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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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TIME
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DETAILS
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Planning meeting – Minnesota electric cooperative innovation
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Public hearing – Northern Crescent Solar site permits for an up to 150 MW solar energy generating system and 50 MW storage project in Faribault County. (Winnebago, Minn.)
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Public hearing – Northern Crescent Solar site permits for an up to 150 MW solar energy generating system and 50 MW storage project in Faribault County. (Virtual)
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Transfer of territory from the City of Whalan to MiEnergy Cooperative
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Investigation into the Nobles County Substation
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Enbridge Solar (Plummer) site permit for the up to 130 MW Plummer Solar Project in Red Lake County
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Xcel Energy time-of-use service tariff
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Xcel Energy residential time- of-use rate design
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Public meeting and environmental scoping – Appleton to Benson 115-kV Transmission Line Project certificate of need and route permit.
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Public meeting and environmental scoping – Appleton to Benson 115-kV Transmission Line Project certificate of need and route permit. (Virtual)
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Planning meeting – Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association and Tribal Advisory Council on Energy
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Agenda meeting – REC retirement reporting
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MISO Quarterly Update - Winter performance, NERC Energy Std, LRTO 2.1 projects
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Planning meeting – 2024 Quad Report
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CenterPoint consumer appeal
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Reconsideration of January 23, 2025, Order on “capacity” definition in Statute 216B.164 on Net Metering Eligibility for Rate-Regulated Utilities
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Commission decisions
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s first-ever Natural Gas Innovation Plan. The plan is designed to reduce or avoid at least 687,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, explore innovative technologies, and support the state’s transition to a lower-carbon energy future. (Docket 23-518). News release
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The Commission began the process of reviewing Dakota Electric Association’s petition to increase rates. As part of this rate-case review, utilities are entitled under Minnesota law to recover a portion of their proposed costs through interim rates while the PUC conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the full rate request. The Commission approved a $20,428,406 interim rate, or 9.5%. The interim rates will take effect on March 1, 2025, resulting in adjustments to monthly energy bills for customers. (Docket 24-400)
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The Commission accepted filings from Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power, and Otter Tail Power regarding the utilities’ plans under MISO’s Reliability-Based Demand Curve capacity auction. The utilities had to notify MISO of their intent to opt out of the auction by January 15, 2025, and the Commission had until February 17, 2025, to notify MISO whether the Commission would not allow the utilities to opt out. The utilities’ filings were designated nonpublic to prevent potential predatory pricing practices in future capacity procurements. (Docket 24-397)
February 13
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The Commission approved a settlement in Xcel Energy’s natural gas rate case. Under the agreement, Xcel Energy will receive an annual rate increase of $46.31 million, a reduction from its initial request of $59.03 million. Since the approved settlement results in a lower increase than the interim rate, customers will receive a refund. The total refund for all Xcel gas customers is estimated to be between $1.0 million and $1.5 million. (Dockets 23-412; 23-413). News release
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The Commission approved consensus changes to the Minnesota Distributed Energy Resources Interconnection Process document regarding unintentional islanding issues. (Docket 16-521)
February 20
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The Commission approved the settlement agreement and other items in Xcel’s IRP and Firm Dispatchable dockets. The decision adds significant renewable and storage resources to Xcel’s system, extends two existing natural gas plant Power Purchase Agreements, approves construction of an additional gas peaking plant, extends the planning life of the two nuclear plants, continues energy efficiency performance, adds ratepayer protections, and requires Xcel to increase public engagement on key issues before the next IRP. (Dockets 24-67 and 23-212) News release
February 28
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The Commission determined that Amazon Data Services, Inc. will require a certificate of need for the proposed 600-MW diesel emergency backup generators at its planned data center in Becker. (Docket 24-435)
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The Commission discussed Xcel’s response to the PUC’s information request related to the Sherco land sale. The Commission and the Company agreed that, to protect ratepayers on future sales, a more robust process should be followed including the possibility of using a competitive bidding process. (Docket 22-489)
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The Commission denied Xcel Energy’s petition for approval of an affiliated interest option to purchase land from United Power and Land without prejudice and requested the Department provide further investigation. (Docket 24-357)
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The Commission approved a service territory transfer from Otter Tail Power to Detroit Lakes Public Utilities. (24-409)
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The Commission approved a service territory transfer from Sauk Centre Public Utilities to Stearns Electric Association. (Docket 24-396)
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The Commission established a four-tiered approach for the ratemaking treatment of early-retiring generation facilities. (23-375)
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Recaps of Commission meetings and hearings
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Dairyland Power Cooperative Wabasha Relocation Project – On February 11-12, the PUC and Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual hearings and took public comment for the Dairyland Power Cooperative’s Wabasha Relocation 161-kV Transmission Line Project. The proposed project would relocate approximately 10.4 miles of Dairyland’s existing 161-kV LQ34 line, which presently connects to the Wabaco Substation to the Alma Substation and is collocated on the existing CapX2020 345-kV transmission line structures. The new relocated transmission line is proposed to be a 13.3-mile 161-kV transmission line between an existing Dairyland transmission line structure in Plainview Township and a new proposed substation east of Kellogg. The newly relocated transmission line would be in portions of Plainview, Highland, Watopa, and Greenfield townships. Public comment is open until March 4.
