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Commission Calendar and Upcoming Events
The information below is subject to change. Current information available online at PUC calendar.
Date
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Time
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Event
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Oct 4
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1 PM, 6 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Rate Case (Golden Valley and Woodbury)
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Oct 5
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6 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Rate Case (Red Wing)
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Oct 6
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Otter Tail proposed acquisition from Ashtabula III, Minnesota Power petition for approval of modifications to SolarSense customer program, possible amendments to Rule 7852 governing pipelines, procedure for Xcel’s proposed EV portfolio and cost recovery.
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Oct 6
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6 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Rate Case (St. Cloud)
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Oct 13
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Rochester Airport Pipeline Relocation Project route permit, CenterPoint Tariffed On-Bill Pilot Program
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Oct 18
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Xcel’s purchase and sale agreements for Northern Wind & Rock Aetna Wind Repowering Project, Xcel 2021 Property Tax True-up and Combined Refund Plan, Soft Light Foundation’s Petition for Regulation of LED Street Lights, ETCs 2021 Lifeline recertification results
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Oct 20
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5:30 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Rate Case (St. Paul)
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Oct 21
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2:30 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Rate Case (Minneapolis)
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Oct 27
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Xcel Cost Sharing for Small DER Interconnection Upgrades, 2020 Gas Utility Infrastructure Cost Rider True-up Report and Revenue Requirements for 2021
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Oct 31
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1:30 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Rate Case (virtual public hearings)
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Notable Commission Decisions or Actions
Filings can be accessed using the docket number at: MN PUC eFiling Search
Sept 1, 2022 Decisions
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Xcel Energy’s Petition for Approval of the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) Rider Revenue Requirements for 2022 and Revised Adjustment Factors (21-794) The Commission approved RES Rider cost recovery eligibility for Border Winds Repower, Grand Meadows Repower, Nobles Repower, Pleasant Valley Repower, and Northern Wind Repower projects in the RES Rider tracker. The Commission approved Xcel's 2022 RES Rider revenue requirements of $263.3 million and allowed Xcel to keep the current adjustment factor of 9.765% in place. The Commission declined to take action on a cost cap for the wind repowering projects.
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Formal Complaint and Request for Expedited Relief Initiated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Regarding the Delivery and the Compensation Related to the 911 Network (22-245) The Commission accepted the Respondents' commitment to interconnect and found reasonable grounds to investigate.
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Xcel Energy’s 2021 Integrated Distribution System Plan (IDP); Minnesota Power’s 2021 IDP; IDP for Otter Tail Power Company; IDP for Dakota Electric Association. (21-694, 390, 612, 728) Accepted Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Dakota Electric’s 2021 IDPs (Xcel Energy’s was previously accepted). As part of the IDP dockets, the Department requested that the Commission require utilities to adhere to a February 2022 Report filed by the Department, “Review and Assessment of Grid Modernization Plans: Guidance for Regulators, Utilities, and Other Stakeholders”, when making future grid modernization proposals. The Commission declined to adopt the Department of Commerce’s Guidance Document as the sole method of evaluation for utility grid modernization proposals.
Sept 8, 2022 Decisions
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Petition to Order Discontinuance of Service to Revoked Carriers and Carriers that have Relinquished their Certificates of Authority (22-224) The Commission ordered all local exchange and interexchange carriers to discontinue service arrangements enabling identified carriers to provide Minnesota intrastate telecommunications services. Ordered all local exchange and interexchange carriers to not engage in any new service arrangements.
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Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s 2022-2036 Integrated Resource Plan (21-782) The Commission accepted Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s (SMMPA) 2022-2036 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The model used in SMMPA’s IRP planning process showed a short-term need of 14 to 19 MW of capacity, which they plan to meet with the addition of 6 MW of new diesel generation, and 8 to 11 MW of short-term capacity purchases. In addition to accepting SMMPA’s IRP, the Commission accepted SMMPA’s agreement to include discussions on several topics related to their next IRP filing. The deadline for SMMPA’s next IRP is December 2, 2024.
