Updated DER and EV Data Resources Available
Did you know the Commission’s Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and Electric Vehicle (EV) websites offer a quick way to track Minnesota’s clean energy and transportation trends? The DER site compiles utility filed annual reports into clear charts, graphics, and downloadable data for systems under 10 MW that are interconnected with the distribution system – helping users see how technologies like solar, small wind, generators, and battery storage are growing across the state.
The EV site provides access to relevant Commission dockets and shows EV registrations by electric utility service territory. This information can help utilities, communities, and policymakers plan for charging needs and grid impacts as EV adoption increases.
Visit the DER data here: DER Data Dashboard
Visit the EV data here: Electric Vehicles Dashboard
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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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Aug. 6
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
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Rondo Energy Thermal Battery Pilot (Docket 23-212)
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Summit Lake 200 MW solar facility and BESS in Nobles County (Dockets 25-88, -89)
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Xcel Energy and Echo Zone route permit for the North Rochester to Skyway high voltage transmission line project (Docket 26-135)
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Aug. 13
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
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Otter Tail Power Co.’s petition for a transfer of property (Spiritwood Energy Park) from Great River Energy (Docket 26-155)
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Xcel Energy’s residential time of use rate design (Docket 23-524)
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Xcel Energy’s petition to acquire the Box Car and Little Rock projects and related questions (Docket 23-342)
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Aug. 20
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
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Cottage Grove BESS (Docket 26-184)
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Certificate of Need for the Iron Range to St. Louis County to Arrowhead (ISA) 345 kV Transmission Line Project (Docket 25-111)
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Commission investigation into self-commitment and self-scheduling of large baseload generation facilities (Docket 19-704)
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Compensation for city of Slayton acquisition of Xcel Energy electric service territory (Docket 25-129)
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Updating the generic standards for the interconnection and operation of distributed generation facilities established under MN Statute 216B.1611 (Docket 16-521)
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Petition for approval of proposed customer transition plan to discontinue copper-based telephone service for Frontier Communications (Docket 26-266)
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Aug. 27
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Agenda Meeting Cancelled
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Commission decisions
July 2
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The Commission determined it has jurisdiction to review the formal complaint filed by Hennepin County against Xcel Energy. Also, the Commission agreed to proceed in an informal or expedited proceeding to investigate the complaint. Xcel Energy was required to answer on July 27, 2026. The scope of the investigation was determined to be limited to rate issues identified in Hennepin County’s complaint regarding its two solar facilities and the applicability of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s one-mile rule. (Docket 25-435)
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The Commission accepted Xcel Energy’s 2025 fuel forecast true-up report. The Commission also approved Xcel Energy’s proposed refund of $131.8 million for 2025 fuel cost over-recovery to Minnesota ratepayers and the proposed refund of $83.1 million for nuclear production tax credits to Minnesota ratepayers. Finally, the Commission required Xcel to provide in its next annual filing an analysis of why it has consistently over-recovered costs from 2022 to 2025; and what is being done to mitigate this pattern and the adverse effect on ratepayers. (Docket 24-63)
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The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s annual forecast of automatic adjustment charges for 2025. (Docket 24-64)
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The Commission approved Otter Tail Power’s annual true-up for its energy adjustment rider for 2025. (Docket 24-65)
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The Commission decided to take no action on Xcel’s Peak Time Rebate (PTR) program proposal at this time due to lack of clarity around the program’s capacity value and value to participants. The Commission is requiring Xcel to continue operating their Energy Action Day program until further notice. The Commission also required Xcel to submit a compliance filing by June 1, 2027, that clearly articulates how it plans to deliver system value with a PTR program. (Docket 24-432)
July 9
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The Commission heard and approved the Exempt Small Gas Utilities’ annual compliance petitions from Lakes Community Co-op, United Natural Gas, Lake Region Energy Services, Dooley’s Natural Gas, Dooley’s Natural Gas II, Paul Bunyan Natural Gas and the Northwest Utilities. (Docket 24-15)
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The Commission affirmed the environmental report scoping decision for the PowerOn Midwest Project, clarifying that a partial- or delayed-build alternative for the Pleasant Valley-to-North Rochester 765 kV segment may be considered at a screening level and must be excluded from detailed analysis if it is legally unavailable, infeasible, unsupported by sufficient information, or would not meet the project’s stated need. The Commission also denied requests to remove limiting language from the scoping decision and to identify specific projects as phased or connected actions. (Docket 25-117)
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The Commission approved site permits for the Lake Charlotte Solar Project and the associated Lake Charlotte Battery Energy Storage System. Located in Rutland Township within Martin County, the project includes a 150-megawatt solar generating facility and a 150-MW/600-megawatt hour battery storage system. (Dockets 25-206, -206) Press release.
