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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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May 6
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6 PM
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Public hearing – Dakota Electric Rate Case (virtual)
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May 7
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1 PM
6 PM
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Public hearing – Dakota Electric Rate Case
1 PM – Apple Valley, 6 PM – Rosemount
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May 8
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Dakota Electric Association’s 2025 monthly fixed charge per meter for the Advanced Grid Infrastructure rider
- Otter Tail Power’s annual update to its Renewable Resource Cost Recovery Rider Rate
- Certificate of Need for Xcel Energy’s Lyon County Generating Station
- Xcel Energy’s 2025-2027 Triennial Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Study and Assumptions
- Xcel Energy’s revision of its net metering tariffs to apply to qualifying facilities up to 5 MW
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May 13
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6 PM
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Public Hearing - Forks to Rost HVTL Project (Lakefield)
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May 14
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6 PM
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Public Hearing - Forks to Rost HVTL Project (Virtual)
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May 15
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Petition of the City of Slayton for the determination of compensation for city acquisition of Xcel Energy electric service territory
- Great Plains Natural Gas Co.’s changes in contract demand entitlements for the 2024-2025 winter heating season
- Otter Tail Power's petition for approval of the annual rate update to its Transmission Cost Recovery rider annual adjustment
- Otter Tail Power’s petition for a Residential Time of Day Pilot Plan
- Minnesota Power’s Multi-Dwelling Unit EV pilot proposal
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May 21
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6 PM
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Public Hearing - Laketown Transmission Line Project (Chaska)
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May 22
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Xcel Energy's Gas Utility Infrastructure Cost Rider True-up Report
- Standardized reporting for renewable natural gas interconnection services
- Xcel Energy’s Peak Time Rebate Program
- Xcel Energy’s Renewable Energy Standard Rider
- Otter Tail Power’s Plan to meet the small-scale SES compliance
- Midwater BESS, LLC site permit for the Midwater Energy Storage project in Freeborn County
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May 22
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6 PM
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Public Hearing - Laketown Transmission Line Project (Virtual)
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May 26
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Closed
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Memorial Day – office closed
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May 27
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10 AM
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Planning meeting – Rate design for hybrid residential electric/gas systems
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May 29
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Otter Tail Power Solway & Abercrombie Solar
- Q Link Eligible Telecommunications Carrier status
- Iron Pine Solar site and route permit
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Commission decisions
April 3
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The Commission approved the service area agreement between Princeton Public Utility and East Central Energy. (Docket 25-115)
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The Commission referred Minnesota Power’s 2025-2039 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to the Office of Administrative Hearings for the purpose of conducting one or more public meetings. The Commission also required MP to provide written notice of its IRP and opportunities for public participation to customers, local governing bodies, and Tribal Nations in the Company’s service territory. (Docket 25-127)
April 10
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The Commission approved route alternatives for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project as recommended by the Department of Commerce. Additionally, the Commission included three more route options for further analysis. The Commission also directed the applicant to develop educational materials about structure grounding and relocation assistance. (Docket 23-160)
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s Minnesota Energy Connection Project. The project includes the construction of a new approximately 174-mile 345-kilovolt double-circuit high-voltage transmission line and related infrastructure across several Minnesota counties: Sherburne, Stearns, Meeker, Kandiyohi, Renville, Redwood, and Lyon. (Docket 22-131)
April 17
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The Commission approved CenterPoint, Great Plains, Xcel, and MERC’s 2024 Winter Storm Uri annual compliance filings. The Commission required the utilities to report how they are improving curtailment calls and interruptible customer compliance with curtailment orders. They were also required to notify the Commission within three days of purchasing gas at prices more than five times the current month PGA, and to file a full report with the Commission within 14 days following the last day of the price event. (Docket 21-135)
