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New two-week deadline for Briefing Papers begins January 2027

Beginning in January 2027, the Commission will file briefing papers two-weeks ahead of Commission Agenda Meetings with limited exceptions.

This change supports two key goals – more time to prepare and transparency. Parties and the public will have earlier access to briefing papers, which summarize the record and help guide Commission decisions, offering greater visibility into the issues under consideration.

Parties and participants should submit comments and other information during open comment periods to ensure the Commission can efficiently evaluate the matter. This practice helps ensure that all parties have a fair opportunity to review and respond to the materials that will inform the Commission’s decision, and that no party is prejudiced by the introduction of untimely comments or information. See Minn. R. 7829.0420.  

Thank you for your continued engagement as we transition to this updated schedule.

Web update! Distributed Energy Resources dashboard

As of December 31, 2025, there were 34,048 distributed energy resources (DER) systems totaling nearly 1.86 GWac of nameplate capacity reported in Minnesota. The 2025 DER data dashboard is now live, featuring a fresh new look. Use the dashboard to explore Minnesota’s DER landscape by resource type, customer type, and utility. It’s interactive and displays DER counts and capacity through a variety of visualizations.

The website also includes progress charts, graphics, and an Excel spreadsheet with all underlying data for deeper analysis. Check out the DER Data Dashboard.

Commission calendar and upcoming events

The information below is subject to change. Current information and more details are available on the PUC’s calendar.

Commission decisions  

October 1

• The Commission found that Xcel Energy’s 2026-2036 gas IRP is complete. The Commission set the procedural schedule and referred the matter to the Court of Administrative Hearings to conduct one or more public meetings. The Commission noted its preference to issue a decision on the matter sometime during the summer of 2027. (Docket 26-168)

• The Commission clarified its findings related to the Commission’s approved 9.6% Return on Equity for Xcel, and reconsidered the prepaid pension tracker, ordering that a tracker be proposed for consideration in Xcel’s next rate case. The Commission also provided additional guidance to Xcel regarding its implementation of the RAMP program, cost trackers for vegetation management, property tax, and NOx emissions, and certain labor cost-related reporting requirements. (Docket 24-320)

• The Commission approved Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power and Otter Tail Power’s Fuel Clause Adjustment and Energy Adjustment Rider forecast rates for 2027. (Docket 26-63, 64, 65)

October 8

• The Commission approved two credit programs that will provide more than $120 million in bill relief to Minnesota Power customers. These actions ensure that the value of Minnesota Power’s assets and commitments made during the ALLETE acquisition flow directly back to customers. Minnesota Power will credit $72.5 million in net proceeds from the sale of hydropower reservoir lands and $50 million in acquisition bill credits beginning in 2027. (Dockets 20-675, 24-198) Press release

• The Commission approved Xcel’s 2026 Transmission Cost Recovery (TCR) rider as amended. The Commission also required Xcel to submit an AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) cost study by January 15, 2027, and required Xcel to update forecasts of customer count, energy sales, and class demand in all future TCR filings. (Docket 25-386)

October 14

• Minnesota Power asked the Commission to approve its Capacity Revenue and Expense Adjustment Rider rates for June 2026 through May 2027. The rider passes net short-term capacity costs and revenues through to customers. The Company forecast about $5.2 million in net capacity expenses, and the Department of Commerce recommended approval subject to a true-up. The Commission approved Minnesota Power’s Annual Capacity Revenue and Expense (CRE) Rider for the period of June 2026 through May 2027. It also required Minnesota Power, in future CRE Rider petitions to separately identify capacity costs or revenues tied to Google’s Hermantown data center (Docket 26-159) or any other very large customer and to notify customers of any effect on other classes’ rates. (Docket 26-195)

• The Commission found that Minnesota Power had not met its burden of proof and so disallowed recovery of a return on the prepaid pension asset and ordered the company to propose a tracking and true-up mechanism for pension expense in its next rate case. (Docket 21-335, 23-155)

• The Commission approved Dooley’s Gas Pipeline Co. petition for an Interruptible Gas Service Agreement with Riverview LLP serving the Stevens Milk Plant. (Docket 26-298)

October 22

• The Commission approved a site permit for the Lemon Hill Solar Project, an up to 180‑megawatt solar energy facility proposed in Olmsted County. The decision follows a detailed review and extensive analysis of the project’s potential impacts, including environmental, technical, and land‑use considerations. The Commission adopted a substantial set of mitigation measures designed to address the concerns raised throughout the process. (Docket 25-126) Press release

• The Commission heard Xcel Large Industrials’ Motion in the Xcel-Google Electric Service Agreement docket regarding contested case referral and redesignation of Highly Confidential Trade Secret (HCTS) data. The Commission laid the contested case motion on the table for possible consideration later in the proceeding and denied the motion to redesignate the HCTS data. In addition, the Commission delegated authority to the Executive Secretary to set a supplemental comment period to allow parties additional time to review Trade Secret information made available on October 16. (Dockets 26-170, 171)