July 16
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The Commission denied a request by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Sierra Club to reconsider and clarify the Commission’s May 14, 2026, order adopting Fuel Life-Cycle Analysis Framework for Identifying Carbon-Free Technologies. (Docket 24-352)
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The Commission reviewed Enbridge’s request to reconsider the order filed on May 6, 2026, concerning the Line 13 pipeline. The Commission denied Enbridge Energy’s request for reconsideration. (Docket 07-465)
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The Commission approved the site and route permits for the Midwater Energy Storage Project, a 150-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) and an associated 161-kilovolt transmission line located in Freeborn County. (Docket 24-294, -295) Press release.
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The Commission ruled that Xcel had not proven that its prepaid pension asset is shareholder funded and so will not allow Xcel to earn a return on the prepaid pension asset for the period covered by its electric rate case in Docket 21-630 (years 2022-2024) and its gas rate case in Docket 23-413 (years 2024 – present). This ruling follows a similar ruling in Docket 24-320, which establishes electric rates for the period 2025-present, in which the Commission ruled that Xcel had not proven its prepaid pension asset in those years is shareholder funded. The Commission has previously also established a tracker and true-up mechanism for pension contributions after January 1, 2027, in docket 24-320 for Xcel’s electric utility. (Docket 21-630, 23-413)
July 30
- The Commission accepted Dakota Electric Association, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Xcel Energy's 2025 Integrated Distribution Plans (IDP). The Commission also approved Minnesota Power and Otter Tail Power's Transportation Electrification Plans. The Commission took steps to increase transparency in utility distribution planning by requiring additional cost effectiveness analysis for discretionary utility investments. It also established IDP Improvement Workgroups to provide a collaborative forum for utilities and stakeholders to discuss distribution planning outside of the formal commission processes. The Commission required all four utilities to file Wildfire Mitigation Plans starting on February 1, 2027. The Commission also required Xcel Energy to file several pilot programs in 2027, including a Virtual Power Plant pilot, a static Flexible Interconnection pilot, and a dual fuel pilot project. Finally, the Commission directed Commission Staff to hold a series of technical workshops on reliability, planning standards, and utility project prioritization. (Docket 25-139, -140, -141, -142) Press release
Recaps of Commission public meetings and hearings
Public meetings and hearings
Cottage Grove energy storage project: On July 7-8, the PUC held public information meetings on the site permit for LSP CG Storage’s proposed 80 MW/320 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Cottage Grove. The project is proposed to be located on industrial land entirely within the existing LSP Cottage Grove Cogeneration Facility. Energy stored by the project will be sold to Xcel Energy under a power purchase agreement.
MISO Quarterly Update Meeting: Representatives from Minnesota utilities and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the regional grid operator, met with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on July 14 to discuss issues affecting the regional power grid. They discussed data centers and other large loads and the cost to ratepayers of generator retirements blocked by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A recording of the meeting is on our website.
