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NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2024 |
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New video helps explain Cold Weather Rule
As of October 1, Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule is in effect. This means eligible residential energy customers are protected from service disconnection for the primary heating source from October 1 through April 30 if they set up a payment plan with their utility.
New this year, the Commission created a video to better explain Cold Weather Rule. The short video is available in English and Spanish. To learn more about Cold Weather Rule and to view the video, visit our website. If you have questions about your bill or how to work with your utility, contact the Consumer Affairs office at consumer.puc@state.mn.us, 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782.
Agency hires staff to help with solar interconnection
The Commission is pleased to announce that Erin Speltz will join our team on October 2, 2024, as the Interconnection Ombudsperson. This position is part of recent legislation establishing resources to mediate disputes between utilities, project developers, and consumers related to interconnecting generation projects to the distribution system.
Multiple workgroups open for membership
The Commission establishes workgroups to investigate utility regulation matters that need more record development or ongoing discussions of various issues. Currently we are seeking members for the Proactive Grid Upgrade Workgroup, IDP Improvements Workgroup and DER Cost Sharing Workgroup. To learn more about each group and how to apply visit our website.
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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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DATE
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TIME
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DETAILS
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OCT 1
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10 AM
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Planning meeting – Electric vehicle pilots
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OCT 3
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
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East Central Energy and NW WI Electric Co Service Area Transfer
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Rochester Public Utilities and People’s Energy Coop Service Area Transfer
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Certificate of Need for the Big Stone South-Alexandria-Big Oaks Transmission Project
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Certificate of need and route permit for the Mankato - Mississippi River Transmission Line Project
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Xcel Energy’s proposed electrification project and the requested Power Purchase Agreement extension
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OCT 8
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6 PM
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Public meeting – Northern Crescent Solar for solar energy generating system and battery energy storage system site permits (Blue Earth)
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OCT 9
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6 PM
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Public meeting and environmental assessment scoping meeting –Birch Coulee Solar Project site permit in Renville County (Franklin)
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OCT 9
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6 PM
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Public meeting – Northern Crescent Solar for solar energy generating system and battery energy storage system site permits (virtual)
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OCT 10
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
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Xcel Energy automatic bill credit pilot
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Xcel Energy tariff modifications
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Xcel Energy Community Solar Garden reconsideration
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OCT 10
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6 PM
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Public meeting and environmental assessment scoping meeting – Birch Coulee Solar Project site permit in Renville County (virtual)
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OCT 15
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Sherco replacement costs
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OCT 16
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6 PM
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Public hearing - CenterPoint Energy natural gas rate case (Brooklyn Park)
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OCT 17
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6 PM
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Public hearing - CenterPoint Energy natural gas rate case (Mankato)
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OCT 18
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1 PM
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Public hearing - CenterPoint Energy natural gas rate case (virtual)
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OCT 21
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6 PM
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Public hearing - CenterPoint Energy natural gas rate case (Minneapolis)
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OCT 22
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6 PM
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Public hearing - CenterPoint Energy natural gas rate case (Brainerd)
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OCT 24
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Minnesota Power rate case
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OCT 24
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6 PM
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Public hearing - CenterPoint Energy natural gas rate case (virtual)
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OCT 29
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10 AM
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Planning meeting – Data centers and load growth
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OCT 29
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12 PM
6 PM
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Public hearing – Minnesota Energy Connection Project certificate of need and route permit
