1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; specifying duties of the Department of Commerce; providing 
1.3 	for an assessment; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, 
1.4 	sections 216A.07, by adding a subdivision; 216B.62, by adding a subdivision; 
1.5 	repealing Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 216A.085; 216C.052.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 216A.07, is amended by adding a 
1.8 	subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 3a.Regional and national duties. The Department of Commerce has the duty 
1.10 	and power to represent the interests of Minnesota residents, businesses, and governments 
1.11 	before bodies and agencies outside the state that make, interpret, or implement regional, 
1.12 	national, and international energy policy and that regulate and implement regional or 
1.13 	national energy planning or infrastructure development. This subdivision does not limit 
1.14 	regional, national, or international activities of the Public Utilities Commission.

1.15 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2011.

1.16 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 216B.62, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.17 	to read:
1.18 		Subd. 3b.Assessment for department regional and national duties. In addition 
1.19 	to other assessments in subdivision 3, the department may assess up to $1,000,000 per 
1.20 	fiscal year for performing its duties under section 216A.07, subdivision 3a. The amount in 
1.21 	this subdivision shall be assessed to energy utilities in proportion to their respective gross 
1.22 	operating revenues from retail sales of gas or electric service within the state during the 
1.23 	last calendar year and shall be deposited into an account in the special revenue fund. An 
2.1 	assessment made under this subdivision is not subject to the cap on assessments provided 
2.2 	in subdivision 3 or any other law. For the purpose of this subdivision, an "energy utility" 
2.3 	means public utilities, generation and transmission cooperative electric associations, and 
2.4 	municipal power agencies providing natural gas or electric service in the state. This 
2.5 	subdivision expires June 30, 2016.

2.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2011.

2.7 	Sec. 3.  REPEALER.
 2.8 	Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 216A.085; and 216C.052, are repealed.

2.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2011.