Minnesota Session Laws - 2021, Regular Session

CHAPTER 29--H.F.No. 164

An act

relating to energy; establishing an Energy Conservation and Optimization Act of 2021;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 216B.2401; 216B.241, subdivisions 1a, 1c, 1d, 1f, 1g, 2, 2b, 3, 5, 7, 8, by adding subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivisions 1, 1b, 2c, 4, 10.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin TITLE. new text end

new text begin Sections 2 to 18 may be cited as the "Energy Conservation and Optimization Act of 2021." new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.2401, is amended to read:

216B.2401 ENERGY SAVINGS new text begin AND OPTIMIZATION new text end POLICY GOAL.

new text begin (a) new text end The legislature finds that energy savings are an energy resource, and that cost-effective energy savings are preferred over all other energy resources. new text begin In addition, the legislature finds that optimizing the timing and method used by energy consumers to manage energy use provides significant benefits to the consumers and to the utility system as a whole. new text end The legislature further finds that cost-effective energy savings new text begin and load management programs new text end should be procured systematically and aggressively in order to reduce utility costs for businesses and residents, improve the competitiveness and profitability of businesses, create more energy-related jobs, reduce the economic burden of fuel imports, and reduce pollution and emissions that cause climate change. Therefore, it is the energy policy of the state of Minnesota to achieve annual energy savings deleted text begin equal deleted text end new text begin equivalent new text end to at least deleted text begin 1.5 deleted text end new text begin 2.5 new text end percent of annual retail energy sales of electricity and natural gas through deleted text begin cost-effective energy conservation improvement programs and rate design, energy efficiency achieved by energy consumers without direct utility involvement, energy codes and appliance standards, programs designed to transform the market or change consumer behavior, energy savings resulting from efficiency improvements to the utility infrastructure and system, and other efforts to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation. deleted text end new text begin multiple measures, including but not limited to: new text end

new text begin (1) cost-effective energy conservation improvement programs and efficient fuel-switching utility programs under sections 216B.2402 to 216B.241; new text end

new text begin (2) rate design; new text end

new text begin (3) energy efficiency achieved by energy consumers without direct utility involvement; new text end

new text begin (4) advancements in statewide energy codes and cost-effective appliance and equipment standards; new text end

new text begin (5) programs designed to transform the market or change consumer behavior; new text end

new text begin (6) energy savings resulting from efficiency improvements to the utility infrastructure and system; and new text end

new text begin (7) other efforts to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation. new text end

new text begin (b) A utility is encouraged to design and offer to customers load management programs that enable: (1) customers to maximize the economic value gained from the energy purchased from the customer's utility service provider; and (2) utilities to optimize the infrastructure and generation capacity needed to effectively serve customers and facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the energy system. new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must provide a reasonable estimate of progress made toward the statewide energy-savings goal under paragraph (a) in the annual report required under section 216B.241, subdivision 1c, and make recommendations for administrative or legislative initiatives to increase energy savings toward that goal. The commissioner must also annually report on the energy productivity of the state's economy by estimating the ratio of economic output produced in the most recently completed calendar year to the primary energy inputs used in that year. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [216B.2402] DEFINITIONS. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of section 216B.16, subdivision 6b, and sections 216B.2401 to 216B.241, the following terms have the meanings given them. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Consumer-owned utility. new text end

new text begin "Consumer-owned utility" means a municipal gas utility, a municipal electric utility, or a cooperative electric association. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Cumulative lifetime savings. new text end

new text begin "Cumulative lifetime savings" means the total electric energy or natural gas savings in a given year from energy conservation improvements installed in that given year and energy conservation improvements installed in previous years that are still in operation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Efficient fuel-switching improvement. new text end

new text begin "Efficient fuel-switching improvement" means a project that: new text end

new text begin (1) replaces a fuel used by a customer with electricity or natural gas delivered at retail by a utility subject to section 216B.2403 or 216B.241; new text end

new text begin (2) results in a net increase in the use of electricity or natural gas and a net decrease in source energy consumption on a fuel-neutral basis; new text end

new text begin (3) otherwise meets the criteria established for consumer-owned utilities in section 216B.2403, subdivision 8, and for public utilities under section 216B.241, subdivisions 11 and 12; and new text end