12 PM – Monticello 6 PM - Virtual
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OCT 30
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public hearing – Minnesota Energy Connection Project certificate of need and route permit
11 AM – Litchfield 6 PM - Kimball
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OCT 31
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
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Gas and electric Conservation Improvement Program trackers, incentives, and adjustments
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Xcel Energy transmission cost recovery rider
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Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power electric 2025 fuel clause adjustment forecast
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Commission decisions
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The Commission acted on a complaint from the city of Grand Meadow regarding discarded wind turbine blades that have been stored on an industrial lot. The blades were part of the Mower County Wind Repowering Project. The Commission required Xcel Energy, the current project owner, to work with NextEra Energy Resources, the former project owner, to begin removal of the blades as soon as possible or by October 5, 2024. (Docket 06-91)
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The Commission approved final portions of a Gas Integrated Resource Planning framework, including details around Expansion Alternative Analyses, greenhouse gas emission tracking, and filing schedules for the first round of utility plans. News release. (Docket 23-117)
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The Commission denied reconsideration its July 31, 2024, Order approving and issuing a site permit for Xcel Energy’s Sherco 3 Solar Energy Generating System. (Docket 23-217)
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The Commission approved route RA-01 for the Magellan Pipestone Reroute Project with multiple conditions that must be met before construction can begin. Magellan must complete a full cultural and archaeological survey for RA-01 in coordination with designated Tribal Nations. Once the survey is complete, Magellan must send the survey results for feedback to the Tribes and engage in additional consultation. Magellan must file a compliance filing providing the results of the full survey, any feedback received and names of tribal construction monitors. After receipt of the compliance filing the Commission will schedule the matter for review of the compliance filing before any construction on the pipeline can begin. (Docket 23-109)
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The Commission determined the next steps in its review of the proposed sale of Minnesota Power’s parent company, Allete Inc. The Commission referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) and requested an administrative law judge (ALJ) to further develop and review the record, hold public hearings, and provide a report with recommendations to the Commission. News release. (Docket 24-198)
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The Commission required Xcel to distribute $500,000 of its $1 million underperformance penalty for service quality issues to low-income customers with overdue bills. The remaining $500,000 is refunded equally to Xcel’s electric customers. The payment cannot be recovered from ratepayers. News release. (Docket 12-383)
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The Commission extended variances to several Minn. Rules chapters regarding consent approval of telecom dockets. (Docket 18-382)
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The Commission recertified 112 eligible telecommunications carriers regarding their use of federal high-cost funds and required continued reporting including engagement efforts with Tribal Nations. (Docket 24-8)
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The Commission accepted the ALJ report with modifications and denied the petition from Core X, Steele-Waseca Electric Cooperative, and Bridgewater Township to transfer service territory for a new industrial customer from Xcel to Steele-Waseca. (Docket 23-516)
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s petition for 2023 Multi-Year Rate Plan True-Ups and Combined Refund Plan including the proceeds from the sale of land at Sherco to Minnesota electric customers. The Commission required the prime interest rate to be applied to the Property Tax, Capital True-Up, Net Operating Loss, Annual Incentive Compensation refunds. (Dockets 10-971, 21-630, 21-678, 21-815, 22-489, 23-468, 24-221)
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s 2023 fuel clause adjustment true-up report and the $126 million refund. The Commission also found that Xcel Energy acted imprudently related to the outages at Prairie Island Nuclear Plant and ordered this issue to be referred to the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings to determine the refund amount which must include interest at the prime rate. (Docket 22-179)
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The Commission made key regulatory decisions to help guide Minnesota electric utilities in their implementation of the Carbon Free Standard, consistent with recommendations from the administration. The Commission ordered the development of a science-based lifecycle analysis framework for complex fuels such as biomass, renewable natural gas, and solid waste, established a process for determining partial compliance from certain resources, and defined “environmental justice areas” to be either census tract or Tribal boundary. (Docket 23-151) News release
Public meetings and hearings
Minnesota MISO Utilities Quarterly Update Meeting – On September 27, MISO and Minnesota utilities discussed summer operations and provided updates on efforts to mitigate congestion impact to ratepayers. Overall wholesale electricity market prices were lower during the summer of 2024 compared with the previous year because of relatively milder summer weather, lower natural gas prices, and higher levels of energy generation from wind, solar, and hydroelectric resources. Additional highlights include:
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Grid North Partners provided an update on 19 electric transmission system upgrades to reduce system congestion.
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Xcel Energy discussed an additional 17 projects underway with opportunities to mitigate congestion.
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Great River Energy discussed initial results showing reduced congestion using dynamic line ratings to improve flows on existing transmission lines.
