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NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2025 |
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New webpage on electric reliability and service standards
The Commission is committed to ensuring reliable utility services for all customers. Each year, we set reliability goals for utilities and monitor their performance through detailed reports. These reports track critical metrics such as outage durations, frequency of service interruptions and call center response times.
To enhance transparency and accessibility, we’ve launched a new webpage summarizing these annual reports. This resource provides a clear overview of utility performance and our ongoing efforts to ensure dependable service. Visit the new webpage to learn more about how we track and promote electric reliability.
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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Magellan Pipeline reconsideration
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Otter Tail Power Electric Utility Infrastructure Costs Rider
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Minnesota Power HVDC Transmission Line reconsideration
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Commission investigation on grid and customer security issues related to public display or access to electric distribution grid data
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Carbon Free Standard reconsideration
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Northland Reliability transmission line project - final decision on environmental review, certificate of need, and routing permit
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Proposed changes to the low and moderate-income Community Solar Garden program standard contract
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Xcel Energy's Prairie Island fuel clause adjustment reconsideration
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Xcel Energy’s Renewable Energy Standard Rider
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Customer protections for tenants under a rebilling or third-party billing arrangement
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Proposed changes to Xcel Energy’s Gas Affordability Program surcharge and budget
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Commission decisions
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The Commission named Commissioner Ham chair of the subcommittee on uncontested proceedings. (Docket 24-16)
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The Commission accepted the permit applications as complete for the 100 MW Benton Solar and 100 MW energy storage system. (23-423, 24-283, 23-425)
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The Commission approved CenterPoint Energy's 2025 interim rate increase with an implementation date of January 1, 2025. (Docket 23-173)
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The Commission accepted Greater Minnesota Gas’ rate case filing and referred the rate case to the Office of Administrative Hearings for a contested case proceeding and setting of interim rates. (Docket 24-350)
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The Commission approved Greater Minnesota Gas’ new base cost of gas, to be implemented on January 1, 2025. (Docket 24-351)
December 12
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The Commission approved Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed carbon capture and storage pipeline project with conditions. The approval is contingent on the project obtaining all necessary permits and requiring construction to commence in other states before construction can begin in Minnesota. (Docket 22-422) News release
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The Commission approved a $192 million interim rate for Xcel Energy, which is less than the requested $223.7 million. Interim rates will take effect on January 1, 2025, resulting in adjustments to monthly energy bills for residential and business customers. Importantly, these rates are subject to refund with interest if the final approved rates are lower than the interim levels. (Docket 24-320, 321) News release
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The Commission approved the service area agreement between Xcel and Dakota Electric Association. (Docket 24-347)
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The Commission approved the service area agreement between Xcel and the City of Kasson. (Docket 24-348)
December 19
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The Commission denied the Office of the Attorney General’s petition for reconsideration of CenterPoint Energy’s Natural Gas Innovation Plan. (Docket 23-215)
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The Commission accepted Minnesota Power’s annual SolarSense program report, extended the SolarSense rebate and IQ Solar Grant programs for an additional three years, implemented a 150% area median income cap for eligibility in the SolarSense program, approved Minnesota Power’s proposal to prioritize Disadvantaged Communities and Trail Lands in the SolarSense program, and approved expanded outreach and education budget. (Docket 20-607)
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The Commission accepted the 2023 Gas Service Quality reports for CenterPoint Energy, Xcel Energy, Minnesota Energy Resources Corp., Great Plains Gas, and Greater Minnesota Gas with modifications and updated reporting requirements for future reports. The Commission also required the utilities to replace malfunctioning meters within 10 days of learning of inaccuracies as described in Minnesota Rules. (Dockets 24-31, 24-32, 24-33, 24-34, and 24-35)
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Recaps of Commission meetings and hearings
Project meetings
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Solway Solar Project - The PUC and Minnesota Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings on Otter Tail Power’s Solway Solar Project application. The proposed project is a new solar energy conversion facility with an up to 66-MW alternating current nameplate capacity in Lammers Township in Beltrami County. The proposed project would consist of approximately 100,000 solar panels. The applicant proposes to interconnect the project using existing interconnection rights at the Solway Combustion Turbine Generating Station. Public comment is open until January 8, 2025.