Mankato energy storage project: On July 14-15, the PUC held public information meetings on the site permit for the proposed Mankato BESS in Blue Earth County. The project includes a BESS facility with up to 30 MW/60 MWh. The project would be located within the existing 25.3-acre Mankato Energy Center, a 720 MW natural gas combined cycle power plant. The project would include battery storage enclosures, medium voltage skids, underground electrical collection lines, stand-alone switchgear, step down transformer, a short underground 115 kV gen-tie line (less than 800 feet in length) and other associated BESS components.
Plum Creek energy storage project: On July 21-22, the PUC held public information meetings on the site permit for the proposed Plum Creek Storage project with up to 200 MW/800 MWh BESS in Ann Township, Cottonwood County. The associated facilities include an on-site transformer, parking lot, stormwater pond, access roads, and a buried 34.5 kV cable that will interconnect the energy storage system to a previously permitted Plum Creek Wind collector substation. As proposed, the project is located on approximately 35.9 acres of private land for which the applicant has entered into a purchase agreement.
Coneflower transmission line project: On July 29-30, the PUC held public hearings on Coneflower Energy’s application to construct a less than 1 mile 345 kV high voltage transmission line. The proposed project is located one mile north of Garvin and 13 miles south of Marshall in Lyon County. The proposed project would connect Coneflower’s recently permitted solar energy generating system (Docket 24-215) to the recently permitted Garvin Substation which is owned by Xcel Energy. Public comment is open through August 10.
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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26-266
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Frontier/Citizens filed a Customer Transition Plan “congruent with Frontier’s contemporaneous FCC discontinuance application” and claims “FCC approval obviates the need for this petition and proceeding…[and] …even conditions expressly mandated by the Customer Transition Act, such as the requirement to hold public education meetings, are preempted by FCC approval and therefore would have no force absent Frontier’s voluntary acceptance of them. Frontier does not waive any rights or arguments through this Petition, and if necessary, it will take steps to vindicate all rights the FCC confirmed in the Network Modernization Order.” These actions by Frontier appear to include all Frontier copper customers who have Verizon as an alternative either with Voice Connect or Fios. Frontier/Citizens also filed updated tariffs adding language about copper-based services (Docket Nos. 26-265,-264) stating “All services subject to this Tariff are no longer available for purchase by new customers, other than for Lifeline-eligible customers, in any location in this state where such services are provided wholly or in part over copper facilities. (07/07/2026).”
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26-168
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Xcel filed its 2026-2036 MN Gas IRP and requested the Commission find the IRP is in the public interest and approve the 5-year action plan. The preferred plan includes: 1) demand entitlements, PGA commodity supply, and use of peak shaving storage infrastructure to meet Design Day requirements; 2) increased investment in energy efficiency (17% reduction/yr (Dth)relative to baseline); 3) maintain existing beneficial electrification (BE) efforts as proposed in ECO; 4) additional evaluation, but not implementation at this time, of a feasible non-pipeline alternative for a reinforcement project in St. Cloud; 5) targeted system reinforcements to address forecasted capacity needs; 6) continued NGIA pilots; and 7) developing and implementing a gas metering strategy to improve gas throughput data.
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26-241
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MRES filed its 2027-2041 IRP with plans to add 230 MW of wind, 107.4 MW municipal diesel, 141.7 MW of natural gas CT (Toronto Power Plant) (Table 6-6 & 6-7, covers MISO and SPP, p. 95) and the 5-year action plan includes addressing a “small remaining capacity shortfall in the MISO market” with capacity suppliers or new peaking capacity projects, assisting members with demand side management, and explore opportunities for wind, solar or renewable contracts.
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26-126
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Minnesota Power filed a new Very Large Power (VLP) Customer Class and Service Tariff proposal stating that “… the proposed VLP Tariff includes statutory requirements for new customers over 100 MW that would have otherwise been captured within a specific Electric Service Agreements (“ESA”) for a new large load customer under the Company’s existing Large Power (“LP”) tariff which also require Commission approval.” Minnesota Power seeks approval of: VLP Service Schedule; Riders for: Fuel and Purchased Energy Charge, Expedited Billing Procedures, Conservation Program Adjustment, Large Power Incremental Production Service, Released Energy, Renewable Resources, TCR, CARE, Business Expansion Incentive, Large Power Demand Service, RR-Solar Factor Adjustment, Capacity Revenue and Expense Adjustment, and Voluntary Renewable Energy Large Customers.