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MISO and ITC Midwest shared that the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line was project completed and placed in service on September 26. They reported about 160 projects representing about 24.7 gigawatts of renewable energy generation capacity have been waiting for the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project to come online .
Presentation slides and a video recording are available on our website.
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Notable new dockets or filings
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DOCKET
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DOCKET OR FILING SUMMARY
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20-850
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Minnesota Power filed its fifth 6-month report on its transition to time-of-use rates for residential customers. The Company notes that impacts to customers have been as expected with more than half of customers benefiting and about 96% experiencing a bill impact (+ or -) of less than 5% compared to previous rate. The Company has seen very few opt-outs.
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23-212
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In its 800 MW Firm Dispatchable RFP docket (currently at the Office of Administrative Hearings for a contested case proceedings), Xcel filed a letter with the ALJ requesting to stay the schedule to allow more time for settlement talks. Xcel will provide the next update on Sept 30. National Grid Renewables requests to withdraw the Harmony Solar + Storage project from this proceeding but will continue to offer the Plum Creek Solar + Storage project.
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24-200
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Parties filed reply comments in the Commission Investigation on Capacity Definition for Net Metering.
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06-91
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Blade disposal for Mower County Wind – NextEra filed a biweekly status report on the wind blade removal noting: 1) working with city and landowner on access road/rock stabilization; 2) routing of trucks and equipment with City; 3) finalizing vendor contract to start removing blades no later than Oct 5; and 4) estimate 4 weeks for removal of all blades.
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19-619
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Big Bend LLC filed notice that construction of the project has been delayed (permit was issued in 2022) and will commence in Spring/Fall 2027 depending on interconnection process and equipment procurement. Delays resulted from “the interconnection process, commercial negotiations, and further land rights acquisition related to the Transmission Line route…anticipated execution of the PPA in October 2024.” Big Bend is requesting an amendment and extension of the site permit from 2 to 5 years for the PPA and Construction sections of permit.
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24-309
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Otter Tail Power filed notice of intent to file a site permit application under alternative review for up to 66 MW Solway Solar Project in Beltrami County in October 2024.
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24-294, -295
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Midwater BESS LLC filed notice of intent to file site and route permit applications under alternative process in October 2024. The project is an up to 150 megawatt alternating current battery energy storage system and associated facilities and a 161 kilovolt HVTL and associated facilities, located in Freeborn County.
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22-422
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NCSRC Carpenters and the IUOE Local 49 filed comments in support of the Summit Carbon Solutions Final EIS and RA-South, Summit’s preferred route alternative. CURE recommends finding FEIS incomplete on several issues and supports no action alternative. The Boilermakers Local 657 support developing carbon capture technologies. Health Professionals for Healthy Climate recommends finding FEIS inadequate on climate benefits and health and safety concerns and support not issuing a permit. Summit Carbon Solutions recommends finding the FEIS adequate. DNR recommends permit conditions regarding mainline valves, monitoring protocols and beach ridge system. Otter Tail Power recommends finding FEIS adequate and approving a route permit. Bois de Sioux Watershed District filed a letter noting a watershed permit is needed and may contain conditions for approval and notes the District has existing ROW for WCD #35 and wants a setback if pipeline is routed there. Many public comments have also been filed.
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23-155
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Large Power Intervenors supports the Minnesota Power rate case settlement. Department, Minnesota Power, and OAG filed letters noting no exceptions to the ALJ Report and supporting the settlement.
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24-198
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Minnesota Power filed an update that ALLETE, Inc. shareholders approved the acquisition by CPPIB and GIP.
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23-518
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Xcel filed reply comments on the Company’s NGIA plan proposal, addressing issues raised by parties and continuing to recommend Commission approval of the proposed plan with modifications.
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24-320
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Xcel filed the Sales Forecast (Jan 1, 2025- Dec. 31, 2026) for their Electric Rate Case. The rate case petition is anticipated on Nov. 1.
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20-432
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CenturyLink filed a petition for reconsideration on the Formal Complaint proposing a MN Service Quality Plan instead of the ALJ Report and Order; otherwise, the Company argues the PUC must make modifications and correct errors in fact and of law.
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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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