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Minnesota Power’s Request to Extend its Commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) Rate Pilot (19-337) The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s request to extend its Commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) Rate Pilot until a new permanent offering is approved. The Commission also approved Minnesota Power’s request to file a new permanent Commercial EV rate no later than January 31, 2024.
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Great River Energy & Otter Tail Power Company’s Route Permit for the Frazee to Erie 115-kV Transmission Project in Becker and Otter Tail Counties (20-423) The Commission approved an amendment to the route permit for the Frazee to Erie Transmission Line to allow limited construction activities needed to transplant Showy Lady’s Slipper flowers found within the transmission line right-of-way to another suitable location.
Sept 15, 2022 Decisions
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Xcel Energy’s Acquisition and Construction of the Sherco Solar Project (20-891) The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s request for authorization to recover costs for the acquisition and construction of the 460-megawatt (MW) Sherco Solar Project. This follows the Commission’s approval of a site permit and two route permits for the Sherco Solar facility in August 2022. The Sherco Solar Project will be developed on land adjacent to Xcel’s existing, coal-powered Sherburne County Generating Facility. Xcel expects that all components of the Project to be in-service in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the first phase being placed in-service in the fourth quarter of 2024. Additional information in the news release.
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Minnesota Power’s Petition for Approval of a Rider for Customer Affordability of Residential Electricity (CARE) (11-409) The Commission adopted the Company’s proposed modifications to its low-income affordability CARE program, including increasing the annual budget to $429,303; increasing the amount of the monthly flat electric discount from $15 to $20; and extending the CARE discount to additional low-income customers that are not participating in LIHEAP. Minnesota Power is required to submit a compliance filing with revised tariff sheets.
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CenterPoint Energy’s 2021 Conservation Improvement Program Status Report, 2021 Demand Side Management Financial Incentive, Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) Tracker Report, and 2021 Conservation Cost Recovery Adjustment Aggregated (CCRA) Compliance Filing (22-215) The Commission approved CenterPoint Energy’s CIP tracker accounts and balances; updated CCRA rate and demand side management financial incentive of $7,771,520..
Sept 19-21, 2022 Actions
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Xcel Energy natural gas rate case public hearings An ALJ held two in-person and two virtual public meetings on Xcel Energy’s natural gas rate case. On September 30, the ALJ had a settlement conference, and, at that time, Xcel confirmed that a global settlement with all parties has been reached and all issues are resolved. Xcel and the parties are working on the settlement document that will memorialize their agreement. That document is expected to be filed in October.
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Minnesota Power Duluth Loop public hearings Nearly 20 people attended the two in-person and one virtual public hearing on Minnesota Power’s Duluth Loop transmission project. If approved, Minnesota Power anticipates construction will most likely happen in 2024 and the project will be operational in 2025.
Sept 22, 2022 Decisions
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Inquiry into Electric Vehicle Charging and Infrastructure; In the Matter of Xcel Energy’s 2021 Integrated Distribution System Plan; In the Matter of Minnesota Power’s 2021 Integrated Distribution System Plan; In the Matter of Distribution System Planning for Otter Tail Power Company (17-879, 21-694, 21-390, 21-612) The Commission combined two planning dockets, the Transportation Electrification Plans (TEPs) and the Integrated Distribution Plans (IDPs), in order to create process efficiencies and better coordinate planning efforts between matters related to transportation electrification and how utilities plan the distribution system. Utilities will now file their TEPs as part of their IDPs, with the next reports due on November 1, 2023.
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Decommissioning Trust Fund for the Enbridge Energy, Line 3 Replacement Pipeline (21-823) The Commission directed Enbridge Energy to file a draft trust agreement for notice and comment within two months of the order and after coordinating with the Department, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and other affected tribal governments.
