|
NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2024 |
|
Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week
September 8-14, 2024, is Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week. In today's increasingly interconnected world, telecommunications services provide a vital lifeline to emergency services, friends, and family. No Minnesotan should be offline simply because they cannot afford such services. The federal Lifeline Program provides crucial financial assistance for qualified low-income consumers. To learn more and to download information to share with your networks, visit NARUC’s website.
New workgroup examines thermal energy network deployment
At the direction of the legislature, the PUC established the Thermal Energy Network Deployment Work Group to examine the potential regulatory opportunities to deploy thermal energy networks and potential barriers to development while taking into consideration the public benefits, costs, impact of deployment, and rate design options. The Commission plans to host four workshops intended to educate the work group on various aspects of development and deployment. To learn more or to join the workgroup, visit our website.
Mike Bull joins PUC as new deputy executive secretary
We are pleased to announce that Mike Bull joined the PUC team in mid-August as the deputy executive secretary. Mike has spent his career in utility regulation and has helped shape Minnesota’s utility and clean energy policies. He also brings a strong record of engaging with communities and stakeholders across Minnesota.
|
Commission calendar and upcoming events
The information below is subject to change. Current information available online at PUC calendar.
|
DATE
|
TIME
|
DETAILS
|
|
SEPT 2
|
Closed
|
Office closed – Labor Day
|
|
SEPT 5
|
10 AM
|
Agenda meeting – City of Grand Meadow complaint related to wind turbine disposal from the Mower County Wind Energy Center Project site permit
|
|
SEPT 12
|
10 AM
|
Agenda meeting
-
Natural Gas Utilities’ Integrated Resource Plan filing requirements
-
Reconsideration of Commission’s July 31, 2024, Order to permit Xcel Energy’s Sherco 3 Solar Energy Generating System in Sherburne County
-
Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P. route permit for the Pipestone Reroute Project in Pipestone County
|
|
SEPT 19
|
10 AM
|
Agenda meeting
-
Xcel’s Quality Service Plan and Underperformance Payment
-
Xcel’s 2023 Fuel Clause Adjustment
-
Xcel’s 2023 True Ups and Combined Refund
-
Steele Waseca and Xcel Contested Service Area
-
Rule variance extension for streamlining procedures for consent telecom dockets
-
Annual Eligible Telecommunication Carrier designations
-
Allete (Minnesota Power) Acquisition - Process and Scope; OAH referral
|
|
SEPT 26
|
10 AM
|
Agenda meeting
-
Carbon Free Standard – definitions and partial compliance
-
Xcel Renewable*Connect report and tracker
|
|
SEPT 27
|
10 AM
|
MISO Quarterly Update
|
Commission decisions
-
The Commission denied reconsideration of its May 30, 2024 Order to transition ARR-era Community Solar Garden projects to the VOS rate, and clarified the Order to emphasize that the Commission has authority to change previous Orders. (Docket 13-867)
-
The Commission approved the certificate of need and route permit for Minnesota Power’s high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) Modernization Project to address grid reliability. News release. (Docket 22-607)
-
The Commission approved Otter Tail Power’s request to update its Renewable Resource Cost Recovery Rider rate. (Docket 23-496)
-
The Commission approved gas utilities’ 2023 Gas Affordability Program plans and proposed adjustments to the fund and corresponding surcharge. MERC will file a proposal in it 2024 GAP filing to begin auto-enrolling customers like Xcel and CenterPoint. (Docket 24-36 to 24-40)
-
The Commission approved Xcel’s Resiliency Minneapolis Project proposal after Xcel continued work with stakeholders and site hosts and secured federal funding to cover roughly half the costs associated with the project. News release. (Docket 21-694)
-
The Commission accepted Xcel’s 2023 Hosting Capacity Analysis (HCA) Report. The Commission also required Xcel to continue conducting its annual Load-HCA report as well as to employ the planned net loading methodology into the future Load-HCAs beginning in 2025. (Docket 23-466)
Public meetings and hearings
Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Project – On August 20-21, the Commission and Minnesota Department of Commerce held public hearings and took comment on Summit Carbon Solutions final environmental impact statement for the Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Project. The proposed project is a 28.1 mile long, 4.5-inch diameter carbon steel pipeline and associated facilities that would transport captured carbon dioxide (CO2) from the Green Plains Ethanol Plant located near Fergus Falls to the Minnesota—North Dakota border south of the city of Breckenridge, Minnesota. Public comment is open through September 11, 2024.