new text begin (4) requires the installation of equipment that utilizes electricity or natural gas, resulting in a reduction or elimination of the previous fuel used. new text end

new text begin An efficient fuel-switching improvement is not an energy conservation improvement or energy efficiency even if the efficient fuel-switching improvement results in a net reduction in electricity or natural gas use. An efficient fuel-switching improvement does not include, and must not count toward any energy savings goal from, energy conservation improvements when fuel switching would result in an increase of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere on an annual basis. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Energy conservation. new text end

new text begin "Energy conservation" means an action that results in a net reduction in electricity or natural gas consumption. Energy conservation does not include an efficient fuel-switching improvement. new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Energy conservation improvement. new text end

new text begin "Energy conservation improvement" means a project that results in energy efficiency or energy conservation. Energy conservation improvement may include waste heat that is recovered and converted into electricity or used as thermal energy, but does not include electric utility infrastructure projects approved by the commission under section 216B.1636. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Energy efficiency. new text end

new text begin "Energy efficiency" means measures or programs, including energy conservation measures or programs, that: (1) target consumer behavior, equipment, processes, or devices; (2) are designed to reduce the consumption of electricity or natural gas on either an absolute or per unit of production basis; and (3) do not reduce the quality or level of service provided to an energy consumer. new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Fuel. new text end

new text begin "Fuel" means energy, including electricity, propane, natural gas, heating oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, or steam, consumed by a retail utility customer. new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Fuel neutral. new text end

new text begin "Fuel neutral" means an approach that compares the use of various fuels for a given end use, using a common metric. new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Gross annual retail energy sales. new text end

new text begin "Gross annual retail energy sales" means a utility's annual electric sales to all Minnesota retail customers, or natural gas throughput to all retail customers, including natural gas transportation customers, on a utility's distribution system in Minnesota. Gross annual retail energy sales does not include: new text end

new text begin (1) gas sales to: new text end

new text begin (i) a large energy facility; new text end

new text begin (ii) a large customer facility whose natural gas utility has been exempted by the commissioner under section 216B.241, subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), with respect to natural gas sales made to the large customer facility; and new text end

new text begin (iii) a commercial gas customer facility whose natural gas utility has been exempted by the commissioner under section 216B.241, subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), with respect to natural gas sales made to the commercial gas customer facility; new text end

new text begin (2) electric sales to a large customer facility whose electric utility has been exempted by the commissioner under section 216B.241, subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), with respect to electric sales made to the large customer facility; or new text end

new text begin (3) the amount of electric sales prior to December 31, 2032, that are associated with a utility's program, rate, or tariff for electric vehicle charging based on a methodology and assumptions developed by the department in consultation with interested stakeholders no later than December 31, 2021. After December 31, 2032, incremental sales to electric vehicles must be included in calculating a utility's gross annual retail sales. new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Investments and expenses of a public utility. new text end

new text begin "Investments and expenses of a public utility" means the investments and expenses incurred by a public utility in connection with an energy conservation improvement. new text end

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Large customer facility. new text end

new text begin "Large customer facility" means all buildings, structures, equipment, and installations at a single site that in aggregate: (1) impose a peak electrical demand on an electric utility's system of at least 20,000 kilowatts, measured in the same way as the utility that serves the customer facility measures electric demand for billing purposes; or (2) consume at least 500,000,000 cubic feet of natural gas annually. When calculating peak electrical demand, a large customer facility may include demand offset by on-site cogeneration facilities and, if engaged in mineral extraction, may include peak energy demand from the large customer facility's mining processing operations. new text end

new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Large energy facility. new text end

new text begin "Large energy facility" has the meaning given in section 216B.2421, subdivision 2, clause (1). new text end

new text begin Subd. 14. new text end

new text begin Lifetime energy savings. new text end

new text begin "Lifetime energy savings" means the amount of savings a particular energy conservation improvement is projected to produce over the improvement's effective useful lifetime. new text end

