions, improving non-wire alternatives and planning for capacity during peak hours. The Commission also required Xcel to convene a series of stakeholder proceedings aimed at developing next steps in modernizing the distribution grid to prepare for increased levels of distributed energy resource adoption. The Commission also approved certification of the Resilient Minneapolis Project (RMP) and capped the project’s costs at $9 million subject to a prudency review when considering cost recovery under the Transmission Cost Recovery Rider. Additionally, the Commission required Xcel to continue collaboration with stakeholders to design evaluation metrics for use in annual reports.

June 9, 2022 Decisions

• Investigation on grid and customer security issues related to public display or access to electric distribution grid data (20-800) The Commission heard oral comments from parties and decided to take supplemental comment prior to determining further actions. Commission staff participate in a Department of Energy-funded Grid Data Sharing Collaborative convened by the National Association of Regulatory and Utility Commissioners (NARUC) which several parties recognize is leading an effort to help state Commissions address these issues. 

June 23, 2022 Decisions

• Xcel 2021 Electric Sales True-up Mechanisms and Associated True-Up Mechanisms (20-743) The Commission accepted Xcel’s true-up report and associated recovery factors. On April 2, 2021, the Commission issued its Order Approving True-Ups and Requiring Xcel to Withdraw its Notice of Change in Rates and Interim Rate Petition, in this docket, which included approval of an annual sales true-up. 
• Xcel's Sherco Replacement Power Costs (13-868, 13-599, 14-579, 16-523, 17-492, 18-373)  The Commission referred this matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), determining that there are issues of material fact in dispute as to whether the replacement power costs for the November 2011 to October 2013 outage at their Sherburne County Generating Plant (Sherco) were reasonable and prudent.  The Commission authorized the Department of Commerce to seek authorization to incur costs for any specialized services required to assist in this matter under Minn. Stat. § 216B.62.
• Great River Energy (GRE) Request for a Minor Alteration at its Cambridge 2 Peaking Plant (22-122)  The Commission directed the Department of Commerce to prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on the request to add oil backup facilities at GRE’s 170 MW natural gas fired combustion turbine plant.

June 27-28, 2022 Actions

• Rochester Pipeline Relocation Project public meeting. Commission staff held two public information meetings between June 27-28, regarding the Rochester Airport Pipeline Relocation Project. The project proposed by BP Midwest Product Pipeline Holdings, includes the relocation of a pipeline segment to allow for the reconstruction of Runway 2/20 at the Rochester International Airport. The project would reroute approximately 10,171 feet of pipeline to accommodate the expansion of the runway. Public comment on the project is open through July 26, 2022.

June 30, 2022 Decisions

• Rose Creek Wind, LLC for Site Permit (21-643) The Commission issued a draft site permit for the up to 17.4-megawatt Rose Creek Wind large wind energy conversion system in Mower County. The next steps in the review process includes a public hearing in Austin, Minnesota on July 27, followed by an online public hearing on July 28, 2022.
• Minnesota Power’s 2021 Conservation Improvement Program Consolidated Filing (22-130)  The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s 2021 CIP tracker account and tracker balance $3,583,333. The Commission also approved Minnesota Power’s monthly carrying charge rate (0.2917%); approved a 2022/2023 Conservation Program Adjustment of $0.002002 per kWh; approve a Demand Side Management financial incentive of $1,937,003 for Minnesota Power’s 2021 CIP Achievements; and granted Minnesota Power a variance to two Minnesota Rules allowing Minnesota power to combine two adjustments, showing them as a single amount on customers’ bills.
• Xcel 2021 Annual Fuel Forecast and Monthly Fuel Cost Charges (20-417)  The Commission accepted and approved Xcel’s 2021 Fuel Adjustment Clause compliance filing; authorized Xcel to recover the 2021 under-collection of $81.8 million; approved Xcel’s proposed tariff sheets.
• Otter Tail Power Company Annual Fuel Forecasted Rates for Energy Adjustment Rider, Rate Schedule (20-462)  The Commission accepted and approved Otter Tail’s 2021 energy adjustment rider compliance filing; authorized to recover the net 2021 under-collection of $700,126; authorized recovery the 2021 under-collection over a four-month period starting on September 1, 2021.
• Minnesota Power 2021 Annual Fuel Forecast and Monthly Fuel Cost Charges (20-463)  The Commission accepted and approved Minnesota Power’s 2021 Annual Fuel and Purchased Energy Charge Rider compliance filing.; authorized to recover its 2021 under-collection of $56,363,395; approved to recover the 2021 under-collection over the 17-month period of April 1, 2022; ordered Minnesota Power to, once its 2023 forecast is approved, provide updated rates for January 2023 through August 2023.

Other Commission Decisions and Actions

Notable New Dockets or Filings

Filings can be accessed using the docket number at: MN PUC eFiling Search

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