1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; appropriating money for the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission 
1.3 	for excessive natural gas prices paid during the 2021 polar vortex.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. HIBBING PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION; APPROPRIATION.
 1.6 	(a) $1,640,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.7 	commissioner of commerce for a grant to the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission to pay 
1.8 	for excessive costs incurred as a result of the natural gas price spike during the extreme cold 
1.9 	weather of the February 2021 polar vortex.
1.10 	(b) If federal or other aid to provide relief from the natural gas price spike is made 
1.11 	available to and is directly received by the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission, an amount 
1.12 	equal to the additional aid received must be remitted to the commissioner of commerce for 
1.13 	deposit in the general fund. If the amount appropriated under paragraph (a) exceeds the total 
1.14 	costs incurred for natural gas purchases during the natural gas price spike, the remaining 
1.15 	balance cancels to the general fund.
1.16 	(c) If the state receives federal aid that is intended to provide relief from the natural gas 
1.17 	price spike and the appropriation under paragraph (a) meets the relevant spending 
1.18 	requirements of the federal aid, the commissioner of commerce must deposit in the general 
1.19 	fund an amount equal to the amount of the federal aid the Hibbing Public Utilities 
1.20 	Commission is eligible to receive. If money is awarded to the state as a result of a settlement 
1.21 	or legal judgment regarding price gouging or other malfeasance relating to overpayment 
1.22 	for natural gas consumed during the 2021 polar vortex, an amount equal to the Hibbing 
2.1 	Public Utilities Commission's proportion of the settlement or legal judgment must be 
2.2 	deposited in the general fund.