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Load management. new text end

new text begin "Load management" means an activity, service, or technology that changes the timing or the efficiency of a customer's use of energy that allows a utility or a customer to: (1) respond to local and regional energy system conditions; or (2) reduce peak demand for electricity or natural gas. Load management that reduces a customer's net annual energy consumption is also energy conservation. new text end

new text begin Subd. 16. new text end

new text begin Low-income household. new text end

new text begin "Low-income household" means a household whose household income is 60 percent or less of the state median household income. new text end

new text begin Subd. 17. new text end

new text begin Low-income programs. new text end

new text begin "Low-income programs" means energy conservation improvement and efficient fuel-switching programs that directly serve the needs of low-income households, including low-income renters. new text end

new text begin Subd. 18. new text end

new text begin Member. new text end

new text begin "Member" has the meaning given in section 308B.005, subdivision 15. new text end

new text begin Subd. 19. new text end

new text begin Multifamily building. new text end

new text begin "Multifamily building" means a residential building containing five or more dwelling units. new text end

new text begin Subd. 20. new text end

new text begin Preweatherization measure. new text end

new text begin "Preweatherization measure" means an improvement that is necessary to allow energy conservation improvements to be installed in a home. new text end

new text begin Subd. 21. new text end

new text begin Qualifying utility. new text end

new text begin "Qualifying utility" means a utility that supplies a customer with energy that enables the customer to qualify as a large customer facility. new text end

new text begin Subd. 22. new text end

new text begin Waste heat recovered and used as thermal energy. new text end

new text begin "Waste heat recovered and used as thermal energy" means capturing heat energy that would be exhausted or dissipated to the environment from machinery, buildings, or industrial processes, and productively using the recovered thermal energy where it was captured or distributing it as thermal energy to other locations where it is used to reduce demand-side consumption of natural gas, electric energy, or both. new text end

new text begin Subd. 23. new text end

new text begin Waste heat recovery converted into electricity. new text end

new text begin "Waste heat recovery converted into electricity" means an energy recovery process that converts to electricity energy from the heat of exhaust stacks or pipes used for engines or manufacturing or industrial processes, or from the reduction of high pressure in water or gas pipelines, that would otherwise be lost. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [216B.2403] CONSUMER-OWNED UTILITIES; ENERGY CONSERVATION AND OPTIMIZATION. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Applicability. new text end

new text begin This section applies to: new text end

new text begin (1) a cooperative electric association that provides retail service to more than 5,000 members; new text end

new text begin (2) a municipality that provides electric service to more than 1,000 retail customers; and new text end

new text begin (3) a municipality with more than 1,000,000,000 cubic feet in annual throughput sales to natural gas retail customers. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Consumer-owned utility; energy-savings goal. new text end

new text begin (a) Each individual consumer-owned utility subject to this section has an annual energy-savings goal equivalent to 1.5 percent of gross annual retail energy sales, to be met with a minimum of energy savings from energy conservation improvements equivalent to at least 0.95 percent of the consumer-owned utility's gross annual retail energy sales. The balance of energy savings toward the annual energy-savings goal may be achieved only by the following consumer-owned utility activities: new text end

new text begin (1) energy savings from additional energy conservation improvements; new text end

new text begin (2) electric utility infrastructure projects, as defined in section 216B.1636, subdivision 1, that result in increased efficiency greater than would have occurred through normal maintenance activity; new text end

new text begin (3) net energy savings from efficient fuel-switching improvements that meet the criteria under subdivision 8, which may contribute up to 0.55 percent of the goal; or new text end

new text begin (4) subject to department approval, demand-side natural gas or electric energy displaced by use of waste heat recovered and used as thermal energy, including the recovered thermal energy from a cogeneration or combined heat and power facility. new text end

new text begin (b) The energy-savings goals specified in this section must be calculated based on weather-normalized sales averaged over the most recent three years. A consumer-owned utility may elect to carry forward energy savings in excess of 1.5 percent for a year to the next three years, except that energy savings from electric utility infrastructure projects may be carried forward for five years. A particular energy savings can only be used to meet one year's goal. new text end

new text begin (c) A consumer-owned utility subject to this section is not required to make energy conservation improvements that are not cost-effective, even if the improvement is necessary to attain the energy-savings goal. A consumer-owned utility subject to this section must make reasonable efforts to implement energy conservation improvements that exceed the minimum level established under this subdivision if cost-effective opportunities and funding are available, considering other potential investments the consumer-owned utility intends to make to benefit customers during the term of the plan filed under subdivision 3. new text end

new text begin (d) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, until July 1, 2026, spending by a consumer-owned utility subject to this section on efficient fuel-switching improvements implemented to meet the annual energy savings goal under this section must not exceed 0.55 percent per year, averaged over a three-year period, of the consumer-owned utility's gross annual retail energy sales. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Consumer-owned utility; energy conservation and optimization plans. new text end

