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NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2025 |
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New commissioner appointed to the Public Utilities Commission
Governor Walz appointed Audrey Partridge to serve as a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission. Her term runs from February 10, 2025 – January 6, 2031.
"I am so grateful to be appointed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. I thank Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan for trusting me to serve our state at this pivotal time in our clean energy transition,” said Partridge. “I will work each and every day to meet Minnesota's ambitious clean energy goals, while maintaining affordability and reliability, and supporting Minnesota's communities and our highly skilled energy workforce."
Audrey is the director of policy for the Center for Energy and Environment, an organization she has been with since 2017. Before joining the Center for Energy and Environment, she held the roles of senior regulatory analyst and local energy policy manager with CenterPoint Energy. Audrey has also worked with CapX2020, the Metropolitan Council, and the Mental Health Association of Minnesota.
Commission opens annual dockets
Each year, the Commission establishes recurring dockets for essential utility reporting and regulatory actions, including Cold Weather Rule reporting and Renewable Energy Standard compliance. This year’s dockets also include monthly purchased gas and energy adjustments, the annual fuel rate forecast, the Distributed Energy Resource Ombudsperson’s annual report and surcharge adjustment, and gas utilities’ demand entitlements. For a complete list of dockets and filing deadlines, 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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FEB 4
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Xcel Energy’s 2023 Natural Gas Innovation Plan
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FEB 5
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6 PM
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Public hearing - Iron Pine Solar Power site and route permit for an up to 325 MW solar energy generating system and 230 kV transmission line in Pine County (Sandstone)
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FEB 6
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- 2024 filings from Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power, and Otter Tail Power on their reliability-based demand curve opt out intentions
- Xcel Energy’s 2023 Natural Gas Innovation Plan
- Dakota Electric rate increase application
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FEB 6
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6 PM
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Public hearing - Iron Pine Solar Power site and route permit for an up to 325 MW solar energy generating system and 230 kV transmission line in Pine County (Virtual)
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FEB 11
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10 AM
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Planning meeting - Winter readiness and gas-electric system reliability
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FEB 11
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6 PM
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Public hearing - Dairyland Power Cooperative for a route permit for the Wabasha 161 kV Relocation Project. (Kellogg)
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FEB 12
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12 PM
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Public hearing - Dairyland Power Cooperative for a route permit for the Wabasha 161 kV Relocation Project. (Virtual)
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FEB 13
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Updating the Generic Standards for the interconnection and operation of distributed generation facilities
- Xcel Energy’s new base cost of gas and application to increase rates for natural gas service in Minnesota
- Indirect transfer of control of Network Innovations to Comcast Business Communications
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FEB 14
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10 AM
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TEN Workgroup
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FEB 17
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CLOSED
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Holiday – office closed
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FEB 18
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12:30 PM
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Agenda meeting – Xcel Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan
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FEB 20
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting – Xcel Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan
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FEB 28
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Ratemaking treatment for early retiring generating facilities
- MiEnergy Cooperative & City of Whalan service area transfer
- Detroit Lakes Public Utilities and Otter Tail Power service area transfer
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Commission decisions
January 7
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The Commission rescinded their previous decision to grant a route permit for the Magellan Pipeline Reroute Project in Pipestone County. The Commission required the company to complete cultural, archaeological, and historical resources inventories for Route Alternative 1 and Route Alternative 3. (Docket 23-109) News release
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The Commission denied Large Power Intervenors reconsideration of the October 25, 2024, Order for Minnesota Power’s HVDC Modernization Project in Hermantown. (Docket 22-607, 22-611)
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The Commission approved Otter Tail Power’s annual Electric Utility Infrastructure Rider. Updated rates that will go into effect first of the month after the Order comes out. (Docket 24-186)
January 16
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The Commission denied Clean Energy Organizations’ petitions for clarification and reconsideration of the Nov 7, 2024, Order implementing portions of the Carbon-Free Standard (Docket 23-151)
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The Commission formalized a workgroup on grid security and data sharing and accepted the informal group’s first report. (Docket 20-800)
January 23
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The Commission denied Xcel Energy’s petition for reconsideration of the imprudence determination for the October 2023 outage at Prairie Island that was ordered on November 15, 2024. The Commission agreed to the Department of Commerce’s request to narrow the focus of the case. The case will only address the refund owed to customers for costs included in the fuel-clause adjustment report. The Commission also stated that the case should consider any benefits and offsets when determining the refund. Additionally, it will examine whether Xcel Energy acted imprudently, causing customers to pay more for electricity than necessary, and whether a refund is warranted. (Docket 22-179)
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The Commission approved the Northland Reliability Project, a 180-mile high-voltage transmission line jointly proposed by Great River Energy and Minnesota Power. (Docket 22-415, -16) News release
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The Commission approved consensus items agreed to by Xcel and stakeholders updating the Low- and Moderate-Income Community Solar Garden Program Standard Contract, denied proposed edits that would make the contract a free-standing agreement outside tariffs, and denied proposed inclusions into the “Bill Credit Rate” definition. (Docket 23-335)
January 30
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s proposed 2024 Renewable Energy Standard (RES) Rider revenue requirements and revised RES adjustment factor, with modifications. One modification was to require the company to incorporate 2023 and forecast 2024 production tax credit sales into their 2025 RES Rider filing. (Docket 23-454)
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s petition to increase its Gas Affordability Program (GAP) budget and surcharge, following increased participation in the program due to automatic enrollment of qualified customers. The Commission also required Xcel to continue to offer GAP to customers if there was a federal funding freeze of LIHEAP, which is the qualifying program for GAP. (Docket 22-257)
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The Commission required all utilities to propose necessary tariff revisions based on 2024 legislative changes. Also, the Commission voted to open a new docket for all utilities to convene a stakeholder group to explore options to increase access to assistance programs for low-income tenants that are rebilled by a third party or landlords. Neither the new docket nor the stakeholder group shall affect enforcement actions brought under the applicable statutes. (Docket 21-695)
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Recaps of Commission meetings and hearings
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Big Stone South to Alexandria Transmission Line Project – On January 14-16, the PUC and Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual meetings and took public comment for the Big Stone South to Alexandria Transmission Line Project. The 91-to-105-mile 345 kV transmission line is proposed by Otter Tail Power Company and the Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency. Members of the public were invited to ask questions and provide feedback on the route permit application.
