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Commissioner Sullivan participates in White House panel
In late May, Commissioner Sullivan participated in the White House Summit on Modernizing the Power Grid. The summit was hosted by the White House Climate Policy Office and the U.S. Department of Energy and highlighted opportunities to accelerate deployment of advanced conductors and grid enhancing technologies (or GETs). Representatives from government, industry and regulators shared experiences deploying these technologies and discussed barriers to modernizing the nation’s power system. The Summit is available on YouTube.
Commission calendar and upcoming events
The information below is subject to change. Current information available online at PUC calendar.
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DATE
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TIME
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DETAILS
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June 4
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9 AM
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Planning Meeting: DER, EV and MN DIP data update
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June 4
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10:30 AM
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MISO Quarterly Update: Summer readiness discussion
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June 6
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: FERC filings- Sullivan motion; Great Plains Natural Gas new rate schedule for Renewable Natural Gas producers; Open Data Access Standards’ policies
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June 9-12
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MARC 2024 Annual Conference
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June 10
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7 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan (Eden Prairie)
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June 11
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6:30 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan (Monticello)
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June 13
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Agenda Meeting: Cancelled
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June 13
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public Hearing: Big Stone – Alexandria – Big Oaks Transmission Project
11 AM – Ortonville, 6 PM – Benson
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June 13
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6 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan (St. Paul)
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June 17
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public Hearing: Big Stone – Alexandria – Big Oaks Transmission Project
11 AM – Alexandria, 6 PM – Monticello
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June 17
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2:30 PM
7 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan (Virtual)
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June 18
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public Hearing: Big Stone – Alexandria – Big Oaks Transmission Project
11 AM – St. Joseph, 6 PM – Virtual
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June 18
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7 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan (Welch)
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June 19
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Closed
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Juneteenth – office closed
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June 20
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Formal complaint against Century Link
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June 20
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2:30 PM
7 PM
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Public Hearing: Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan (Minneapolis)
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June 25
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10 AM
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Planning Meeting: Vegetation Management Plan Work Group; Midwest Reliability Organization monitoring and enforcement activities
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June 27
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Otter Tail Power fuel clause true-up; Minnesota Power fuel clause true-up
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July 2
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting: Xcel Integrated Distribution Plan (IDP); Minnesota Power IDP; Otter Tail Power IDP; Dakota Electric Assn. IDP
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Commission decisions
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The Commission discussed what clarifications were needed to operationalize the new Distributed Solar Energy Standard (DSES). Required utilities to file their first competitive bidding RFP by Nov 1, 2024, allowing utilities to count third party CSGs and customer-sited solar towards DSES goals, and allowing Renewable Energy Credits retired for DSES obligation to be counted towards the Solar Energy Standard (Docket 23-403)
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The Commission approved the Certificate of Need, Site Permit, and Route Permit for the Dodge County Wind Project. The project, developed by NextEra Energy Resources, will consist of 72 turbines. Most of the turbines will be in western Dodge County, with some in Steele County. Transmission lines will go to Great River Energy’s Pleasant Valley Substation in Mower County (Docket 20-865) News release
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The Commission adopted the recommendations of the Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review related to the scope of the environmental impact statement for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project. (Docket 22-131)
May 9
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The Commission established a new Consumer Affairs Subcommittee to receive briefings and take actions on consumer affairs-related issues, and appointed Chair Sieben as the subcommittee chair. The subcommittee will receive regular briefings about the work of the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Office, including ongoing and emerging consumer issues, and could direct staff to take further actions such as opening an investigation, drafting a letter, issuing an information request, or holding a planning meeting on a consumer issue. The subcommittee could potentially make decisions on dockets primarily related to consumer issues, such as any Commission investigations initiated by the subcommittee. (Docket 24-16)
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The Commission approved Great River Energy’s Cedar Lake transmission line. The Commission directed GRE to confer with impacted landowners for a segment of the project along Baseline Avenue to determine the final route. The project is approximately 6.3 miles of new 115-kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line that begins at the Cedar Lake Substation and connects to the existing MV-EVX 115-kV transmission line near the intersection of 280th St E/State Highway 19 and Panama Avenue/County 23 in Cedar Lake Township. (Docket 23-170)
May 16
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The Commission approved the service territory boundary modification request from Austin Utilities and Freeborn Mower Electric (Docket 24-134)
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The Commission approved the 160-megawatt Elk Creek Solar project proposed by NG Renewables in eastern Rock County, Minn. The solar project will connect at the Magnolia Substation. (Docket 19-495)
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The Commission approved the Minnesota Transmission Owner’s 2023 Biennial Transmission Report as complete and required for future reports to have additional information on reliability and congestion issues. The Commission will open a separate docket to further investigate transmission curtailment matters, drivers, and potential solutions. (Docket 23-91)
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s certificate of need and minor alteration request for the proposed 345 kV Brookings County to Lyon County and Helena to Hampton Second-Circuit Project in Lincoln, Lyon, Scott, and Dakota Counties. The project was proposed to address transmission congestion for renewable generation in southwestern Minnesota. (Docket 23-200)
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The Commission approved Dooley’s Natural Gas II, LLC pipeline route permit and construction of a compressor station and other associated facilities. Dooley’s indicated that the pipeline construction will be completed and in service by Augst 2024. (Docket 23-392)
May 30
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The Commission accepted Xcel Energy’s Mankato-Mississippi River 345 kV Transmission Line Project certificate of need and route permit applications as complete. The Commission referred the matter to the OAH, recommending joint draft EIS public meetings and public hearings and the ALJ issue their report no later than May 16, 2025. (Docket 22-532, 23-157)
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The Commission approved Otter Tail Power’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which guides investments between 2023-2037. The approved IRP included several decision items, including Coyote Station, Astoria natural gas facility, renewable energy and how the company considers bids. News release
Public meetings and hearings
Xcel Energy Natural Gas Rate Case – Public hearings were held for Xcel Energy’s natural gas rate case from April 30 to May 9. During the eight meetings, the public had the opportunity to provide comment and ask questions. Public comment is open until July 19. (Notice)
Sherco Solar 3 Project – Public hearings for the Sherco Solar 3 project were held on May 7 and 9, 2024. Topics that were raised were consistent across both meetings and include local union support, possible impacts to property values, and various environmental concerns. The Commission anticipates hearing this item in Summer 2024.