new text begin (a) By June 1, 2022, and at least every three years thereafter, each consumer-owned utility must file with the commissioner an energy conservation and optimization plan that describes the programs for energy conservation, efficient fuel-switching, load management, and other measures the consumer-owned utility intends to offer to achieve the utility's energy savings goal. new text end

new text begin (b) A plan's term may extend up to three years. A multiyear plan must identify the total energy savings and energy savings resulting from energy conservation improvements that are projected to be achieved in each year of the plan. A multiyear plan that does not, in each year of the plan, meet both the minimum energy savings goal from energy conservation improvements and the total energy savings goal of 1.5 percent, or lower goals adjusted by the commissioner under paragraph (k), must: new text end

new text begin (1) state why each goal is projected to be unmet; and new text end

new text begin (2) demonstrate how the consumer-owned utility proposes to meet both goals on an average basis over the duration of the plan. new text end

new text begin (c) A plan filed under this subdivision must provide: new text end

new text begin (1) for existing programs, an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the consumer-owned utility's programs offered under the plan, using a list of baseline energy- and capacity-savings assumptions developed in consultation with the department; and new text end

new text begin (2) for new programs, a preliminary analysis upon which the program will proceed, in parallel with further development of assumptions and standards. new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must evaluate a plan filed under this subdivision based on the plan's likelihood to achieve the energy-savings goals established in subdivision 2. The commissioner may make recommendations to a consumer-owned utility regarding ways to increase the effectiveness of the consumer-owned utility's energy conservation activities and programs under this subdivision. The commissioner may recommend that a consumer-owned utility implement a cost-effective energy conservation program, including an energy conservation program suggested by an outside source such as a political subdivision, nonprofit corporation, or community organization. new text end

new text begin (e) Beginning June 1, 2023, and every June 1 thereafter, each consumer-owned utility must file: (1) an annual update identifying the status of the plan filed under this subdivision, including: (i) total expenditures and investments made to date under the plan; and (ii) any intended changes to the plan; and (2) a summary of the annual energy-savings achievements under a plan. An annual filing made in the last year of a plan must contain a new plan that complies with this section. new text end

new text begin (f) When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a consumer-owned utility's energy conservation programs, the consumer-owned utility and the commissioner must consider the costs and benefits to ratepayers, the utility, participants, and society. The commissioner must also consider the rate at which the consumer-owned utility is increasing energy savings and expenditures on energy conservation, and lifetime energy savings and cumulative energy savings. new text end

new text begin (g) A consumer-owned utility may annually spend and invest up to ten percent of the total amount spent and invested on energy conservation improvements on research and development projects that meet the definition of energy conservation improvement. new text end

new text begin (h) A generation and transmission cooperative electric association or municipal power agency that provides energy services to consumer-owned utilities may file a plan under this subdivision on behalf of the consumer-owned utilities to which the association or agency provides energy services and may make investments, offer conservation programs, and otherwise fulfill the energy-savings goals and reporting requirements of this subdivision for those consumer-owned utilities on an aggregate basis. new text end

new text begin (i) A consumer-owned utility is prohibited from spending for or investing in energy conservation improvements that directly benefit a large energy facility or a large electric customer facility the commissioner has exempted under section 216B.241, subdivision 1a. new text end

new text begin (j) The energy conservation and optimization plan of a consumer-owned utility may include activities to improve energy efficiency in the public schools served by the utility. These activities may include programs to: new text end

new text begin (1) increase the efficiency of the school's lighting and heating and cooling systems; new text end

new text begin (2) recommission buildings; new text end

new text begin (3) train building operators; and new text end

new text begin (4) provide opportunities to educate students, teachers, and staff regarding energy efficiency measures implemented at the school. new text end

new text begin (k) A consumer-owned utility may request that the commissioner adjust the consumer-owned utility's minimum goal for energy savings from energy conservation improvements under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), for the duration of the plan filed under this subdivision. The request must be made by January 1 of the year when the consumer-owned utility must file a plan under this subdivision. The request must be based on: new text end

new text begin (1) historical energy conservation improvement program achievements; new text end

