Cold Weather Rule ends April 30
Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule (CWR) protections - and all CWR payment plans - end April 30. After this date, customers with past-due balances who are not on a payment arrangement may be subject to disconnection. Utilities may resume shutoffs for nonpayment, making it important to act now.
If you have a past-due balance, contact your natural gas or electric utility before April 30 to review your account and set up a new payment plan or ask about budget billing options.
What to know and do:
- Disconnection risk: Service may be shut off for nonpayment after April 30 if no new payment arrangement is in place.
- Act now: Contact your utility before April 30 to establish a payment plan.
- Verify status: If you are on a CWR payment plan, you must set up a new arrangement to remain protected after April 30.
- Assistance available: The Energy Assistance Program - including help with current bills and crisis funds for past-due balances - accepts applications through May 31. You can also contact the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission at 651-296-0406 or consumer.puc@state.mn.us for help understanding your options.
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Commission calendar and upcoming events
The information below is subject to change. Current information and more details are available on the PUC’s calendar.
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Apr. 2
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting
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Rulemaking to Amend the Definition of “Capacity” under Minn. R.7835.0100, subp. 4 (Docket 25-86)
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Xcel Energy’s Capacity*Connect program Phase 2, a Distributed Capacity Procurement program (Docket 25-378)
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Apr. 6
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5 PM
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Public meeting: Minnesota Power and American Transmission Company, LLC certificate of need and route permit for the Iron Range – St. Louis County –Arrowhead 345 kV Transmission Project (Grand Rapids)
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Apr. 6
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6 PM
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Public hearing: 200 MW Summit Lake Solar Facility and the up to 200 MW Battery Summit Lake Energy Storage System in Nobles County (Worthington)
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Apr. 7
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11 AM
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Public meeting: Minnesota Power and American Transmission Company, LLC certificate of need and route permit for the Iron Range – St. Louis County –Arrowhead 345 kV Transmission Project (Floodwood)
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Apr. 7
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5 PM
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Public hearing: Big Bend Wind, LLC and Great River Energy route permit for a 161 kV High Voltage Transmission Line and associated facilities in Martin County (Windom)
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Apr. 7
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5 PM
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Public meeting: Minnesota Power and American Transmission Company, LLC certificate of need and route permit for the Iron Range – St. Louis County –Arrowhead 345 kV Transmission Project (Hermantown)
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Apr. 7
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6 PM
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Public hearing: 200 MW Summit Lake Solar Facility and the up to 200 MW Battery Summit Lake Energy Storage System in Nobles County (Virtual)
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Apr. 8
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6 PM
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Public hearing: Big Bend Wind, LLC and Great River Energy route permit for a 161 kV High Voltage Transmission Line and associated facilities in Martin County (Virtual)
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Apr. 9
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting
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Minnesota Power NTEC Affiliated Interest Agreement (Docket 17-568)
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Otter Tail Power Distributed Solar Energy Standard (Docket 25-338)
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Xcel Energy’s 2026 Renewable Energy Standard Rider (Docket 25-400)
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Big Bend Wind project site permit amendment reconsideration (Docket 19-619)
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Maple River to Cuyuna 345 kV transmission line project certificate of need application completeness (Docket 25-109)
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Gopher to Badger Link 765 kV transmission line project certificate of need application completeness (Docket 25-121)
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Xcel Energy’s Transportation Electrification Plan (Docket 25-142)
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Apr. 9
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6 PM
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Public meeting: Minnesota Power and American Transmission Company, LLC certificate of need and route permit for the Iron Range – St. Louis County –Arrowhead 345 kV Transmission Project (Virtual)
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Apr. 14
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5 PM
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Public meeting: Xcel Energy route permit for the Northwest Maple Grove 115 kV Transmission Project in the City of Maple Grove (Maple Grove)
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Apr. 14
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6 PM
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Public meeting: Xcel Energy route permit for the Northwest Maple Grove 115 kV Transmission Project in the City of Maple Grove (Virtual)
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Apr. 16
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting
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Enbridge Energy certificate of need for the Alberta Clipper Pipeline Project and Southern Lights Diluent Project (Docket 07-465)
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Bent Tree North wind farm project (Docket 24-349)
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Xcel Energy’s up to 135.5 MW Battery Energy Storage System site permit for the Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage Project in Scott County (Docket 25-214)
