Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

• Jan 30, 2025

  Audrey PartridgeAppointment · Commissioner

  Gov. Tim Walz appointed Audrey Partridge to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on January 30, 2025, citing her experience in the state's clean energy transition.

Address

121 Seventh Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101-2147

Phone

(651) 296-7124Fax (651) 297-7073

Website

mn.gov ↗

Utility landscape

• Xcel Energy (Northern States Power) IOU

  Twin Cities metro, central and western Minnesota, portions of western Wisconsin

  Dominant IOU in Minnesota; actively litigating multi-year rate cases and pursuing large capital recovery for transmission and clean energy transition. Filed a significant electric rate case in 2024 seeking substantial base rate increases tied to its Minnesota Resource Plan compliance investments.

• Minnesota Power (ALLETE) IOU

  Northeastern Minnesota including Duluth and Iron Range industrial corridor

  Heavily exposed to large industrial load from taconite and paper customers; pursuing its EnergyForward clean energy transition plan with MPUC oversight. Rate cases frequently involve complex industrial tariff negotiations and demand-side flexibility arrangements.

• Otter Tail Power IOU

  West-central and northwestern Minnesota, with service also in North and South Dakota

  Smaller IOU with multi-state footprint regulated in part by MPUC; recent focus on wind integration and distribution grid upgrades. Subject to MPUC jurisdiction for Minnesota retail rates with periodic rate filings reflecting renewable capital additions.

• Great River Energy coop

  Wholesale power supplier to 28 member distribution cooperatives across rural Minnesota

  G&T cooperative undergoing significant generation portfolio transition following closure of Coal Creek Station's direct current transmission line and pivot toward renewables and demand response. Not directly MPUC-regulated for retail rates but subject to oversight on certain interconnection and resource planning matters.

• Connexus Energy coop

  North and northwest Twin Cities suburban fringe including Anoka, Ramsey, and Isanti counties

  One of the largest distribution cooperatives in the U.S. by customer count; engages with MPUC on interconnection and net metering policy. Has pursued aggressive distributed energy resource and EV charging infrastructure programs with state policy alignment.

• Rochester Public Utilities muni

  City of Rochester and immediate surrounding area in Olmsted County

  Municipal utility with limited direct MPUC jurisdiction; operates under city charter authority but engages with state energy policy through Destination Medical Center growth planning and clean energy commitments. Monitors MPUC proceedings on interconnection and net metering rules that affect local policy design.

Key issues

• Xcel Energy (NSP) electric and gas rate cases: MPUC reviewing Xcel's 2024-filed electric rate case requesting multi-year rate increases to recover capital investments in transmission, EV infrastructure, and clean energy resources; intervenors including large industrials and consumer advocates contesting revenue requirement and rate design proposals.
• Minnesota Resource Plan compliance and IRP proceedings: Following MPUC approval of Xcel's 2022 Integrated Resource Plan directing accelerated coal retirement and large-scale wind and solar additions, dockets remain active on resource procurement milestones, capacity adequacy showings, and long-duration storage solicitation results.
• Net energy metering and distributed generation compensation reform: MPUC engaged in rulemaking to update compensation structures for rooftop solar and community solar subscribers, including value-of-solar tariff recalibration and potential time-of-use export rates affecting both IOUs and cooperatives.
• Gas utility decarbonization and hydrogen blending: Legislative and commission-level pressure on CenterPoint Energy Minnesota and Xcel's gas LDC operations regarding long-term gas system planning, methane emissions disclosure, and pilot approvals for renewable natural gas and hydrogen blending under Minnesota's climate framework.
• Transmission cost allocation and MISO Tranche 2 project oversight: MPUC actively reviewing cost allocation and siting certificates for Minnesota-allocated MISO Long Range Transmission Plan Tranche 2 projects, with significant stakeholder dispute over landowner compensation, route selection, and agricultural impact mitigation requirements.

Upcoming

• 2026-09-15

  Estimated deadline for MPUC initial comments in Xcel Energy electric rate case evidentiary record; parties including Department of Commerce, OAG, and large industrial intervenors expected to file rebuttal testimony on revenue requirement and multi-year rate plan structure.

• 2026-10-20

  Estimated MPUC oral argument or contested case hearing session on Xcel Energy 2024 electric rate case before administrative law judge; ALJ report to commission anticipated in late 2026 per standard procedural schedule.

• 2026-11-05

  Estimated MPUC agenda item for final order or interim decision on net metering and distributed generation compensation rulemaking; commission has indicated intent to resolve outstanding value-of-solar tariff methodology by end of 2026.

• 2027-01-15

  Estimated deadline for IOU and large cooperative long-term gas system planning filings under MPUC order directing utilities to submit decarbonization pathway analyses and infrastructure risk assessments consistent with Minnesota's 2040 carbon-free electricity and broader climate statutory requirements.