new text begin (2) customer class makeup; new text end

new text begin (3) projected load growth; new text end

new text begin (4) an energy conservation potential study that estimates the amount of cost-effective energy conservation potential that exists in the consumer-owned utility's service territory; new text end

new text begin (5) the cost-effectiveness and quality of the energy conservation programs offered by the consumer-owned utility; and new text end

new text begin (6) other factors the commissioner and consumer-owned utility determine warrant an adjustment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must adjust the energy savings goal to a level the commissioner determines is supported by the record, but must not approve a minimum energy savings goal from energy conservation improvements that is less than an average of 0.95 percent per year over the consecutive years of the plan's duration, including the year the minimum energy savings goal is adjusted. new text end

new text begin (l) A consumer-owned utility filing a conservation and optimization plan that includes an efficient fuel-switching program to achieve the utility's energy savings goal must, as part of the filing, demonstrate by a comparison of greenhouse gas emissions between the fuels that the requirements of subdivision 8 are met, using a full fuel-cycle energy analysis. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Consumer-owned utility; energy savings investment. new text end

new text begin (a) Except as otherwise provided, a consumer-owned utility that the commissioner determines falls short of the minimum energy savings goal from energy conservation improvements established in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), for three consecutive years during which the utility has annually spent on energy conservation improvements less than 1.5 percent of the utility's gross operating revenues for an electric utility or less than 0.5 percent of the utility's gross operating revenues for a natural gas utility, must spend no less than the following amounts for energy conservation improvements: new text end

new text begin (1) for a municipality, 0.5 percent of the municipality's gross operating revenues from the sale of gas and 1.5 percent of the municipality's gross operating revenues from the sale of electricity, excluding gross operating revenues from electric and gas service provided in Minnesota to large electric customer facilities; and new text end

new text begin (2) for a cooperative electric association, 1.5 percent of the association's gross operating revenues from service provided in the state, excluding gross operating revenues from service provided in Minnesota to large electric customers facilities indirectly through a distribution cooperative electric association. new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may not impose the spending requirement under this subdivision if the commissioner has determined that the utility has followed the commissioner's recommendations, if any, provided under subdivision 3, paragraph (d). new text end

new text begin (c) Upon request of a consumer-owned utility, the commissioner may reduce the amount or duration of the spending requirement imposed under this subdivision, or both, if the commissioner determines that the consumer-owned utility's failure to maintain the minimum energy savings goal is the result of: new text end

new text begin (1) a natural disaster or other emergency that is declared by the executive branch through an emergency executive order that affects the consumer-owned utility's service area; new text end

new text begin (2) a unique load distribution experienced by the consumer-owned utility; or new text end

new text begin (3) other factors that the commissioner determines justifies a reduction. new text end

new text begin (d) Unless the commissioner reduces the duration of the spending requirement under paragraph (c), the spending requirement under this subdivision remains in effect until the consumer-owned utility has met the minimum energy savings goal for three consecutive years. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Energy conservation programs for low-income households. new text end

new text begin (a) A consumer-owned utility subject to this section must provide energy conservation programs to low-income households. The commissioner must evaluate a consumer-owned utility's plans under this section by considering the consumer-owned utility's historic spending on energy conservation programs directed to low-income households, the rate of customer participation in and the energy savings resulting from those programs, and the number of low-income persons residing in the consumer-owned utility's service territory. A municipal utility that furnishes natural gas service must spend at least 0.2 percent of the municipal utility's most recent three-year average gross operating revenue from residential customers in Minnesota on energy conservation programs for low-income households. A consumer-owned utility that furnishes electric service must spend at least 0.2 percent of the consumer-owned utility's gross operating revenue from residential customers in Minnesota on energy conservation programs for low-income households. The requirement under this paragraph applies to each generation and transmission cooperative association's aggregate gross operating revenue from the sale of electricity to residential customers in Minnesota by all of the association's member distribution cooperatives. new text end

