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Governor Walz signs energy permitting reform legislation
At a wind energy farm outside Dexter, Governor Walz, along with Senate and House leaders and PUC Chair Sieben, held a signing ceremony for legislation that will reform state permitting processes and speed up the construction of clean energy projects in Minnesota. The Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act was passed this past legislative session and includes reforms that streamlines the permitting process and continues to move Minnesota toward a goal of zero emissions by 2040. News release
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NEW! IRP 101 video
The Commission developed a new educational video on integrated resource planning (IRP). The short video helps explain what an IRP is, why resource planning is important and how to get involved. Feel free to share the video, or link/post it on your own website.
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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JUL 2
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – 2023 Integrated Distribution Plans for Dakota Electric Association, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Xcel Energy
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JUL 4
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Closed
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Holiday – office closed
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JUL 8
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public information and EIS scoping meeting – Mankato-Mississippi Transmission Line Project
11 AM – Mankato 6 PM – Waterville
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JUL 9
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9 AM
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Stakeholder meeting – Xcel Energy’s interactive service quality map and equity analysis
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JUL 9
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10 AM
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Planning meeting – RMI presentation on clean repowering and IRA Opportunity Map
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JUL 9
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11 AM
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Public information and EIS scoping meeting – Mankato-Mississippi Transmission Line Project
11 AM – Faribault 6 PM – Pine Island
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JUL 10
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6 PM
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Public information and EIS scoping meeting – Mankato-Mississippi Transmission Line Project (Kellogg)
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JUL 11
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Transfer Agreement between Northern
States Power Company and Janesville Municipal Utilities; CenterPoint Energy Minnesota Gas’s proposal to implement recovery of commodity costs in the monthly Purchase Gas Adjustment
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JUL 11
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12 PM
6 PM
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Public information and EIS scoping meeting – Mankato-Mississippi Transmission Line Project (virtual)
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JUL 18
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Co-location disputes; Sherco 3 solar site permit; Xcel Energy capacity reservation suspension request
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JUL 22
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6 PM
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Public hearing – Northland Reliability Project (Hill City)
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JUL 23
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting –Oral arguments for CenterPoint Energy's first Natural Gas Innovation Act (NGIA) innovation plan
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JUL 23
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6 PM
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Public hearing – Northland Reliability Project (Crosby)
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JUL 24
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public hearing – Northland Reliability Project
11 AM – Pierz 6 PM – Clear Lake
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JUL 25
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Deliberations for CenterPoint Energy's first NGIA innovation plan; Minnesota Power HVDC modernization
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JUL 25
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11 AM
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Public hearing – Northland Reliability Project (Sauk Rapids)
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JUL 26
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12 PM
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Public hearing – Northland Reliability Project (virtual)
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JUL 30
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10 AM
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Planning meeting – Update on equity in dockets and utility diversity reporting
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AUG 1
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Otter Tail Power renewable resources rider; Xcel Energy Community Solar Garden ARR to VOS reconsideration
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Commission decisions
June 6
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The Commission voted to support the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Order 1920 which requires each of the transmission planning regions in the United States to undergo scenario-based transmission planning. The FERC Order contains reforms to local transmission oversight, interregional coordination, and mandatory default cost allocation methodology. (Docket 24-21)
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The Commission expanded Open Data Access Standards to encompass requests for anonymized customer energy use data for research and program evaluation purposes, and specifically listed which types of non-profits and research institutions were eligible to make requests. (Docket 19-505)
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The Commission approved Great Plains’ Renewable Natural Gas Interconnection Agreement with modifications and approved reporting requirements. (Docket 24-73)
June 20
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The Commission found that CenturyLink was in violation of three Minnesota Rules related to service quality, and required the company to perform reviews and repairs of all equipment that impacts its service, reduce repair appointment hours from eight to four hours, and work closer with the Communications Workers of America. (Docket 20-432)
June 27
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The Commission approved Otter Tail Power’s Annual True-Up of its Energy Adjustment Rider (EAR), resulting in a $5.2 million refund to ratepayers. This is credited to the EAR from September 2004-August 2025. (Docket 22-214)
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The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s 2023 Annual True-Up of its Fuel and Purchased Energy Charge Petition, resulting in a $11 million refund to ratepayers to be credited from September 2024 to August 2025. (Docket 22-216)
Public meetings and hearings
Xcel Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan – The Commission held multiple in-person and virtual public hearings across Xcel’s electric service territory from June 10-20 on Xcel Energy’s 2024-2040 Upper Midwest Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). During this time the public was invited to learn more about how Xcel plans to meet its demand for electricity over the next 15 years, as well as provide comment. The Commission anticipates deciding on the IRP in early 2025. Additional project information is available on our website.
Wabasha Transmission Line Relocation Project – The Project is a proposed 161 kV transmission line relocation project in Wabasha County, Minnesota that will require a route 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 the project’s detailed proposed location and possible impacts on human, agricultural, and livestock health. Since the public meetings, the Commission approved Dairyland's request to withdraw its Certificate of Need application which is no longer needed due to recent law changes.