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The Commission denied reconsideration of their February 21, 2025, Order that approved Summit Carbon Solutions proposed carbon capture and storage pipeline project. (Docket 22-422)
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The Commission dismissed SunShare’s complaint against Xcel. The Commissioners also reiterated that the MISO Distributed Energy Resources Affected Systems Study (a transmission study for DERs) is allowed under the MN DIP’s current language. (Docket 25-76)
April 24
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The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s petition for investments and expenditures in the Boswell Solar Project for recovery with modifications. The Commission approved the additional solar transmission interconnection and surplus interconnection costs that were not included in Minnesota Power’s bid amount. In subsequent rider filing, the Commission required Minnesota Power true-up the amount of the surplus interconnection cost on the current allocation of renewables versus non-renewables. (Docket 24-344)
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The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s petition for investments and expenditures in the Regal Solar Project for recovery through their Renewable Resources Rider. (Docket 24-343)
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The Commission received updates from the utilities and the Department of Commerce on how the changes in federal funding and grants would impact investment tax credits and production tax credits related to the Inflation Reduction Act. (Docket 22-624)
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Recaps of Commission meetings and hearings
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Boswell Solar – On April 2-3, the PUC held in-person and virtual public hearings and took public comment on Minnesota Power’s proposed Boswell Solar Project. The proposed project is for a site and route permit for an 85-megawatt solar facility and associated 2.45-mile 230-kilovolt transmission line in parts of the city of Cohasset, Leech Lake Band of the Ojibwe Reservation, and Deer Lake Township in Itasca County. (Docket 24-425, 24-426)
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Minnesota Power for acquisition of ALLETE – On April 17-11, the PUC held in-person and virtual public hearings and took public comment on the proposed acquisition of ALLETE, Minnesota Power’s parent company, by CPP Investments and GIP. (Docket 24-198)
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Midwater Energy Storage – On April 7. the PUC and Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual hearings and took public comment on the Midwater Battery Energy Storage System. Midwater BESS, 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 (Docket 24-294, 24-295)
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Castle Rock Solar – On April 16-17, the PUC and Department of Commerce held in-person and virtual public meetings and took public comment on Castle Rock Solar’s application for a site permit to construct an up to 150-megawatt solar energy generating system in Dakota County. (Docket 24-267)
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Beaver Creek Transmission – On April 22-23, the PUC provided information and took public comment on Dairyland Power Cooperative’s route permit for the Beaver Creek Transmission Line Project. The proposed project will be new construction of an approximately 3.5-mile 161 kilovolt high voltage transmission line and associated facilities in Fillmore County. Public comment is open through May 13, 2025. (Docket 24-95)
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Coneflower Solar – On April 22-23, the PUC provided information and took public comment on Coneflower Energy, LLCs proposed 235-megawatt solar energy generating system in Custer Township in Lyon County. Public comment is open through May 5, 2025. (Docket 24-215)
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Snowshoe Energy Storage - On April 23-24, the PUC held in-person and virtual public hearings and took public comment on Snowshoe BESS, LLC’s application for a site permit to construct an up to 150-megawatt alternating current battery energy storage system with approximately 600 megawatt-hours of energy capacity in Kalmar Township, Olmsted County. Public comment is open through May 8, 2025. (Docket 24-279)
Notable new dockets or filings
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DOCKET
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DOCKET OR FILING SUMMARY
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09-533
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Avangrid Power filed a site permit amendment application for the 150 MW Elm Creek II Wind Project in Jackson and Martin Counties with the following changes: 1) amend the site permit boundaries to incorporate updated wind access buffer right requirements and acreage; 2) extend expiration date from Dec. 31, 2040 to 2056 (30 years from expected repower date of commercial operation (2026); 3) revise site permit with associated facility descriptions; 4) extend the restoration period from 8 to 12 months; 5) grant waivers for wind access buffers and turbine spacing requirements; 6) revise lighting mitigation system descriptions; 7) revise noise submittal requirements; and 8) update wind rights submittal requirements. The project has an IA with Xcel/MISO and will require an IA amendment to retrofit equipment and is pursuing a PPA.