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Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Integrated Resource Plan (Docket 25-302)
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Apr. 17
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10 AM
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Public meeting: MISO Quarterly Update Meeting (Virtual)
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Apr. 21
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10 AM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Tracy)
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Apr. 21
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5 PM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Pipestone)
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Apr. 22
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10 AM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Worthington)
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Apr. 22
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5 PM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Windom)
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Apr. 23
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting
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Investigation of implementing changes to Carbon Free Standard (Docket 23-151)
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CenterPoint Energy Natural Gas Innovation Act innovation plan budget modification (Docket 23-215)
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Dakota Electric Association extension of service tariff (Docket 25-442)
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Gas Utilities’ annual service quality reports (Dockets 25-31, -32, -33, -34, -35)
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Apr. 23
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10 AM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Fairmont)
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Apr. 23
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5 PM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Wells)
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Apr. 27
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1:30 PM
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Public hearing: Xcel Energy gas rate case (Stillwater)
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Apr. 28
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10 AM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Albert Lea)
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Apr. 28
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1:30 PM
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Public hearing: Xcel Energy gas rate case (Virtual)
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Apr. 28
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5 PM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Austin)
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Apr. 28
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6:30 PM
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Public hearing: Xcel Energy gas rate case (Wyoming)
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Apr. 29
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10 AM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Kasson)
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Apr. 29
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1:30 PM
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Public hearing: Xcel Energy gas rate case (St. Cloud)
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Apr. 29
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5 PM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Zumbrota)
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Apr. 30
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10 AM
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Agenda Meeting
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CenterPoint Energy’s Gas Affordability Program Surcharge (Docket 25-38)
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Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV transmission project in west-central Minnesota route permit (Docket 23-160)
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Xcel Energy’s certificate of need for the combustion turbine for a 420 MW Natural Gas facility in Lyon County (Docket 25-145)
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Apr. 30
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6 PM
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Public meeting: PowerOn Midwest 765 kV and 345 kV High-Voltage Transmission Line Project certificate of need (Virtual)
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Commission decisions
March 5
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The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s petition for its 2025 rate adjustment mechanism under its Rider for Transmission Cost Recovery. (Docket 24-382)
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The Commission provisionally approved Xcel Energy’s 2026 Transmission Cost Recovery while requiring them to remove intervenor compensation and keep the original allocation for Advance Meter Infrastructure cost recovery. (Docket 25-386)
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The Commission granted a site permit for the up-to-100-megawatt North Star Battery Energy Storage System Facility in North Branch, adjacent to the existing North Star Solar Electric Power Generating Plant in Chisago County. (Docket 25-123)
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s Panamint–Cottage Grove Battery Energy Storage System agreement and authorized Xcel to recover from Minnesota retail customers the energy costs through the Fuel Clause Rider and capacity payments through base rates and the capacity tracker. (Dockets 24-67, 23-212)
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The Commission approved Xcel’s proposed amendment to the Service Agreement with a modification requiring Xcel to allocate wildfire mitigation indirect costs based on wildfire mitigation direct costs rather than the total plant ratio of electric transmission and distribution plants. The Commission also required Xcel Energy to file a compliance report within 30 days detailing the financial impact of the wildfire mitigation on the current electric rate case. (Docket 25-245)
March 12
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In response to a decision from the Court of Appeals, the Commission found that it was appropriate to allow Xcel to recover $150k per top 10 executive through rates and provided additional reasoning and justification for this finding. (Docket 21-630)
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The Commission approved the Big Bend Wind and Great River Energy draft route permit and found the Environmental Assessment adequate for a 161 kV high voltage transmission line in Martin County (Docket 25-389)