Midwater BESS Energy Storage Project – On February 19-20, the PUC and Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual hearings and took public comment on the Midwater Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Midwater BESS, LLC, a subsidiary of Spearmint Renewable Development Company, LLC, plans to build and operate a 150 MW battery energy storage system and a 2,668-foot long 161-kV high voltage transmission line in Shell Rock Township. Public comment is open until March 10.
Iron Pine Solar – On February 5-6, the PUC held in-person and virtual public information meetings and took public comment on the Iron Pine Solar Project. The proposed project is a joint application for a site and route permit to construct an up to 325 MW solar energy generating system and 230-kV transmission line in Pine County.
Notable new dockets or filings
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DOCKET
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DOCKET OR FILING SUMMARY
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MnSEIA and Minnesota Solar Advocates filed a petition for reconsideration on the Commission’s decision to initiate a rulemaking regarding the definition of capacity under net metering statutes and rules.
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Lemon Hill Solar, LLC intends to submit a site permit application for an up to 180 MW solar facility in Haverhill and Viola Townships in Olmsted County under alternative permitting process In May 2025.
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United Health Group filed comments recommending Xcel increase the size limit eligibility for monthly net metering from 1 MW to 5 MW or make clear that for the monthly net metering rate each interconnection point that is less than 1 MW is not aggregated without customer consent or considered cumulative to limit participation under the tariff. Public comment noting Xcel will not allow additional solar at the site due to transformer limits and a $15,000 upgrade and concerns the rate decreases payback for systems currently in place or new projects for homes and businesses. Department requests Xcel propose an alternative tariff option for QFs up to 5 MW instead of revising the net metering tariff, reject Xcel’s request to vary the Uniform Statewide Contract to apply to the larger projects, and requests Xcel address other rule variances that would be needed including that 1MW and larger “must” negotiate a contract.
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CenturyLink responded to Metro Emergency Service Board’s comments on copper theft and service issues noting CenturyLink is bringing technicians and cables in from out of state to address copper theft with costs in the millions of dollars, and due to combined effort of company, law enforcement and new laws, copper thefts are down since 2024. The Company is also looking at wireless or fiber connection solutions, increased communication about outages, improved automated communications, and work with law enforcement.
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Xcel filed limited exceptions and supports the ALJ recommendation for MN Energy Connection. EERA filed exceptions to the ALJ report related to EERA Route Recommendations, Scoping Process-Public Participation, Permit Conditions, and residential properties being “boxed in” with existing transmission lines.
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Department recommends granting Red Rock Solar’s request to terminate the site permit and requests the Company to e-file plans to notify current landowners within and directly adjacent to the project area.
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Summit Lake Solar LLC (national grid renewables) filed a joint application for Summit Lake Solar Facility and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Summit Lake and Elk Townships, Nobles County. It is proposed as a solar energy conversion facility with an up to 200-MW alternating current nameplate capacity. The BESS will consist of a stand-alone structure with an up to 200 MW / 800-MWh nameplate capacity and ancillary support infrastructure, including an approximately 1,100-foot, 345-kV gen-tie transmission line.
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Xcel Auto Bill Credit Pilot – Xcel filed an update that after running the additional screens in PUC Order the eligible census block groups were reduced from 77 to 63, a total of 17,105 residential premises, which reduces the estimated annual cost of bill credits to $4.1m (from $5.4m). This does not include the 3rd party evaluator cost.
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Otter Tail Power filed an updated Technical Specification Manual including edits to the voltage setpoints to match OTP’s voltage criteria, adding clarity around dynamic voltage support, DER that present risk of unintentional islanding, direct transfer trip requirements, added open wye & open delta transformation connections, adjusted volt-var and volt-wat voltage setpoints in the utility required profile settings.
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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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