new text begin (b) To meet all or part of the spending requirements of paragraph (a), a consumer-owned utility may contribute money to the energy and conservation account established in section 216B.241, subdivision 2a. An energy conservation optimization plan must state the amount of contributions the consumer-owned utility plans to make to the energy and conservation account. Contributions to the account must be used for energy conservation programs serving low-income households, including renters, located in the service area of the consumer-owned utility making the contribution. Contributions must be remitted to the commissioner by February 1 each year. new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must establish energy conservation programs for low-income households funded through contributions to the energy and conservation account under paragraph (b). When establishing energy conservation programs for low-income households, the commissioner must consult political subdivisions, utilities, and nonprofit and community organizations, including organizations providing energy and weatherization assistance to low-income households. The commissioner must record and report expenditures and energy savings achieved as a result of energy conservation programs for low-income households funded through the energy and conservation account in the report required under section 216B.241, subdivision 1c, paragraph (f). The commissioner may contract with a political subdivision, nonprofit or community organization, public utility, municipality, or consumer-owned utility to implement low-income programs funded through the energy and conservation account. new text end

new text begin (d) A consumer-owned utility may petition the commissioner to modify the required spending under this subdivision if the consumer-owned utility and the commissioner were unable to expend the amount required for three consecutive years. new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner must develop and establish guidelines for determining the eligibility of multifamily buildings to participate in energy conservation programs provided to low-income households. Notwithstanding the definition of low-income household in section 216B.2402, a consumer-owned utility or association may apply the most recent guidelines published by the department for purposes of determining the eligibility of multifamily buildings to participate in low-income programs. The commissioner must convene a stakeholder group to review and update these guidelines by August 1, 2021, and at least once every five years thereafter. The stakeholder group must include but is not limited to representatives of public utilities; municipal electric or gas utilities; electric cooperative associations; multifamily housing owners and developers; and low-income advocates. new text end

new text begin (f) Up to 15 percent of a consumer-owned utility's spending on low-income energy conservation programs may be spent on preweatherization measures. A consumer-owned utility is prohibited from claiming energy savings from preweatherization measures toward the consumer-owned utility's energy savings goal. new text end

new text begin (g) The commissioner must, by order, establish a list of preweatherization measures eligible for inclusion in low-income energy conservation programs no later than March 15, 2022. new text end

new text begin (h) A Healthy AIR (Asbestos Insulation Removal) account is established as a separate account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. A consumer-owned utility may elect to contribute money to the Healthy AIR account to provide preweatherization measures for households eligible for weatherization assistance from the state weatherization assistance program in section 216C.264. Remediation activities must be executed in conjunction with federal weatherization assistance program services. Money contributed to the account by a consumer-owned utility counts toward: (1) the minimum low-income spending requirement under paragraph (a); and (2) the cap on preweatherization measures under paragraph (f). Money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner of commerce to pay for Healthy AIR-related activities. new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Recovery of expenses. new text end

new text begin The commission must allow a cooperative electric association subject to rate regulation under section 216B.026 to recover expenses resulting from: (1) a plan under this section; and (2) assessments and contributions to the energy and conservation account under section 216B.241, subdivision 2a. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Ownership of preweatherization measure or energy conservation improvement. new text end

new text begin (a) A preweatherization measure or energy conservation improvement installed in a building under this section, excluding a system owned by a consumer-owned utility that is designed to turn off, limit, or vary the delivery of energy, is the exclusive property of the building owner, except to the extent that the improvement is subject to a security interest in favor of the consumer-owned utility in case of a loan to the building owner for the improvement. new text end

new text begin (b) A consumer-owned utility has no liability for loss, damage, or injury directly or indirectly caused by a preweatherization measure or energy conservation improvement, unless a consumer-owned utility is determined to have been negligent in purchasing, installing, or modifying a preweatherization measure or energy conservation improvement. new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Criteria for efficient fuel-switching improvements. new text end

new text begin (a) A fuel-switching improvement is deemed efficient if, applying the technical criteria established under section 216B.241, subdivision 1d, paragraph (e), the improvement, relative to the fuel being displaced: new text end

new text begin (1) results in a net reduction in the amount of source energy consumed for a particular use, measured on a fuel-neutral basis; new text end

new text begin (2) results in a net reduction of statewide greenhouse gas emissions, as defined in section 216H.01, subdivision 2, over the lifetime of the improvement. For an efficient fuel-switching improvement installed by an electric consumer-owned utility, the reduction in emissions must be measured based on the hourly emissions profile of the consumer-owned utility or the utility's electricity supplier, as reported in the most recent resource plan approved by the commission under section 216B.2422. If the hourly emissions profile is not available, the commissioner must develop a method consumer-owned utilities must use to estimate that value; new text end