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The Commission approved the yearly compliance filings for CenterPoint Energy, Great Plains Natural Gas, Xcel Energy, and Minnesota Energy Resources Corp. The filings detailed how the gas utilities are implementing operational changes and improvements since Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. (Dockets 21-135, -138, -235, -610, -611)
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The Commission approved revisions to the financial incentive plan for public utilities’ Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) programs. The ECO incentive plan encourages utilities to go beyond the state’s minimum conservation requirements and maximize cost-effective energy savings by giving utilities an opportunity to earn a portion of the net benefits that ECO programs create for Minnesota utility customers. The recently approved plan encourages utilities to increase their focus on low-income ECO programs, residential insulation and air sealing, electric demand reduction, and cost-effective efficient fuel switching. The new financial incentive plan will be in effect for 2027-2029. (Docket 08-133)
March 19
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The Commission approved the joint application of Crane Energy Storage LLC and Sandhill Energy Storage LLC for battery energy storage systems in Olmsted County. Each of the battery storage systems will be capable of storing up to 800-megawatt hours with a maximum injection capacity of up to 200 MW back into the electrical grid during times of increased demand or brief power outages. (Dockets 24-406, -407)
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The Commission approved Great River Energy and Lake Region Electric Cooperatives' application to construct a new 2.9-mile 115 kV transmission line in Otter Tail County. This is the first 216I project permitted by the Commission. (Docket 25-269)
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s 2025 Renewable Development Fund annual report, tracker account, and rider factor update for 2026 factor. Xcel estimates that the average residential customer using 750 kWh will pay about $1.02 more per month. (Docket 25‑370)
March 26
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s three MISO ERAS 1 Power Purchase Agreements, including a 45-70 MW capacity expansion at the Cannon Falls natural gas facility, the 200 MW Sandhill battery storage project, and the 300 MW Benton II battery storage project. (Docket 24-67)
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The Commission found the PowerOn Midwest certificate of need application substantially complete, referring the matter to the Court of Administrative Hearings for contested case proceedings, and varied certain procedural rules to align the case schedule with Minnesota’s updated energy permitting framework. The Commission also directed the Applicants to provide additional information on how a proposed 765 kV transmission line could be designed alongside existing wind and solar facilities, as well as examples showing how different transmission structure types could affect agricultural land and surrounding views in southern Minnesota. (Docket 25-117)
Recaps of Commission public meetings and hearings
Planning meetings
Affordability Legislation in the 2026 Session: On March 17, the Commission held a planning meeting to hear from the Minnesota Department of Commerce and consumer advocates about utility affordability legislation being discussed in the 2026 legislative session. Presenters included representatives from the Department of Commerce, the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, the Center for Energy and Environment, and the CLEAR Coalition. Meeting materials and a recording are available on our website.
Project and workgroup meetings
Midwater Energy Storage Project: On March 3-4, the PUC held public hearings on the application of Midwater BESS, LLC for a site permit and route permit to construct and operate a 150 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and an associated 161 kV transmission line in Freeborn County. As proposed, the BESS would have the capacity to power approximately 100,000 households for up to four hours.
Sherco South & West Battery Energy Storage Project: On March 18-19, the PUC held public hearings on Xcel Energy’s application for a site permit to construct and operate a battery energy storage system with a nominal power rating of up to 600 MW and approximately 2,400 megawatt-hours of energy capacity in the city of Becker. The proposed project would be located adjacent to the existing Sherburne County Generating Station.
Distributed Generation Workgroup education session: On March 27, the Commission hosted a Distributed Generation Workgroup education session. Topics included a subgroup report on battery storage and limited/non-export systems, an update on the Xcel Internal Transmission Study subgroup, and questions related to MN DIP substation upgrades and feasibility steps.
Notable new dockets or filings
This is not a comprehensive summary of filings.
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Docket
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Filing or Docket Summary
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26-159
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Minnesota Power filed the Electric Service Agreement with Google for the Hermantown Data Center and requests approval of:
A 15-year ESA with Google;
“recognition of the renewable energy supply actions to support the ESA are aligned with the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan analysis, and any other approvals that may be needed”;
“modification to the Large Power Service Schedule to modernize Large Power Surcharge applicability language while still providing the important protections for Minnesota Power’s other customers” [e.g. margin contribution analysis and associated Large Power Surcharge, all transmission network upgrades for data center will be paid through the Facilities Construction Agreement]; and
“modification to the Rider for Conservation Program Adjustment to address data center participation in conservation improvement programs, consistent with recent Minnesota legislation amending Minn. Stat § 216B.241, Subd. 1a.”
The petition states: the ESA will result in 300 MW wind and 400 MW storage on MP’s system, and Google will “… also contribute $5 million in energy impact funding to support affordability and efficiency programs for low to moderate-income residential customers. Additionally, Minnesota Power’s customer cost evaluation estimates that, with the addition of this new Customer, there will be significant benefits for existing customers – an estimated range of $600 million to $800 million over the 15-year contract period.”