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Forks to Rost Transmission Line -The PUC and Minnesota Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings for ITC’s Midwest LLC’s application for a route permit for the Forks switching station Southwest of the City of Lakefield and an approximately 8.5 mile long 161-kV transmission line from the new Rost Substation to the new Forks Switching Station in Jackson County.
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Snowshoe Energy Storage Project – The PUC and Minnesota Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings on the application of Snowshoe BESS, LLC’s site permit for a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a nominal power rating of up to 150- MW alternating current with approximately 600-MWh of energy capacity in Kalmar Township, Olmsted County
Stakeholder meetings
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On December 20, MISO and Minnesota utilities discussed winter readiness and provided updates on their expectations for energy prices this winter. The utilities indicated that wholesale prices could be slightly higher this winter compared to last year but stated there are mixed signals about future prices. CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota Energy Resources, and Xcel Energy also provided an update on their winter readiness and gave a brief overview of gas-electric harmonization. MISO shared an overview of design changes to the planning resource auction (PRA), and the utilities discussed the pros and cons of new PRA participation options. A recording of the meeting is on our website.
Notable new dockets or filings
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DOCKET
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DOCKET OR FILING SUMMARY
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24-399
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The Commission opened an investigation to provide notice of legislative changes enacted in 2024 that will affect Minnesota landlords, third party utility billers, utilities, and tenants. On January 1, 2025, legislative changes go into effect authorizing the Commission to regulate landlords and third-party billers who submeter or handle energy utility service billing in shared metered residential buildings.
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24-397
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The Commission opened an investigation to consider potential utility decisions to opt out of MISO’s Reliability Based Demand Curve. Utilities have until Jan 15 to make the opt out decision and the Commission has until Feb 17 to deny the decision (approval not required). Opting out could have resource planning and ratepayer repercussions.
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24-394
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Xcel 2025-2027 Nuclear Triennial Study. Once approved, filing resets nuclear decommissioning and end-of-life nuclear fuel rates.
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24-320
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Xcel filed interim rates update noting the adjusted 2025 interim rates were 5.27% increase in needed overall revenue.
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23-261
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CUB filed comments for Otter Tail’s residential TOU pilot making modification recommendations including a larger pilot (500 instead of 300 customers) with opt-out, recruitment approach, bill protection mechanism, shadow billing customer education tool, and myMeter app offers real-time hourly usage before pilot starts. OAG filed recommendations including reporting requirements, bill protection mechanism, participant education plan, and additional data needed from Otter Tail Power about energy usage and billing.
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24-67, 23-212, 24-195
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Multiple filings in Xcel’s IRP:
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Support for RDF extensions: Letters from the Goodhue County Sheriff, Prairieland Solid Waste Management, MN Resource Recovery Association, National Grid Renewables, Ramsey/Washington Recycling Energy, Blue Earth County, and the Red Wing Area Chamber back the extension of RDF facilities, citing partnerships, host city provisions, and timeline urgency with 2027 retirement dates.
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Opposition: Legalectric opposes RDF plant extensions and the settlement agreement. The Xcel Large Industrials (XLI) support denying the settlement and propose a rate freeze if rate analysis remains insufficient.
Settlement positions:
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Xcel supports RDF extensions but opposes cost caps, OAG’s data center investigation, and GSA’s proposal.
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Distributed Solar Parties advocate for expanded Distributed Energy Resources to address data center growth, equity in resource planning, and solar integration.
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Clean Energy Organizations and the Department back the settlement, opposing XLI’s proposals.
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23-173
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CenterPoint Energy filed proposed findings, conclusions and recommendation to accept the settlement noting: “the Settlement reduces the 2024 Test Year revenue increase from $84.6 million to $60.8 million and reduces the 2025 Plan Year incremental revenue increase from $51.8 million to approximately $42.7 million” with a lower apportionment to residential than initially proposed and 7.07% overall cost of capital.
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24-400
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Dakota Electric Association filed a rate case seeing authority to increase rates by approximately $23.8 million, or 11%.
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24-432
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The Commission opened a miscellaneous docket to consider Xcel’s upcoming peak time rebate rate proposal as required in the Commission’s December 30, 2024, Order for Hearing in Xcel’s current rate case, Docket 24-320. Xcel is required to file the proposal by March 17, 2025.
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24-435
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Amazon Data Services filed a Petition for an Exemption from Certificate of Need for backup generation related to the company’s planned data center site adjacent to Xcel Energy’s Sherburne Plant in Becker, MN.
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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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