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NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2025 |
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Lifeline Awareness Week: Connecting Minnesotans to essential resources
September 7–13, 2025, marks Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week, a time to highlight the vital role that affordable communication services play in people’s lives. While more than 81,000 Minnesotans are enrolled in the federal Lifeline program, an estimated 420,000 are eligible, meaning hundreds of thousands could still benefit from discounted phone or internet service. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is committed to closing this gap and ensuring residents have the tools they need to stay connected. Lifeline helps bridge the digital divide by making it easier for low-income consumers to search for jobs, access healthcare, connect with loved ones, and call for help in an emergency. Learn more at www.lifelinesupport.org.
Commission calendar and upcoming events
The information below is subject to change. Current information available online at PUC calendar.
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Sept. 2
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6 PM
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Public meeting – Joint site permit application for the Lake Charlotte Solar 150-MW solar facility and 150-MW battery energy storage system in Rutland Township. (Virtual)
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Sept. 3
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public hearing – Great River Energy, Otter Tail Power Co., Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Agralite Electric Coop., and the City of Benson for a Certificate of Need and Route Permit for the Appleton to Benson 115 kV Transmission Line Project.
11 AM: Appleton 6 PM: Benson
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Sept. 4
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Otter Tail Power Company’s 66 MW Solway Solar Project site permit in Beltrami County (Docket 24-309)
- Wisconsin Power & Light Company’s Large Wind Energy Conversion System site permit application for 153 MW in Freeborn County (Docket 24-349)
- Great River Energy’s route permit application for the Laketown 115-kV transmission line in Carver County (Docket 24-1323)
- Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s 2025-2039 Integrated Resource Plan (Docket 24-356)
- Petition of Xcel Energy to revise its net metering tariffs to apply to qualifying facilities up to 5 MW (Docket 24-389)
- MN PUC Filings to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Docket 25-21)
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Sept. 4
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6 PM
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Public hearing – Great River Energy, Otter Tail Power Co., Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Agralite Electric Coop., and City of Benson for a Certificate of Need and Route Permit for the Appleton to Benson 115-Kilovolt Transmission Line Project. (Virtual)
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Sept. 9
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1 PM
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Stakeholder meeting – Integrated distribution plan processes
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Sept. 10
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12 PM
6 PM
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Public hearing – Minnesota Power Site and Route Permit for the 85 MW Boswell Solar Project and associated 2.45-mile 230 kV transmission line in Itasca County
12 PM: Bena 6 PM: Cohasset
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Sept. 10
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6 PM
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Public hearing – Xcel Energy’s 135.5 MW Battery Energy Storage System Site Permit for the Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage Project in Scott County (Virtual)
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Sept. 11
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- Dairyland Power Cooperative’s Beaver Creek transmission line route permit in Fillmore County (Docket 24-95)
- Great River Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan – Extension request (Docket 22-75)
- Commission inquiry into Xcel Energy’s advanced rate design for load management (Docket 24-115)
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Sept. 11
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6 PM
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Public hearing – Minnesota Power Site and Route Permit for the 85 MW Boswell Solar Project and associated 2.45-mile 230 kV transmission line in Itasca County (Virtual)
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Sept. 11
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6 PM
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Public hearing – Xcel Energy’s 135.5 MW Battery Energy Storage System Site Permit for the Blue Lake Battery Energy Storage Project in Scott County (Shakopee)
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Sept. 12
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10 AM
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Stakeholder meeting – MISO quarterly update
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Sept. 15
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6:30 PM
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Public Hearing – Xcel Energy electric rate case (Stillwater)
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Sept. 16
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10 AM
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Planning meeting – Wind access buffer discussion
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Sept. 16
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11:30 AM
6:30 PM
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Public Hearing – Xcel Energy electric rate case
11:30 AM: St. Cloud 6:30 PM: Virtual
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Sept. 17
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1:30 PM
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Public Hearing – Xcel Energy electric rate case (St. Paul)
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Sept. 18
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10 AM
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Agenda meeting
- 2024 Annual Gas Affordability Program reports. (Docket 25-36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation annual review of depreciation rates for 2025. (Docket 25-249)
- Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation revenue decoupling mechanism rate adjustment (Docket 25-52)
- Annual certification related to ETC use of Federal Universal Service support (Docket 25-08)
- Application of Lemon Hill Solar, LLC for a site permit for the180 MW Lemon Hill Solar Project in Olmsted County (Docket 25-126)
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Sept. 22
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6:30 PM
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Public Hearing – Xcel Energy electric rate case (Faribault)
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Sept. 23
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1:30 PM
6:30 PM
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Public Hearing – Xcel Energy electric rate case
1:30 PM: Virtual 6:30 PM: Edina
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Sept. 24
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1:30 PM
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Public Hearing – Xcel Energy electric rate case (Minneapolis)
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Sept. 25
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9 AM
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Agenda meeting – Petition of Minnesota Power for Acquisition of ALLETE by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners. (Docket 24-198)
Note: Sept. 25 is oral arguments. A second meeting is planned for October 3 at 9 AM.