new text begin (3) is cost-effective, considering the costs and benefits from the perspective of the consumer-owned utility, participants, and society; and new text end

new text begin (4) is installed and operated in a manner that improves the consumer-owned utility's system load factor. new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "source energy" means the total amount of primary energy required to deliver energy services, adjusted for losses in generation, transmission, and distribution, and expressed on a fuel-neutral basis. new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Manner of filing and service. new text end

new text begin (a) A consumer-owned utility must submit the filings required under this section to the department using the department's electronic filing system. The commissioner may approve an exemption from this requirement if an affected consumer-owned utility is unable to submit filings via the department's electronic filing system. All other interested parties must submit filings to the department via the department's electronic filing system whenever practicable but may also file by personal delivery or by mail. new text end

new text begin (b) The submission of a document to the department's electronic filing system constitutes service on the department. If a department rule requires service of a notice, order, or other document by the department, a consumer-owned utility, or an interested party upon persons on a service list maintained by the department, service may be made by personal delivery, mail, or electronic service. Electronic service may be made only to persons on the service list that have previously agreed in writing to accept electronic service at an e-mail address provided to the department for electronic service purposes. new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Assessment. new text end

new text begin The commission or department may assess consumer-owned utilities subject to this section to carry out the purposes of section 216B.241, subdivisions 1d, 1e, and 1f. An assessment under this subdivision must be proportionate to a consumer-owned utility's gross operating revenue from sales of gas or electric service in Minnesota during the previous calendar year, as applicable. Assessments under this subdivision are not subject to the cap on assessments under section 216B.62 or any other law. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

deleted text begin Investment, expenditure, and contribution; public utility deleted text end new text begin Large customer facility new text end .

deleted text begin (a) For purposes of this subdivision and subdivision 2, "public utility" has the meaning given it in section 216B.02, subdivision 4. Each public utility shall spend and invest for energy conservation improvements under this subdivision and subdivision 2 the following amounts: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) for a utility that furnishes gas service, 0.5 percent of its gross operating revenues from service provided in the state; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) for a utility that furnishes electric service, 1.5 percent of its gross operating revenues from service provided in the state; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) for a utility that furnishes electric service and that operates a nuclear-powered electric generating plant within the state, two percent of its gross operating revenues from service provided in the state. deleted text end

deleted text begin For purposes of this paragraph (a), "gross operating revenues" do not include revenues from large customer facilities exempted under paragraph (b), or from commercial gas customers that are exempted under paragraph (c) or (e). deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (a) new text end The owner of a large customer facility may petition the commissioner to exempt both electric and gas utilities serving the large customer facility from deleted text begin the investment and expenditure requirements of paragraph (a) deleted text end new text begin contributing to investments and expenditures made under an energy and conservation optimization plan filed under subdivision 2 or section 216B.2403, subdivision 3, new text end with respect to retail revenues attributable to the large customer facility. The filing must include a discussion of the competitive or economic pressures facing the owner of the facility and the efforts taken by the owner to identify, evaluate, and implement energy conservation and efficiency improvements. A filing submitted on or before October 1 of any year must be approved within 90 days and become effective January 1 of the year following the filing, unless the commissioner finds that the owner of the large customer facility has failed to take reasonable measures to identify, evaluate, and implement energy conservation and efficiency improvements. If a facility qualifies as a large customer facility solely due to its peak electrical demand or annual natural gas usage, the exemption may be limited to the qualifying utility if the commissioner finds that the owner of the large customer facility has failed to take reasonable measures to identify, evaluate, and implement energy conservation and efficiency improvements with respect to the nonqualifying utility. Once an exemption is approved, the commissioner may request the owner of a large customer facility to submit, not more often than once every five years, a report demonstrating the large customer facility's ongoing commitment to energy conservation and efficiency improvement after the exemption filing. The commissioner may request such reports for up to ten years after the effective date of the exemption, unless the majority ownership of the large customer facility changes, in which case the commissioner may request additional reports for up to ten years after the change in ownership occurs. The commissioner may, within 180 days of receiving a report submitted under this paragraph, rescind any exemption granted under this paragraph upon a determination that the large customer facility is not continuing to make reasonable efforts to identify, evaluate, and implement energy conservation improvements. A large customer facility that is, under an order from the commissioner, exempt from the investment and expenditure requirements of paragraph (a) as of December 31, 2010, is not required to submit a report to retain its exempt status, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph with respect to ownership changes. No exempt large customer facility may participate in a utility conservation improvement program unless the owner of the facility submits a filing with the commissioner to withdraw its exemption.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end A commercial gas customer that is not a large customer facility and that purchases or acquires natural gas from a public utility having fewer than 600,000 natural gas customers in Minnesota may petition the commissioner to exempt gas utilities serving the commercial gas customer from deleted text begin the investment and expenditure requirements of paragraph (a) deleted text end new text begin contributing to investments and expenditures made under an energy and conservation optimization plan filed under subdivision 2 or section 216B.2403, subdivision 3, new text end with respect to retail revenues attributable to the commercial gas customer. The petition must be supported by evidence demonstrating that the commercial gas customer has acquired or can reasonably acquire the capability to bypass use of the utility's gas distribution system by obtaining natural gas directly from a supplier not regulated by the commission. The commissioner shall grant the exemption if the commissioner finds that the petitioner has made the demonstration required by this paragraph.

