Bill Text: MN SF1313 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Public utilities energy conservation improvement program modifications
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-27 - Referred to Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications [SF1313 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF1313-Introduced.html
1.2relating to energy; modifying conservation improvement program;amending
1.3Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 216B.241, subdivision 1c.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 216B.241, subdivision 1c, is amended to
1.6read:
1.7 Subd. 1c. Energy-saving goals. (a) The commissioner shall establish energy-saving
1.8goals for energy conservation improvement expenditures and shall evaluate an energy
1.9conservation improvement program on how well it meets the goals set.
1.10 (b) Each individual utility and association shall have an annual energy-savings
1.11goal equivalent to 1.5 percent of gross annual retail energy sales unless modified by the
1.12commissioner under paragraph (d). The savings goals must be calculated based on the
1.13most recent three-year weather normalized average. A utility or association may elect to
1.14carry forward energy savings in excess of 1.5 percent for a year to the succeeding three
1.15calendar years, except that savings from electric utility infrastructure projects allowed
1.16under paragraph (d) may be carried forward for five years. A particular energy savings can
1.17be used only for one year's goal.
1.18 (c) The commissioner must adopt a filing schedule that is designed to have all
1.19utilities and associations operating under an energy-savings plan by calendar year 2010.
1.20 (d) In its energy conservation improvement plan filing, a utility or association may
1.21request the commissioner to adjust its annual energy-savings percentage goal based on
1.22its historical conservation investment experience, customer class makeup, load growth, a
1.23conservation potential study, or other factors the commissioner determines warrants an
1.24adjustment. Except for a plan of an association, the commissioner may not approve a plan
2.1that provides for an annual energy-savings goal of less than one percent of gross annual
2.2retail energy sales from energy conservation improvements.
2.3A utility or association may include in its energy conservation plan energy savings
2.4from electric utility infrastructure projects approved by the commission under section
2.5216B.1636
or waste heat recovery converted into electricity projects that may count as
2.6energy savings in addition to the minimum energy-savings goal of at least one percent for
2.7energy conservation improvements. Electric utility infrastructure projects must result in
2.8increased energy efficiency greater than that which would have occurred through normal
2.9maintenance activity.
2.10 (e) An energy-savings goal is not satisfied by attaining the revenue expenditure
2.11requirements of subdivisions 1a and 1b, but can only be satisfied by meeting the
2.12energy-savings goal established in this subdivision.
2.13 (f) An association or utility is not required to make energy conservation investments
2.14to attain the energy-savings goals of this subdivision that are not cost-effective even
2.15if the investment is necessary to attain the energy-savings goals. For the purpose of
2.16this paragraph, in determining cost-effectiveness, the commissioner shall consider the
2.17costs and benefits to ratepayers, the utility, participants, and society. In addition, the
2.18commissioner shall consider the rate at which an association or municipal utility is
2.19increasing its energy savings and its expenditures on energy conservation.
2.20 (g) On an annual basis, the commissioner shall produce and make publicly available
2.21a report on the annual energy savings and estimated carbon dioxide reductions achieved
2.22by the energy conservation improvement programs for the two most recent years for
2.23which data is available. The commissioner shall report on program performance both in
2.24the aggregate and for each entity filing an energy conservation improvement plan for
2.25approval or review by the commissioner.
2.26 (h) By January 15, 2010, the commissioner shall report to the legislature whether
2.27the spending requirements under subdivisions 1a and 1b are necessary to achieve the
2.28energy-savings goals established in this subdivision.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
2.30and applies to energy savings plans for calendar year 2012 and thereafter.
1.3Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 216B.241, subdivision 1c.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 216B.241, subdivision 1c, is amended to
1.6read:
1.7 Subd. 1c. Energy-saving goals. (a) The commissioner shall establish energy-saving
1.8goals for energy conservation improvement expenditures and shall evaluate an energy
1.9conservation improvement program on how well it meets the goals set.
1.10 (b) Each individual utility and association shall have an annual energy-savings
1.11goal equivalent to 1.5 percent of gross annual retail energy sales unless modified by the
1.12commissioner under paragraph (d). The savings goals must be calculated based on the
1.13most recent three-year weather normalized average. A utility or association may elect to
1.14carry forward energy savings in excess of 1.5 percent for a year to the succeeding three
1.15calendar years, except that savings from electric utility infrastructure projects allowed
1.16under paragraph (d) may be carried forward for five years. A particular energy savings can
1.17be used only for one year's goal.
1.18 (c) The commissioner must adopt a filing schedule that is designed to have all
1.19utilities and associations operating under an energy-savings plan by calendar year 2010.
1.20 (d) In its energy conservation improvement plan filing, a utility or association may
1.21request the commissioner to adjust its annual energy-savings percentage goal based on
1.22its historical conservation investment experience, customer class makeup, load growth, a
1.23conservation potential study, or other factors the commissioner determines warrants an
1.24adjustment. Except for a plan of an association, the commissioner may not approve a plan
2.1that provides for an annual energy-savings goal of less than one percent of gross annual
2.2retail energy sales from energy conservation improvements.
2.3A utility or association may include in its energy conservation plan energy savings
2.4from electric utility infrastructure projects approved by the commission under section
2.6energy savings in addition to the minimum energy-savings goal of at least one percent for
2.7energy conservation improvements. Electric utility infrastructure projects must result in
2.8increased energy efficiency greater than that which would have occurred through normal
2.9maintenance activity.
2.10 (e) An energy-savings goal is not satisfied by attaining the revenue expenditure
2.11requirements of subdivisions 1a and 1b, but can only be satisfied by meeting the
2.12energy-savings goal established in this subdivision.
2.13 (f) An association or utility is not required to make energy conservation investments
2.14to attain the energy-savings goals of this subdivision that are not cost-effective even
2.15if the investment is necessary to attain the energy-savings goals. For the purpose of
2.16this paragraph, in determining cost-effectiveness, the commissioner shall consider the
2.17costs and benefits to ratepayers, the utility, participants, and society. In addition, the
2.18commissioner shall consider the rate at which an association or municipal utility is
2.19increasing its energy savings and its expenditures on energy conservation.
2.20 (g) On an annual basis, the commissioner shall produce and make publicly available
2.21a report on the annual energy savings and estimated carbon dioxide reductions achieved
2.22by the energy conservation improvement programs for the two most recent years for
2.23which data is available. The commissioner shall report on program performance both in
2.24the aggregate and for each entity filing an energy conservation improvement plan for
2.25approval or review by the commissioner.
2.26 (h) By January 15, 2010, the commissioner shall report to the legislature whether
2.27the spending requirements under subdivisions 1a and 1b are necessary to achieve the
2.28energy-savings goals established in this subdivision.
2.29EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment
2.30and applies to energy savings plans for calendar year 2012 and thereafter.