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Sept. 25
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1:30 PM
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Public Hearing – Xcel Energy electric rate case (Welch)
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Sept. 30
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11 AM
6 PM
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Public meeting – Otter Tail Power Company and the Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s Route Permit for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345- kV Transmission Project
11 AM: Alexandria 6 PM: Glenwood
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Commission decisions
August 7
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The Commission approved the Gopher State Solar Project site permit for a 200 MW solar energy facility in Renville County, Minnesota. The Project will interconnect to Great River Energy’s 230 kilovolt (kV) Panther Substation and will require an approximately 1,300-foot 230 kV gen-tie transmission line and a new Project substation. The Commission included some mitigation measures based on input and feedback from state agencies, an adjacent landowner, and Renville County in its decision. The commercial operation date is anticipated to be in 2027. (Docket 24-106)
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The Commission approved a site permit for Coneflower Energy, LLC's up to 235 MW solar project in Custer Township, Lyon County. Coneflower has proposed two interconnection options – a new 345 kV transmission line to a future Xcel Energy substation or a new switching station to connect to an existing 115 kV transmission line. Both projects anticipate being operational by late 2027. (Docket 24-215)
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The Commission accepted Xcel’s Renewable*Connect Pilot, Flex, and Long-Term Programs compliance filing and tracker report that was filed on April 1, 2025. The Commission also accepted Xcel’s proposed 2026 Renewable*Connect tariff modifications. The Renewable*Connect programs are a suite of voluntary programs offered by Xcel that allow customers to subscribe to renewable energy sources without the need to install equipment. (Docket 25-184)
August 14
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The Commission approved a site permit for the Snowshoe Energy Storage Project, a 150-megawatt (MW) stand-alone battery storage facility proposed by Snowshoe BESS, LLC. This is the first stand-alone battery storage project permitted by the PUC. Located in Olmsted County between Byron and Rochester, the facility will store excess electricity from the grid for up to four hours and discharge it during times of high demand. In response to stakeholder feedback the Commission added requirements to strengthen local safety and preparedness. (Docket 24-279) News release
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The Commission approved Xcel Energy’s application for additional spent fuel storage at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PINGP). As Xcel is permitted to store an additional 34 dry fuel storage systems at its facility. While the Commission approved additional storage, Xcel still needs to get approval from the National Regulatory Commission. Should Xcel get the required approvals, the extra storage will allow PINGP to extend its operating life to 2053/2054. Without the additional approvals, Xcel will be able to operate the PINGP until 2033/2034. (Docket 24-68)
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The Commission declined to investigate Xcel Energy's use of its Internal Transmission Studies (ITS). However, the Commission is requiring Xcel to be more transparent about the process. Xcel must submit a report by October 1 detailing everything about the ITS, including, how the process works, including costs and timelines, the technical reasons why the ITS are necessary, and plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the studies, along with the metrics it will use. In addition, Xcel must work with the Distributed Generation Working Group to decide on next steps. To improve public access to information, the Commission also ordered Xcel to post all the details, rules, costs, and deadlines for the ITS on its interconnection website. The company's Hosting Capacity Analysis map will also be updated to indicate whether an ITS might be needed in a certain area. (Docket 16-521)
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Recaps of Commission meetings and hearings
Planning meeting/special meeting
On August 26 the Commission heard from experts on affordability and utility programs to reduce customer energy burden. Click here to watch the recording.
Project meetings
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Benton Solar – The Commission held public hearings and took public comment on Benton Solar LLC’s site and route permits for the proposed Benton Solar Project. The project includes an up to 100 MWac solar energy generating system, a 100 MWac battery energy storage system, and a route permit for a new approximately 0.5-mile 115 kV transmission line. Public comment is open through September 12, 2025.
