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Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society . September 12, 2013 Meeting. Beth Goodpaster Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission . Who are they? 5 members, appointed by Governor for staggered 6-year terms No more than 3 from the same political party

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Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

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  1. Minnesota Renewable Energy Society September 12, 2013 Meeting Beth Goodpaster Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

  2. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission • Who are they? • 5 members, appointed by Governor for staggered 6-year terms • No more than 3 from the same political party • At least one from outside 7-county metro area • Currently there are 2 Dayton appointees serving, and 3 Pawlenty appointees • Next seat opens in early 2014, and PUC will become Dayton-appointed majority

  3. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission • What does the PUC do? • Sets retail rates for investor-owned public utilities • Determines “reasonable” tariff terms and conditions • Approves (or not) applications for certificates of need, site permits, route permits • Reviews and approves (or not) utilities’ long term resource plans • Whatever else the Legislature tells them to do…

  4. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission • How does the PUC do what it does? • Opens “dockets” for specific matters they need to decide • Dockets are identified by letter/number codes (e.g., CI-10-123 or GR-13-000 or M-11-123 or RP-08-123) • “Service Lists” are established for each docket • Often issue “Notices for Comment” when a new docket opens, and/or as docket progresses • Sometimes order “trial type” proceedings called contested cases

  5. Minnesota Department of Commerce – Division of Energy Resources • Who are they? • Executive branch state agency • Commissioner of Department of Commerce is in Governor’s Cabinet • Department has oversight responsibility for several businesses, e.g., insurance, real estate, licensing, consumer protection • Division of Energy Resources (DER) has decision-making roles and advocacy roles, also information-gathering and policy recommendations

  6. Department of Commerce – Division of Energy Resources • What does DER do? • Reviews and approves (or not) Conservation Improvement Programs (CIP) • Carries out legislatively-directed studies • Administers state energy credit/grant programs • Appears as party in most (if not all) PUC dockets, usually as economic analysts

  7. Department of Commerce – Division of Energy Resources • And how do they do what they do? • Sometimes issue notices for comment • Convene stakeholder groups • Sometimes public participation is determined by statute or rule (e.g., number of days to comment and for DER to decide) • Retain outside consultants to complete certain studies • Serve as experts in PUC dockets

  8. Participating in PUC and DER Dockets • Formal participation is important to stakeholders • Some dockets require “intervention” but most do not • Comments are submitted to PUC through Edockets system (operated by DOC-DER) • Comments submitted directly to DER should also be filed through Edockets • DER Stakeholder processes

  9. “E-dockets” • Search or Filing capabilities • Access Edockets through the PUC website, www.puc.state.mn.us • Need to know docket number! (just the year, and last set of digits) • Interested persons may submit documents to the PUC on the electronic “E-dockets” system (which is actually operated by the Department of Commerce) • Need to be “Registered User” to efile • Members of the “general public” do not need to use E-dockets, and can email or write to the PUC, but E-dockets filings are preferred

  10. Filing through E-dockets • HELP! www.commerce.state.mn.us/eDocFile/eFilingHelp.html Screen Shots available • Registration • Technical Requirements • Creating a Document • Trade Secret Information • Signing a Document • Four Steps to Submit a Document • Confirmation of Submission • Acceptance of Submission • Technical Failures • eService

  11. PUC Dockets of Interest • Value of Solar Tariff (all utilities, DER develops, PUC approves (or not)) • Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) for solar (Xcel docket) • Standby service terms and conditions, for both large and smaller customers (per legislature) • Net metering revisions (per legislature) • Community Solar Tariff (per legislature, Xcel) • Production-based incentive (Xcel replacement for Solar Rewards) • Solar Energy Standard implementation

  12. DER Dockets of Interest • Wind Integration Study for increased RES • Value of Solar Tariff (DER develops, PUC approves) • Production-based incentive (Xcel replacement for Solar Rewards) • Sustainable Energy Future Study • Value of Solar Thermal Study • Value of On-Site Energy Storage Study

  13. Questions? Thank you for your time! bgoodpaster@mncenter.org 651-287-4880

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