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26-212
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Xcel 2027 IRP: Xcel filed materials from June 22 IRP Overview and Forecasting Workshop; including a recording. Xcel’s slides state in 2025 Minnesota energy is 69% carbon free and projected to be 84% by 2030, said forecast is 8760 load modeling and large loads above 5 MW are included with ramp schedule and if assessed likelihood is >80% and EV and electrification forecasts.
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25-219
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Upper Sioux Formal Complaint: MN Valley filed reply to exceptions related to the Construction Agreement arguing it is valid and binding, Board Policies are not discriminatory and arbitrary, opposes the PUC appointment of an Independent Engineer for the System Impact Study, and reiterates its position that the PUC does not have jurisdiction. Upper Sioux filed reply to exceptions arguing: PUC has jurisdiction over the Complaint; Board Policy is unlawful, discriminatory, and unsupported; Tribes have sovereign right to select service provider; and Construction Agreement is not relevant. Department argued MN Valley exceptions should be denied. Grand Portage Band of Chippewa asked PUC to not restrict Tribe’s ability to generate BTM solar nor allow a Cooperative to use board policy to restrict self-generation. CURE filed reply supporting Department and Upper Sioux comments.
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26-27
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Xcel 2025 SRSQ Report: CUB/LSAP recommend: 1) denying Xcel’s request to vary Minn. Rule on disconnections, 2) require Xcel to disaggregate combined-service gas and electric bills to reduce disconnection risks; and 3) require Xcel to modify billing practice. Xcel filed comments noting 80% reduction in residential disconnections since requiring field-visit requirement, but residential arrears have increased 20%, aged debt increased 22%, # of customers with aged debt increased 23%, and payment arrangements declined 20%. Xcel describes 3 measures approved in the rate case (Docket No. 24-320) that are designed to help with bill assistance and arrearage forgiveness and offer a stop-gap 17% cap on the rate of disconnection for 2026 and 2027. Gabe Chan recommends: 1) open an investigation into utility disconnection process and consider a straw rulemaking proposal; 2) develop record of cost and benefits of disconnection practices; 3) alternatively, institute a 1-year moratorium on disconnections to evaluate further; 4) if cap disconnections base on total number of disconnections not a % of notices; 5) if cap, require randomized control trial to not prejudice prioritization; 6) racial disparities were exacerbated by rule variance, so oppose reinstating the rule variance; 7) require Xcel to use remote reconnection of AMI. Chan states Xcel disconnections were 162% higher in 2024 than the previous 5 years preceding COVID and 2025 was higher (184%) compared to a 12% increase in customers who were granted CWR protection in the same period, and more.
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23-109
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On June 17, the PUC extended the public comment period for the application of Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P. for a route permit for the Pipestone Reroute Project in Pipestone County, Minnesota. The new deadline for initial comments is August 21, the deadline for filing reply comments is September 4 and the deadline for supplemental comments is September 11.
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00-1343, 01-1127
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Dakota Electric, Otter Tail Power, Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power filed their annual brochure updates that address environmental emissions and percentage of customer bills by generation, distribution and transmission.
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26-282
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Xcel filed a master utility agreement with Met Council for work associated with construction of the Blue Line LRT Extension Project into N. Mpls, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park and will require transmission and distribution relocations. Met Council requests PUC action on the master utility agreement no later than Oct. 19 due to federal funding schedule and construction timeline.
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26-289
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MERC filed a Gas Utility Infrastructure Cost rider petition requesting total 2027 GUIC rider recovery of $9,326,593 noting “MERC projects the annual impact of the proposed surcharge rate on an average Residential customer to be approximately $24.”
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