Minnesota Power Rate Case - Public hearings for Minnesota Power’s Rate Case were held on May 20, 21 and 22, 2024. During the six meetings, the public had the opportunity to provide comment and ask questions.
Plummer Solar Project - The Plummer Solar Project is a proposed 130 MW solar farm in Plummer, Minnesota that will require a site permit from the Commission. Staff from the Commission and the Department of Commerce held two public meetings to provide information to the public about the project and to develop the scope of the environmental assessment. Members of the public asked about possible setback distances, how the project will impact recreation like hunting, and asked questions about the tax benefits the community will receive. Written comments are accepted through June 13, 2024. (Notice)
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Notable new dockets or filings
You can search for a docket as well as subscribe to receive email notifications when new documents are added to a docket. Learn more on our eDockets webpage.
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DOCKET
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DOCKET OR FILING SUMMARY
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Iron Pine Solar, LLC filed a joint site and route permit application for a 325 MW solar project and 230 kV transmission line in Kettle River Township, Pine County. Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Department of Natural Resources filed a notice that the project sits in 1837 Treaty-ceded territory and advises the applicant to communicate with the Band and other Tribes who hold rights in the territory.
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PUC Consumer Affairs Office filed a customer appeal to a complaint mediated with CenterPoint Energy regarding treatment of a payment agreement toward outstanding billing for utility service and Home Service Plus costs.
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Xcel Energy filed a letter notifying customers of a new $50 fee for interconnection applications to be remitted to the Commission for an Ombudsperson to assist with interconnection disputes (per 2024 legislation). Xcel also noted plans to launch consolidated billing for Community Solar Gardens on January 1, 2025 (per 2023 legislation).
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Otter Tail Power filed an updated Transmission Cost Recovery Rider request of $3,109,519 in 2025 for costs associated with 3 previously approved projects, regional transmission expenses and revenues, and the Milbank Area Reliability project in South Dakota and Minnesota. South Dakota portion is included because it was approved by MISO for the 2023 MISO Transmission Expansion Plan (MTEP). The rate impact for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month would be a $1.41/month increase.
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Administrative Law Judge Report was filed and recommends a trade secret refund amount representing 48% of the energy replacement costs, plus interest, that Xcel imprudently incurred for an outage at Sherco Unit 3 from November 2011 – October 2013, less 24.4% of the GE Settlement proceeds (Minnesota portion) that were already refunded to ratepayers. The ALJ included a memorandum with an outline of why Xcel, not ratepayers, should bear the responsibility for energy replacement costs.
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Minnesota Power filed an update on Minnesota Power’s Next Chapter announcing that, Allete, its parent company, has agreed to be acquired by a partnership between the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). A petition seeking Commission approval is expected to be filed by the end of July 2024 (Docket No. 24-198).
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Aurora Distributed Solar, LLC filed a Board of Water and Soil Resources ’Habitat Friendly Solar Site Assessment Form (after 3 years) and met pollinator standards for 3 projects totaling 333 acres and met the gold standard of providing exceptional habitat for 3 projects totaling 248 acres.
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Minnesota Power filed a comprehensive settlement of its rate case with the Department, the OAG, and the Large Power Intervenors.
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Xcel is requesting $889 million in Fuel Clause Adjustment (FCA) Costs for MN jurisdiction in 2025, or approx. $33/MWh. This is a decrease of $134 million (or 13.4%) compared to 2024 approved FCA forecast.
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Minnesota Power is requesting $266,372,540 for 2025 FCA Forecast.
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Otter Tail Power is requesting $140,775,339 for 2025 FCA Forecast for an average $23.92/MWh.
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Xcel filed an update on bids received for wind resources utilizing Xcel’s remaining Sherco interconnection rights noting a “strong response” of 17 bids from 5 bidders representing 5 unique project sites for total wind capacity of 1,100 – 1,800 MW. Xcel will file a resource acquisition proposal with the final bids with interconnection agreements in 3Q 2024.
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PUC initiated an investigation into establishing standardized reporting requirements for any gas utility providing renewable natural gas interconnection services.
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PUC initiated an inquiry into the impacts of the “Capacity” definition in Minn. Stat. 216B.164 and associated rules related to net metering eligibility for rate-regulated utilities.
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PUC initiated an investigation into implementation of a small Distributed Energy Resource capacity reservation for Xcel Energy.
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Get involved in the PUC process
The 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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