Pilot Knob to Burnsville Rebuild and Upgrade Project – On August 21-22, the Commission held public hearings and took comment on Great River Energy’s route permit application to rebuild and upgrade an existing 69 kV transmission line with a new 8.75-mile-long 115 kV High Voltage Transmission Line between the Pilot Knob Substation in Eagan and the Burnsville Substation in Burnsville. The proposed project will also include upgrades and modifications to the Burnsville substation. Public comment is open through September 3, 2024.
New lobbying requirements – On August 20, the Commission heard from the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on new lobbying requirements and how they impact the PUC. The nature of lobbying the Commission is much different than lobbying other government decision-makers, due to the Commission’s strict ex parte rules limiting discussion with commissioners on docketed matters that are before the Commission for decision.
However, advocacy before the Commission on docketed items, both in written comments and orally in agenda meetings, is lobbying within the meaning of Campaign Finance Board statutes and must be disclosed to the Board. According to the Campaign Finance Board, changes to the lobbying disclosure statutes now require that lobbyists who lobby the Commission note that on lobbyist registrations and report the docket number on matters they have lobbied the Commission. A recording of the presentation is available on our website.
|
|
Notable new dockets or filings
August was busy month for new permit applications
Six new site or route permits were filed: Great River Energy Laketown Transmission Route Permit (24-132); Coneflower Solar Site Permit (24-215); Gopher State Solar Site Permit (24-106); Northern Crescent Solar & Battery Energy Storage System Site Permit (22-57, 24-238); Birch Coulee Solar Site Permit (23-477); Beaver Creek Transmission Project (24-95). Companies also filed Notices of Intent for two site permits in September and three transmission route permits coming soon.
|
DOCKET
|
DOCKET OR FILING SUMMARY
|
|
24-67
|
Parties filed significant comments on Xcel’s 2024-2040 Integrated Resource Plan addressing Xcel’s preferred plan, proposing alternative plans, engagement with nuclear and coal plant communities, rates, energy efficiency, and equity. Also, Xcel filed a petition to modify the existing Track 2 generation resource procurement process and proposing a distributed capacity procurement process.
|
|
23-524
|
Xcel filed a supplemental with a revised proposal for the Residential time-of-use (TOU) rate design based on stakeholder feedback. Some changes include longer lead time for communication plans and key implementation tools, opt in rather than default, and updated rate design based on Pilot rate design with updated current load forecast and other consideration; as well as a modified on-peak period (shorter and later) to align with future net load forecast. The rate design also has reduced ratios between on- and off-peak and seasonal differences, modifications to net-metering tariffs to align with residential TOU rate service, and modifications to Space Heating Rate proposal. Also, Commission received an extension request on Xcel’s TOU rate proposal. Xcel stated that it needs more time to work with parties to address concerns. Comment period closes on Nov 14, 2024.
|
|
24-279
|
Snowshoe BESS, LLC filed a notice of intent that it will file for a Site Permit for an up to 150 MW Snowshoe Energy Storage Project in Olmsted County.
|
|
21-339
|
Otter Tail Power filed a procurement process update for 200-300 MW of solar with details on how they will evaluate competitive solar projects and will make a filing within 30 days on Step 2 of the procurement process and will not foreclose preliminary consideration of proposals received by Sept 1, 2024.
|
|
22-422
|
EERA filed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Summit Carbon Solutions’ pipeline.
|
|
24-198
|
Multiple parties filed comments requesting a contested case and flagging questions for record development for Minnesota Power’s Petition for Acquisition of ALLETE by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners.
|
|
09-36
|
Xcel filed annual nuclear waste management report noting current spent fuel storage pool inventories with 29% (Prairie Island) and 45% (Monticello) capacity remaining, a log of correspondence with NRC, all radiation parameter were within acceptable limits, NRC is anticipated to act on Monticello’s subsequent license renewal (SLR) by end of 2024, ongoing DOE settlement payments (Xcel requested $11m for 2023, DOE review pending), and a discussion of federal efforts on permanent and centralized interim storage. During cask loading at Prairie Island (May 2024), a crane stalled with loaded cask suspended above the water for 2-days (7-days allowed in license, no adverse effects found).
|
|
24-233
|
Dairyland Power Cooperative filed an optional IRP and requested PUC accept the filing, noting 59.9 MW of consumer-owned DG at end of 2023 (29.5 MW of accredited capacity), considering adding 450 MW of wind and solar by 2029, 50% ownership in the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (natural gas combined cycle).
|
|
15-137
|
Enbridge filed the tribal economic opportunity and labor education plan and employment statistics for Project through 6/30/24.
|
|
22-415,
22-416
|
Public comments and Department of Natural Resources filed comments on environmental assessment, Great River Energy and Minnesota Power reply. Office of Administrative Hearings issued a 2nd prehearing order which adjusted the docket schedule – Administrative Law Judge report is now due November 8.
|
 |
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