Big Stone South – Alexandria – Big Oaks Transmission Project – The Commission held six hearings and took public comment from June 13-18 on the applications of Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency for a certificate of need for the proposed Big Stone South—Alexandria—Big Oaks 345 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Project and a route permit for the Alexandria to Big Oaks 345 kV Transmission Project. The proposed project consists of approximately 208 miles of new 345 kV transmission facilities between the Big Stone South Substation near Big Stone City South Dakota, the Alexandria Substation near Alexandria, Minnesota, and a new substation (Big Oaks Substation) proposed southwest of Becker, Minnesota. The project also includes the expansion of the Alexandria, Riverview, and Quarry substations. Public comment is open until July 8, 2024.
MISO quarterly meeting– On June 4, MISO provided the Commission with their 2024 summer outlook. MISO is expecting a hot summer and an active hurricane season and are preparing to manage the operational challenges. MISO is projected to meet its resource adequacy requirements this summer, however, pressure persists with reduced capacity surplus across the region. While the overall MISO region experienced a reduction in capacity surplus compared to 2023, Zone 1, which includes Minnesota and part of Wisconsin, increased its capacity surplus.
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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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24-230
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Xcel filed RFP plan noting that on June 28, Xcel will issue an RFP for 1,600 MW of wind, solar, standalone storage, wind + storage hybrid, or solar + plus storage hybrid resources (above 5 MW on distribution (if they have a signed IA by June 28, 2024), PPA extensions greater than 1 MW, and transmission interconnected) to come online in 2027 through the end of 2029 (separate from the distributed solar energy standard resources). Bids will be due Sept. 18, 2024. Xcel anticipates PUC petitions second quarter 2024 for traditional option bids and Sept. 30, 2025, update with MN Energy Connection contingent proposals.
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23-413
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Xcel filed a settlement agreement on the gas rate case with Department of Commerce, Office of Attorney General, Citizens Utility Board, Suburban Rate Authority, LIUNA, and Local 49 resolving all issues. Settlement results in a $46.31 million increase (Xcel requested $59.03 million). Agreed ROE was 9.60%.
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13-867
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Seven petitions filed to reconsider the Commission’s May 30, 2024, Order Approving Community Solar Garden Program Rate-Transition Proposal with modifications. On April 1, 2025, the Order would transition CSG subscribers who currently receive bill credits based on Applicable Retail Rate to the 2017 Value of Solar rate with adders for certain customers over certain time periods.
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23-335; 13-867
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Enterprise Energy and Sunshare filed appeals to the Department of Commerce’s determination on co-location for CSGs submitted in the Legacy CSG Portal that intend to apply to the Low- and Moderate Income Accessible CSG Program.
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22-75
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Great River Energy filed a notice of changed circumstances for the Cooperative’s Integrated Resource Plan noting McClean County Commissions denied an avoidance zone application for Apex Clean Energy’s 400 MW Discovery Wind project. As such, the Power Purchase Agreement with GRE is now terminated for the wind that would have been delivered over Nexus Line’s HVDC transmission line. GRE is working with Nexus and Rainbow Energy to pursue alternative wind development using the HVDC.
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21-791, -792
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Lake Wilson Solar Energy LLC filed information about production tax implications of the battery storage facility noting storage will allow solar to charge the battery when it may otherwise be curtailed and increase overall production (and production tax paid to the county and township) and there may be other indirect benefits from curtailment reduction. Murray County does not have questions at this time.
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23-117
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Gas utility Integrated Resource Plan's – CenterPoint filed a straw proposal for additional details on six filing requirements from the Commission’s March 27, 2024, Order. MERC filed a straw proposal with proposed definitions, a correction to a filing requirement, requested deferred accounting for cost recovery, equity considerations, and proposed MERC file first plan in late 2026. Xcel filed a straw proposal with 10 recommendations and proposes filing first plan in late 2026.
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21-630
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Department recommends accepting Xcel’s 2023 Capital True-Up Report and Refund Plan with modifications. Department notes this is a refund of ~$21.2 million plus interest to electric customers and estimated to be $7.83 for the average residential customer. Xcel Energy filed 2023 Annual Net Operating Loss (NOL) Report (also in Docket No. 10-971) for Company’s treatment of Deferred Tax Asset balances associated with regulatory treatment of NOL for MN electric jurisdiction noting the sale of Production Tax Credits (PTC) is the primary driver for the increased refund to ratepayers of over $5 million through one-time bill credits based on 2023 rate base (e.g. average residential customer will receive approx. $1.86). Details of refund plan will be in the Property Tax True Up Report filed July 1.
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23-151
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Numerous parties submitted comments related to the definition of carbon-free technologies; as well as partial compliance with the Carbon Free Standard and addressing environmental justice areas.
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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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