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February 2023 Newsletter
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The PUC is hiring an Economic Analysis Supervisor. This job will mentor 10 analysts and plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the activities of the Economic Analysis Unit to assure that Commissioners have the information necessary to make informed regulatory decisions. To learn more, visit the careers webpage. |
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Commission Calendar and Upcoming Events
The information below is subject to change. Current information available online at PUC calendar.
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Time
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Event
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Feb 2
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Xcel’s petition for approval of a resiliency service program; Requested permanent service transfer for City of Dunnell and Federated Rural Electric Association; discussion on Otter Tail Power Integrated Resource Plan
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Feb 9
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Complaint by Novel Energy Solutions against Xcel Energy
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Feb 16
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Minnesota Power application for a Certificate of Need and a Route Permit for the Duluth Loop Reliability Project in St. Louis County; Xcel’s request for approval of changes to its tariff and an indefinite variance to commission rules regarding disconnection of service; Frontier Communications and Citizens Telecommunications Company proposal to increase their Convenience Fee
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Feb 17
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10 AM
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Natural Gas Service Quality Reporting Workgroup
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Feb 23
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Updating statewide Technical Interconnection and Interoperability Requirements for full implementation once IEEE 1547-2018 certified inverters are readily available (anticipated in 2023), Biennial Reports on Renewable Energy Standards compliance, Xcel Community Solar Garden 2023 Value of Solar rate and residential adder
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Notable Commission Decisions or Actions
Filings can be accessed using the docket number at: MN PUC eFiling Search
Jan. 5, 2023 Decision
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Xcel Energy petition for approval of general time of use service Tariff (20-86) The Commission found that Xcel’s petition for a commercial and industrial class time-of-use tariff pilot program requires additional information on the pilot construction to be submitted before the pilot treatment can begin. For the critical peak pricing component of the pilot, the Commission elected not to place seasonal, duration, and time-of-day constraints on the events but directed Xcel to file additional information on the anticipated criteria for calling the events before the pilot begins. The Commission also determined that customers need a minimum load factor of 30% to participate except for a limited number of electric vehicle charging providers and fleet operators. The pilot is to be two years and inform the decision to implement default time-of-use rates for general service customers by late 2025.
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Application of Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC, for a Routing Permit for the Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Project in Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties (22-422) The Commission accepted Summit Carbon Solution’s route permit application as complete and referred it for a contested case proceeding to determine whether a permit should be granted. The Commission also ordered the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. Read more about the decision here.
Jan. 11, 2023 Decision
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Evaluation of Gas Affordability Program for Minnesota Energy Resources’, Great Minnesota Gas, Great Plains Natural Gas, CenterPoint Energy, Xcel Energy (22-248, 22-249, 22-255, 22-256, 22-257) The Commission accepted the utilities’ evaluation reports. The Commission required Xcel Energy to develop automatic Gas Affordability Program enrollment for eligible LIHEAP participants. CenterPoint Energy will report on its efforts to develop automatic enrollment in its next Annual Report. Utilities file their annual reports in April.
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Application of Dodge County Wind for a Certificate of Need, a Site Permit, and a Route Permit for the up to 259 MW Large Wind Energy Conversion System and associated 161 kV Transmission Line in Dodge, Mower and Steele Counties (20-865, 20-866, 20-867)The Commission issued a draft site permit for the Dodge County Wind project for public review. The Commission required the Department of Commerce (Department) to create and issue a draft route permit for public review. The Commission also required the applicant to submit proposed wording for an issue referral for a possible contested case proceeding. Finally, the Commission authorized the Department to establish an advisory task force to consider issues associated with the project and potential mitigation measures. The decisions regarding the scope of the environmental analysis and a contested case proceeding were delayed until the task force’s work is completed.
Jan. 23, 2023 Decision
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Application of Minnesota Power for authority to increase rates for electric service in Minnesota (21-335) The Commission reduced and approved Minnesota Power’s proposal to increase electric rates of approximately $58 million, or 9.5%. Minnesota Power proposed an increase in rates of $108.3 million, or 17.58%. Once the financial impact of the Commission's decisions is calculated, if final rates are lower than the interim rates, customers would receive a refund of the difference, with interest. Read more about the decision here.
Other decisions
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Docket
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Filing or Docket Summary
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20-432
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In the matter of the formal complaint by Communications Workers of America regarding the services provided by CenturyLink, the Commission referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings for a contested case regarding whether CenturyLink is meeting the service quality requirements of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 237 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 7810.
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22-13
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The Commission eliminated the standalone annual summary of customer complaints docket (YY-13) and required utilities to include customer complaint data from Minnesota Rules 7820.0500 in their Annual Service Quality reports with data filed as part of Minnesota Rules 7826.2000.
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22-434
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The Commission approved the requested permanent service territory transfer from Lake Region Electric Cooperative to the City of Barnesville.
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22-531
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The Commission approved the joint petition of Worthington Public Utilities and Nobles Cooperative Electric for the permanent, mutual transfer of assigned electric service territory.
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22-589
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The Commission approved the petition for a permanent service area transfer from PKM Electric Cooperative, Inc., to East Grand Forks Water & Light Commission.
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22-595
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The Commission approved the petition for a permanent transfer from Xcel Energy to the City of Waseca.
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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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23-57
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Navigator Heartland LLC for a Route Permit for the Carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline in Martin County (docket number only, no filing)
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21-630
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Reply comments on Xcel’s rate case
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23-10, 23-1, 23-2, 23-20
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Compliance filings for distributed generation reports, telephone assistance program, weekly Cold Weather Rule reports, and Lifeline Form 555
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23-50
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Dakota Electric’s Optional Renewable Energy Rider – Monthly Rates
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20-473
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Department of Commerce’s decision on Xcel’s Critical Peak Pricing-TOU Pilot. The Department of Commerce approved CIP budget and goals
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22-221
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OAH Order on LTD ETC designation contested case stayed case and scheduled a March 6, 2:30pm status update
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22-423
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Xcel EV Program Portfolio Public Hearings (March 6, 2 PM & March 8, 7 PM); Evidentiary Hearings (April 4-5)
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23-43
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Heartland Corn Products application for a Route Permit for the Heartland Corn Natural Gas Pipeline Project in Sibley County (docket number only, no filing)
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21-815
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Xcel DOE Nuclear Refund
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22-659
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Greater Minnesota Gas Capital Structure
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Get involved in the PUC process
The Public Utilities Commission encourages Minnesotans to get involved in our processes, stay informed on utility-related issues, and provide input on topics of interest. Visit our website to see what is currently open for public comment. Also, check out the series of short videos that explains who we are, how we work and how to get involved.
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