• The Commission accepted the joint system’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and set its next IRP filing date for December 3, 2029. Eighteen months before that filing, the Commission required a short update on the Joint System, including any changes to its forecasted load as well as any progress related to Project Tundra, new natural gas generation, bilateral agreements, and controls at Coyote Station for purposes of environmental policy compliance. (Docket 25-417)

• The Commission adopted Xcel’s proposed tariff language on the implementation of the Distribution System Reactive Upgrade Process (DSRUP). The Commission chose $18 million as the Annual Ratepayer Cost Cap (ARCC), accepted Xcel’s proposed administrative fee structure, DSRUP agreement, addendum, assignment form, as well as several clarifying changes to the tariff language submitted by the Joint Solar Coalition. The Commission also ordered Xcel to file a “plain language” document of the DSRUP Standards and their tariff language. Lastly, the Commission ordered an implementation date of February 1, 2027. (Docket 24-288)

• The Commission approved a comprehensive set of safeguards for how Dakota Electric Association may serve any future very large members, as required by the Minnesota Legislature. The actions help protect Minnesota households and businesses as the state considers potential high demand users, including new data centers and industrial facilities. (Docket 26-243)

October 29

• The Commission approved a final natural gas rate increase for Xcel Energy of approximately $36.9 million, or 4.8%, reducing the company’s original request of $63.4 million (8.2%) by more than 40%. In addition, the Commission set Xcel’s return on equity (ROE) at 9.3%, rejecting the higher ROE proposed by Xcel Energy and supported by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota (CUB), and other parties. (Docket 25-356) Press release

• The Commission denied reconsideration of Larry Rauenhorst's formal complaint against Renville Sibley Cooperative. (Docket 26-113)

• The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s Energy Storage Agreement (ESA) with Invenergy Renewables, LLC for the 170 MW Lake Wilson Energy Storage Center standalone battery facility. Lake Wilson Energy Storage Center. (Docket 24-67)

Recaps of Commission public meetings

Public meetings and hearings

Kimball Transmission Line and Substation Project: On October 28-29, the PUC held public meetings on Great River Energy and Meeker Energy’s Route Permit application for the Kimball 115 kV Transmission Line and Substation Project. The project proposes to construct a new substation located 1.35 miles northwest of Kimball and a new 4 mile 115 kV transmission line from Great River Energy’s existing 115 kV Big Swan to Wakefield transmission line to the proposed substation. Public comment is open until November 9, 2026.

Bison to Alexandria Transmission Line Project: On October 6-7, the PUC held public hearings on the Certificate of Need and Route Permit for the Bison to Alexandria Second Circuit 345 kV Transmission Line Project in Clay, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Grant, and Douglas counties. The project would add approximately 100 miles of a second 345 kV transmission circuit on existing double-circuit capable transmission structures between the existing Alexandria Substation in Alexandria, Minnesota and the Minnesota/North Dakota border in Holy Cross Township.

Sherco Solar 4 Project: On October 6-7, the PUC held public meetings on Xcel Energy’s Solar Energy Generating System Site Permit and a Route Permit for the up to 200 MW Sherco Solar 4 Project in Sherburne County. The project consists of an up to 200 MW AC solar energy generating system and associated facilities and approximately 2.7-miles of 345 kV single-circuit high voltage transmission line and a new switching station to connect the solar facility to the transmission grid along the future Minnesota Energy Connection transmission line.

Plum Creek Battery Energy Storage System Project: On October 14-15, the PUC held public hearings for a Site Permit for the up to 200 MW Plum Creek Battery Energy Storage System Project in Cottonwood County. The proposed project is for an up to 200 MW / 800 MWh battery energy storage system in Ann Township. The energy storage system will operate in conjunction with the previously permitted Plum Creek Wind Project.

Castle Rock Battery Energy Storage System Project: On October 19 and 21, the PUC held public hearings on a Site Permit for the up to 150 MW Castle Rock Battery Energy Storage System Project in Dakota County. The project site is approximately 6.8 acres and is located entirely within the footprint of the previously permitted Castle Rock Solar facility.

Granite City Energy Storage Project: On October 19-20, the PUC held public meetings for a Site Permit for the Benton Granite City Energy Storage project, an up to 300 MW/1,200 MWh Battery Energy Storage System in Benton County.

Planning Meetings

Commission Investigation into Utility Affordability

On October 13 and November 2, the PUC held the first two of three sessions in its investigation into the affordability of rate-regulated electric and natural gas service.

The first session explored how different customer groups experience utility costs, how affordability is defined and measured, what drives rising costs, and how effective existing affordability tools are.

The second session focused on how utility costs are reflected in customer bills and whether changes to rate-setting practices could improve affordability while maintaining safe, reliable and increasingly clean service.

The final session is December 8. Learn more about the investigation and watch recordings of the first two sessions on the PUC's utility affordability webpage.

Notable new dockets or filings

There were 1,960 filings in October. To see what has come in, visit eDockets, which is the electronic docket system of the Commission. Learn how to subscribe to eDockets and view a list of dockets currently open for comment.

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
121 7th Place E, Suite 350 Saint Paul, MN 55101-2147

(651) 296-0406 | (800) 657-3782
consumer.puc@state.mn.us