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Benton Solar Project – On January 14-15, the PUC and Minnesota Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings and took public comment on the Benton Solar Project. The proposed project includes an up to 100 MWac solar energy generating system and a 100 MWac battery energy storage system, and a route permit for a new approximately 0.5-mile 115-kV transmission line. The proposed project is located on approximately 632 acres located four miles east of St. Cloud in Minden Township.
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Minnesota Power’s acquisition of ALLETE – On January 10, the ALJ held a hearing and took public comment on the acquisition of ALLETE by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners.
Notable new dockets or filings
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DOCKET
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DOCKET OR FILING SUMMARY
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24-267
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Castle Rock Solar LLC filed an application to construct and operate the proposed Castle Rock Solar Facility, an up to 150 MWac photovoltaic solar energy generating system and associated facilities to be constructed in Castle Rock Township, Dakota County.
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24-320
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Hundreds of public comments on Xcel Energy’s electric rate case. OAH filed first prehearing order establishing schedule that includes: Public hearings (TBD), evidentiary hearing (12/17-19), ALJ Report (4/30/26), and Commission Order (7/31/26).
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22-131, 22-132
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EERA filed the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project.
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23-388
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Department filed the Environmental Assessment for Dairyland’s Wabasha Transmission Line Relocation Project
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20-432
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Department filed a letter on CenturyLink landline outages due to copper theft in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Falcon Heights, Bloomington and St. Louis Park requesting information: 1) date of outage and restorations; 2) number of impacted customers and notifications; 3) customer information including reimbursements; and 4) temporary solutions.
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24-12
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Department filed MNRES Utility Compliance for 2023 noting “All utilities, with the exception of the 14 municipal utilities…, demonstrated compliance with the 2023 RES obligation and appear able to comply into the future. It is possible these municipal utilities did not understand the reporting requirements; this should be addressed for the next filing period. In addition, with REC purchases, the three public utilities subject to the SES complied with their 2023 SES obligations.” MRES responded that Brewster (one of 14 munis cited) receives electricity from Worthington who is served by MRES and meet the RES through MRES compliance. Xcel will file for Ada and Kasota on June 1.
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25-9
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Minnesota Power filed annual update increasing all small producer rates: 1) net metered, under 40kw for all customer types (AREUR), Simultaneous Purchase and Sale, and Time of Day for both energy and capacity rates. Otter Tail Power also saw increases in all rates. Xcel’s annual update saw some rates increase and others decreased.
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04-2033
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Minnesota Power filed annual report with updated payment and credit schedules for DG customers; including new energy and capacity payment schedules, renewable resource credit, and average tradeable emissions credit. No customers are on this rate.
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22-75
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Great River Energy filed a change of circumstances letter noting two new wind PPAs (Big Bend Wind and Prairie Star Wind) as well as a $794 million USDA grant for the PPAs of more than 30 resources across the state (wind and smaller, local solar) with commercial operation prior to end of 2028.
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24-408
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OAG concurs with Department that Q Link Wireless LLC’s ETC status should be revoked.
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12-961 et al
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Xcel filed a refund compliance filing requesting approval of the proposal to refund approximately $47.1m related to Sherco 3 outage in the 2024 True Up Report in Docket 23-153.
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24-2
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CUB and LSAP filed comments with concerns and recommendations about rising disconnections and higher arrearage balances which has remained high after COVID – 2024 saw the most disconnections (91,000 residential customers) than any year since 2015. CUB/LSAP note 9,849 customers were disconnected between Oct-Dec 2024, and that disconnection rates were higher in communities with a greater percentage of people of color in Xcel service area.
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21-668
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Xcel filed 4Q 2025 Tritiated Water Leak Remediation report noting a separate 450-gallon release of groundwater from a wastewater pond on Jan 16, 2025, caused by a disconnected pumping line in the pumphouse.
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24-369
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Department recommends approval of Xcel’s Gas Utility Infrastructure Costs Recovery Rider. Xcel agrees and estimates monthly residential bill impact is $3.21 for 2025 proposed factors and a 61.93% incremental bill impact change.
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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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