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Elm Creek Wind II – The Commission held public information meetings and took public comment on the permit amendment requested by Elm Creek Wind II, LLC to repower its existing Elm Creek Wind II facility. The facility was originally permitted by the Public Utilities Commission on February 25, 2010. (Docket 09-553)
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Lyon County Generating Station – The Commission held public information and environmental scoping meetings and took public comment on Xcel Energy’s application for a certificate of need, site permit, transmission line route permit, partial exemption, and pipeline routing permit. The project includes two 210 MW combustion turbines, two 345 kV transmission lines, and a natural gas pipeline in Lyon County, (Docket 25-145, -154, -163)
Notable new dockets or filings
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Docket
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Docket or filing summary
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Several comments were filed in the Minnesota Power/ALLETE acquisition docket. To view the full record, click here.
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Mankato to Mississippi 345kV Transmission Route Permit – Xcel filed proposed findings which recommends determining the EIS is in compliance and granting a route permit for “Route Option B, incorporating Route Segment 18 and Alignment Alternative 2, in Segments 1 and 2, Segment 3, and either Route Option A or Route Option D for Segment 4”, post-hearing brief, and response to public comments which includes an update related to Xcel’s route preference for Segment 4.
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Lemon Hill Solar filed supplemental comments to provide Phase 1 Cultural Resource Survey and Wetland and Waterbody Delineation Report. Viola Township filed letter requesting feasibility studies on 1) well water contamination risk in karst region; 2) chemical analysis of solar panels used; 3) stray voltage effects on dairy, beef cattle and humans; 4) full financial and historical review of Ranger Power’s capacity for remediation; and 5) detailed cost projection of potential cleanup of local wells including Rochester and Mayo Clinic. Sen. Drazkowski and Rep. Jacob filed a letter opposing expedited processing of the permit application. PUC provided supplemental comments responding to public comments received. LIUNA filed supplemental comments in support of EIP comments and do not recommend a taskforce but do have areas of the record that need further development around socioeconomic impacts, construction plan, and use of local workforce and apprenticeship programs.
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Sherco Solar 3 – Xcel filed an updated site plan noting “Based on the agreed-upon feeder route and our intent to parallel the existing BNSF right-of-way—thereby minimizing impacts to the landowner located south of Highway 10 and the BNSF Railroad—we have determined that an additional tree clearing and grubbing area of approximately .3 acres will be needed south of Highway 10 and the BNSF Railroad…the landowner is aware of and supports the planned tree removal.”
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Xcel NGIA – Department filed letter not opposing Xcel’s proposed pilots but noting items for monitoring with the proposed Income Qualified Strategic Electrification Pilot: “data in future annual reports demonstrating that the funding either went to increase the number of customers on the pilot or was used to offset the costs being recovered from ratepayers for Xcel’s NGIP” and for pilot Department is ok with limiting to customers who are Xcel electric customers but will raise if program is expanded.
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Minnesota Power and American Txn Co. filed a notice plan and intends to submit a combined CN and route permit in 4Q 2025. The LRTP 2.1 project “… consists of construction of a new, approximately 62-mile-long, single-circuit 345 kV transmission line on double-circuit capable structures from Minnesota Power’s Iron Range Substation in Itasca County to Minnesota Power’s St. Louis County Substation in Solway Township, St. Louis County. The Project also involves construction of a new, approximately one-mile-long, double-circuit 345 kV transmission line from Minnesota Power’s St. Louis County Substation to ATC’s Arrowhead Substation in Hermantown, St. Louis County. MP and ATC also filed a request for exemption for certain CN application content requirements.
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Dakota Electric filed joint proposed findings by DEA, Dept, and OAG noting “…[the rate case] Settlement provides for a gross revenue deficiency of $20.881 million or 9.62% increase, compared to the $23.812 million or 11% increase requested in the Cooperative’s Application… results in a more moderate increase for the Residential and Small General Service classes than initially proposed by Dakota Electric… proposed return on equity, overall cost of capital, and overall return on rate base are 3.69 percent, 3.60%, and 5.14%. … [among other changes]”
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PUC’s Consumer Affairs Office filed a customer complaint related to Xcel customer service and billing related to the customer being charged for a previous customer’s outstanding balance.
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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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