State Policy: State Agencies

There are several state agencies with oversight over utilities' operations, capital investments, and environmental impacts.

Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER)

The Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources provides oversight of many energy-related programs and issues, including the Conservation Improvement Program, low income heating assistance and weatherization programs, and environmental analysis of energy-related projects.

The DER also administers the legislatively-enacted utility reporting requirements described below.  Utilities can find necessary spreadsheets and instructions at the DER's webpages on Annual Reporting and the Conservation Improvement Program.

  1. Electric Utility Data Report (Rule 7610) - Due every July 1; this report is used to identify emerging trends in utility supply and demand, conservation, public health and safety and to determine statewide and service area needs; should be filed electronically with the DER through the DER/PUC eFiling website.
  2. Distributed Generation Interconnection Report - Due every March 1; for reporting distributed generation facilities that have been connected or disconnected in the prior year; should be filed electronically with the DER through the DER/PUC eFiling website.
  3.  Cogeneration and Small Power Production Tariff - Due every January 1; all municipal electric utilities are required to file  their average retail rate and the rates charged to them by their primary wholesale supplier for energy and capacity.  These should be filed  with the utility's local governing council or commission in accordance with locally adopted rules governing distributed generation.
  4. Qualifying Facilities Report - Due every March 1; summary information about customer-owned solar and wind systems interconnected to the utility's distribution system.  This information should be filed with the utility's local governing council or commission in accordance with locally adopted rules governing distributed generation.
  5. Conservation Improvement Program - Due every June 1 from electric utilities with 1,000 or more customers and gas utilities with 1 billion cubic feet in annual retail throughput sales; utilities report the past year's energy savings and next year's plan.  Data and plans must be filed electronically with the DER through the Energy Savings Platform.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

The Pollution Control Agency monitors environmental quality, offers technical and financial assistance and enforces environmental regulations.

  • Air - The MPCA monitors air pollutants, makes rules and enforces laws to maintain air quality, and issues permits to facilities to control air pollution.
  • Water - The MPCA monitors water quality and sets water quality standards.

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC)

The Public Utilities Commission regulates Minnesota's public utilities and has oversight over the construction and modification of large energy facilities, such as power plants, transmission lines, and pipelines.  The Commission also keeps and updates the state's official Electric Utility Service Areas map which shows the service territories of all of Minnesota's electric utilities.  (Note: Check the box in the map legend to display service area boundaries.)

The Capitol Letter

The Capitol Letter is written by our government relations staff and focuses on the latest legislative information of interest to municipal utilities. This newsletter is regularly emailed to subscribers. If you are an MMUA Regular Member and would like to receive this newsletter, contact us!

Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship

The MMUA Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship provides funding for post-secondary education. Winners must be customers, or dependents of customers, of MMUA-member electric or gas utilities. The essay contest takes place in the spring of the year.

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