1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; modifying and extending the assessment for technical assistance 
1.3 	under the energy conservation improvement program;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.4 	2016, section 216B.241, subdivision 1d.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216B.241, subdivision 1d, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 1d.Technical assistance. (a) The commissioner shall evaluate energy conservation 
1.8 	improvement programs on the basis of cost-effectiveness and the reliability of the 
1.9 	technologies employed. The commissioner shall, by order, establish, maintain, and update 
1.10 	energy-savings assumptions that must be used when filing energy conservation improvement 
1.11 	programs. The commissioner shall establish an inventory of the most effective energy 
1.12 	conservation programs, techniques, and technologies, and encourage all Minnesota utilities 
1.13 	to implement them, where appropriate, in their service territories. The commissioner shall 
1.14 	describe these programs in sufficient detail to provide a utility reasonable guidance 
1.15 	concerning implementation. The commissioner shall prioritize the opportunities in order of 
1.16 	potential energy savings and in order of cost-effectiveness. The commissioner may contract 
1.17 	with a third party to carry out any of the commissioner's duties under this subdivision, and 
1.18 	to obtain technical assistance to evaluate the effectiveness of any conservation improvement 
1.19 	program. The commissioner may assess up to $850,000 $950,000 annually for the purposes 
1.20 	of this subdivision. The assessments must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to 
1.21 	the energy and conservation account created under subdivision 2a. An assessment made 
1.22 	under this subdivision is not subject to the cap on assessments provided by section 216B.62, 
1.23 	or any other law.
2.1 	(b) Of the assessment authorized under paragraph (a), the commissioner may expend 
2.2 	up to $400,000 $500,000 annually for the purpose of developing, operating, maintaining, 
2.3 	and providing to develop, operate, maintain, and provide technical support through the 
2.4 	energy savings platform tool for a uniform electronic data reporting and tracking system 
2.5 	available to all utilities subject to this section, in order to enable accurate measurement of 
2.6 	the cost and energy savings of the energy conservation improvements required by this 
2.7 	section. This paragraph expires June 30, 2017, and may be used for no more than three 
2.8 	annual assessments occurring prior to that date.