State sets review procedures for Minnesota Power’s petition for acquisition

St. Paul, Minn. – On Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) determined the next steps in its review of the proposed sale of Minnesota Power’s parent company, Allete Inc. The Commission referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) and requested an administrative law judge (ALJ) to further develop and review the record, hold public hearings, and provide a report with recommendations to the Commission.

The Commission specified several questions to be investigated by the ALJ, including:

• Impacts on ratepayers
• Impacts on Minnesota Power employees and the adequacy of workforce protections included in the agreement
• The utility’s ability to meet the carbon-free standard
• Whether the transaction is in the public interest

Minnesota Power is also required to file additional information on BlackRock and its acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners, one of the proposed buyers, by October 8, 2024. The Commission requested the ALJ issue their report by July 15, 2025.

The Commission regularly refers complicated matters to the OAH for contested case procedures. Contested case procedures are a court-like process where the record is developed around certain issues, and it allows for public input during the process. There was agreement among stakeholders that a referral to OAH would help ensure a robust and thorough review of the proposal.

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