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25-183
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CAO filed a consumer complaint who was opposed to being disconnected during CWR and the utility did not accept the electric heat customer’s payment arrangement. CAO record shows customer was informed about WHE appeal process.
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23-173
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Gas Workers Local 340 have withdrawn their Exceptions to the ALJ report and settlement and note the union and CPE have resolved disputes and executed a letter of agreement for the successor collective bargaining agreement. Department filed comments in support of the settlement noting the return on equity is held flat from last rate case (9.39%), cost of capital is 7.07% - a $10.5m/year savings in 2024-2025 compared to CPE’s original request. Adjustments to the revenue requirement will save $9.1m and $9.9m in 2024-2025 respectively. The settlement is a 7.8% rate increase over 3 years with flat rates in 2026 – increase driven by planned capital projects and the NGIA plan. NGIA amortization expenses were approx. $7.7m in 2025 (18% of total 2025 test year revenue deficiency).
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25-178
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Dakota Electric filed a petition to modify the Extension of Service tariff to address “Extraordinarily Large Commercial and Industrial and System Intensive” members “ to establish a multistep process to reflect the extensive engineering, design, and long lead time construction that is required to serve certain large loads….does not address the rates that will be charged or the service characteristics…these specifics will be addressed…when an Electric Service Agreement is…approved…through existing rate classes, or through a future request to establish a unique rate class and rate design for these types of load.”
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25-36, -37, -39, -40
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Several utilities filed their annual Gas Affordability Program reports. Of note, Xcel reported a 19.5% increase in GAP participation between 2023 and 2024 largely due to auto-enrollment and program credits and surcharge funding were lower in 2024 compared to 2023 likely due to mild weather. MERC noted between 2020 and 2024 the amount of affordability and arrearage forgiveness credits has increased by nearly 64%
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25-205, 206
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Lake Charlotte Solar, LLC filed a notice of intent to submit an application for a Solar Energy Conversion Facility Site Permit for the up to 150 MW Lake Charlotte Solar Facility in Martin County, and a Battery Energy Storage System Site Permit for the up to 150 MW Lake Charlotte Battery Energy Storage System
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25-201
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Otter Tail Power filed a petition for renewal of 4-year customer eligibility and the annual update of the Energy Intensive, Trade Exposed Rider Surcharge Rate. OTP has 3 EITE customers and requests Dec. 1, 2025, effective date for changes in the petition. The EITE surcharge rate is proposed to be reduced from $0.00045/kWh to $0.00038/kWh.
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25-17
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Affiliated Interest Reports: Greater MN Gas noted the Company is owned by Greater MN Synergy, Inc. which also owns Greater MN Transmission, LLC which owns Dakota Natural Gas LLC. Otter Tail Power filed its annual report noting Cascade Investment LLC (sole member is Bill Gates) owns 7.1%; BlackRock, Inc. owns 15.7%; and Vanguard Group, Inc. owns 12.1% of OTP’s voting securities. OTP also noted the company owns Varistar Corp, Otter Tail Assurance LTD, and Otter Tail Energy Service Co. MERC filed annual report noting MERC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Integrys Holding, Inc. which is a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group. BlackRock, Inc. has 9.1% and Vanguard Group has 13.21% of WEC common stock. Minnesota Power filed annual report noting BlackRock, Inc owns 13.45%, Vanguard Group owns 11.01%, State Street Corp. owns 5.03% and outlined other information. Xcel Energy filed annual report noting Black Rock, Inc owns 9.1%, Vanguard Group owns 13.05% and State Street Corp. owns 6.7% and outlined other information including affiliates. ITC Midwest filed annual report noting the Co. is a MI LLC and has no voting securities and ITC Holdings Corp owns 100% interest and the Parent corporation is held by Fortis US Inc. and Eiffel Investments Pte. Ltd. GPNG filed annual report noting it is a division of Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. which is a subsidiary and 100% owned by MDU Resources Group, Inc. which BlackRock, Inc owns 12.4% and Vanguard Group, Inc owns 11.3% voting securities.
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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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