MP also states: “Key parameters of the ESA include, among other things, the initial term of the agreement, service requirement and minimum billing demand, termination charges in the event the Customer elects early termination, consideration for extending the initial term, Customer security obligations, and regulatory approval conditions. The ESA also addresses the Customer’s eligibility under Minnesota Power’s Business Expansion Incentive Rider as well as the Customer’s annual contribution to support the Company’s energy affordability and efficiency programs to benefit low and moderate-income residential customers. The ESA also addresses the Company’s need to acquire additional renewable generation resources and other related infrastructure sufficient to serve the Customer and comply with the Carbon Free Standard and references the associated Power Development Services Agreement (PDSA) between the Customer and ALLETE Enterprises, which obligates the Customer to pay for any stranded costs experienced with early development of additional renewable generation resources.”
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25-369
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Upper Sioux Service Territory Request – In rebuttal filings, parties dispute a number of issues including, but not limited to: which load should be considered in this service area transfer request, whether Xcel Energy should compensate the Cooperative for the reassignment of service area, and whether the Upper Sioux can select their electric utility provider. Upper Sioux filed a Motion to Stay seeking certification of a pending motion for Commission Review. “Specifically, the Motion to Stay asks for a declaration that federally recognized tribal nations possess inherent authority to select the electric utility provider...” Parties have until April 5 to contest the motion.
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21-630, 23-413
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Xcel Rate Cases – Prepaid Pension Asset. Xcel Energy argues that its prepaid pension asset - defined strictly as cumulative investor contributions exceeding cumulative pension expense - is fully investor funded and therefore should be included in rate base, consistent with recent Minnesota Court of Appeals decisions, so the Company may earn its authorized WACC return on the net asset after ADIT and accrued liability offsets. Xcel recommends that the Commission confirm inclusion of the prepaid pension asset in rate base for both the electric and gas cases and approve recovery of the associated incremental revenue requirement. XLI urges the Commission to confirm prior decision and reject Xcel Energy’s request to include its prepaid pension asset (PPA) in rate base, arguing that Xcel has not met its burden to prove the PPA is solely investor funded or that shifting these costs to ratepayers would be just and reasonable. The Department argues that Xcel’s prepaid pension asset represents an interest with nominal or no ascertainable value and recommends that the Commission either (1) allow Xcel to earn a return on only $1,000 of rate base, reflecting the nominal value of its interest, or (2) if the Commission opts to be more generous, limit any return no higher than Xcel’s long term cost of debt, rather than its full WACC.
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23-212, 24-67
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Invenergy filed a letter noting they have executed a term sheet with Xcel to reconfigure Lake Wilson as a 170 MW BESS and will file a request to amend its site permit (approved April 2024 as 140 MW solar and 95 MW BESS) in conjunction with the finalized PPA.
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26-153
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Otter Tail Power filed its annual Transmission Cost Recovery Rider update including a request for an eligibility determination for recovery of the Generation Interconnection Projects [Self-Funded Network Upgrades (SNFU)] which are “upgrades to Otter Tail Power’s transmission facilities that are located at or beyond a generator’s point of interconnection with the MISO transmission grid” required by new or existing generators and identified by MISO’s interconnection process. Otter Tail Power uses the “Transmission owner provided funding “self-funding” option under MISO tariff which has OTP fund the upgrades initially and then collect 90-100% from the generator and the remaining 10% allocated to utilities throughout MISO region. How to treat these costs was discussed in 2021 rate case and ultimately excluded from the test year, and there is legal uncertainty about FERC allowing self-funding.
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23-524
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Xcel filed, to compliance with PUC Order, a “.. Petition for approval of tariff modifications related to enrollment in the electric space heating rate options under our residential rate tariffs” covering enrollment and terms and conditions of services that would require after an opt-out a minimum of 12 months for re-enrollment and participation.
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25-433
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Minnesota Power filed notice that “… on March 16, 2026, the Company was notified that the Department of Energy has reinstated a $50 million Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program grant for the HVDC Terminal Expansion Capability Project, which supports the 900 MW to 1500 MW capacity expansion capability portion of the HVDC Modernization Project as approved by the Commission on October 25, 2024. On March 19, 2026, the DOE issued an agreement modification which rescinded the termination and reinstated the Award.”
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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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