Sept 29, 2022 Decisions
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Application of Freeborn Wind Energy LLC for a Large Wind Energy Conversion System Site Permit for the 84 MW Freeborn Wind Farm in Freeborn County (17-410) The Commission denied reconsideration or rehearing of the August 8, 2022 Order Accepting Post Construction Noise Monitoring Report and Compliance Review.
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Investigation of the Implementation of Minnesota Statutes, Section 237.045 regarding Railroad Rights-of-Way, Crossing, or Paralleling by Utilities (22-89) The Commission directed an informal investigation to gather information on the issues utilities and other providers are experiencing when attempting to deploy, replace, repair, or maintain utility and communications infrastructure in or across railroad rights-of-way in accordance with Minnesota Statute 237.045. The Commission will establish a comment and reply period to obtain recommendations on possible steps in future dispute resolution proceedings under section 237.045 to better address those issues.
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Request for Partial Transfer of the Site Permit for the up to 122.3-megawatt Northern Wind Large Wind Energy Conversion System in Murray County (20-860) The Commission granted a partial transfer of 122.3-megawatt Northern Wind Large Wind Energy Conversion System site permit adding Rock Aetna Power Partners as a permittee to allow Rock Aetna to construct a portion of the project consisting of eight turbines for a total of 22.3 MW and Northern Wind to construct the remaining 37 turbines a total of 100 MW.
Sept 30, 2022 Actions
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MISO Quarterly Meeting: The Commission heard from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) on Summer 2022 grid capacity and performance, efforts to address resource adequacy, and market reforms. Several utility representatives attended the meeting and spoke on various topics including the recently FERC-approved Seasonal Accredited Capacity, expected impacts from the possible implementation of the Downward Sloped Demand Curve and opinions on Energy and Ancillary Market reforms.
Other decisions
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Docket
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Filing or Docket Summary
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21-767
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Accepted Xcel Energy’s 2021 Hosting Capacity Analysis Report.
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21-566
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Adopted criteria for energy efficiency and strategic electrification measures for inclusion in natural gas utility innovation plans.
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22-274
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Approved Dakota Electric Association’s petition to allow retail net metering for irrigation service class customers.
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22-161
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Accepted the filing and tracker account report and required Xcel to provide detailed explanation as to the incurred net economic costs in 2022 and mitigation impacts in the Company’s 2023 Renewable*Connect program compliance filing.
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22-281
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Approved service territory transfer requests between Shakopee PUC and Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative.
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21-101, 17-401
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Accepted Xcel Energy’s compliance filing and proposed tariff revisions in response to the Commission’s March 15, 2022, Order requiring Xcel Energy to allow third-party aggregators to participate in a demand response pilot, the Peak Flex Credit pilot.
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22-227
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Approved Dakota Electric’s petition, reducing reconnection charge and transfer/connection charge, with an effective date of May 2, 2022.
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15-111, 15-112, 15-120, 17-817, 18-643, 19-186, 19-559, 20-181, 20-638, 20-711, 20-745, 21-101
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Accepted utility annual EV reports for Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Xcel Energy.
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22-217
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Approved Great Plains Natural Gas Company’s conservation improvement program tracker accounts and balances and updated Conservation Cost Recovery Adjustment rate.
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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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Filing or Docket Summary
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21-135, 138, 235, 610, 611
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Gas spike investigation next steps and comments
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21-335
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Minnesota Power rate case ALJ report and exceptions to the ALJ report
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21-678
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Xcel Gas rate case direct testimony
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22-216
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Minnesota Power 2023 FCA forecast update
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22-489
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Xcel’s Petition to Sell 348 Acres of Sherco Land
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22-494
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Dakota Electric disconnection without in person contact for safety concerns
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22-478
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2022 Telephone Assistance Plan Report
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22-422
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Application of Summit Carbon Solutions for a Route Permit for the Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Project
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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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