deleted text begin (d) The commissioner may require investments or spending greater than the amounts required under this subdivision for a public utility whose most recent advance forecast required under section 216B.2422 or 216C.17 projects a peak demand deficit of 100 megawatts or greater within five years under midrange forecast assumptions. deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end A public utility new text begin , consumer-owned utility, new text end or owner of a large customer facility may appeal a decision of the commissioner under paragraph new text begin (a) or new text end (b) deleted text begin , (c), or (d) deleted text end to the commission under subdivision 2. In reviewing a decision of the commissioner under paragraph new text begin (a) or new text end (b), deleted text begin (c), or (d), deleted text end the commission shall rescind the decision if it finds deleted text begin that the required investments or spending will: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) not result in cost-effective energy conservation improvements; or deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) otherwise deleted text end new text begin the decision is new text end not deleted text begin be deleted text end in the public interest.

new text begin (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a large customer facility or commercial gas customer that is exempt from the investment and expenditure requirements of this section pursuant to an order from the commissioner as of December 31, 2020, is not required to submit additional documentation to maintain the exemption and must not be assessed any costs related to any energy conservation and optimization plan filed under this section or section 216B.2403, including but not limited to costs, incentives, or rates of return associated with investments in programs for efficient fuel-switching improvements. new text end

new text begin (e) A public utility is prohibited from spending for or investing in energy conservation improvements that directly benefit a large energy facility or a large electric customer facility the commissioner has issued an exemption to under this section. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 1c, is amended to read:

Subd. 1c.

new text begin Public utility; new text end energy-saving goals.

(a) The commissioner shall establish energy-saving goals for energy conservation deleted text begin improvement expenditures deleted text end new text begin improvements new text end and shall evaluate an energy conservation improvement program on how well it meets the goals set.

(b) deleted text begin Each individual deleted text end new text begin A public new text end utility deleted text begin and association shall have deleted text end new text begin providing electric service has new text end an annual energy-savings goal equivalent to deleted text begin 1.5 deleted text end new text begin 1.75 new text end percent of gross annual retail energy sales unless modified by the commissioner under paragraph deleted text begin (d). deleted text end new text begin (c). A public utility providing natural gas service has an annual energy-savings goal equivalent to one percent of gross annual retail energy sales, which cannot be lowered by the commissioner. new text end The savings goals must be calculated based on the most recent three-year weather-normalized average. A new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end new text begin providing electric service new text end may elect to carry forward energy savings in excess of deleted text begin 1.5 deleted text end new text begin 1.75 new text end percent for a year to the succeeding three calendar years, except that savings from electric utility infrastructure projects allowed under paragraph (d) may be carried forward for five years. new text begin A public utility providing natural gas service may elect to carry forward energy savings in excess of one percent for a year to the succeeding three calendar years. new text end A particular energy savings can new text begin only new text end be used deleted text begin only for deleted text end new text begin to meet new text end one year's goal.

deleted text begin (c) The commissioner must adopt a filing schedule that is designed to have all utilities and associations operating under an energy-savings plan by calendar year 2010. deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end In its energy conservation deleted text begin improvement deleted text end new text begin and optimization new text end plan filing, a new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end may request the commissioner to adjust its annual energy-savings percentage goal based on its historical conservation investment experience, customer class makeup, load growth, a conservation potential study, or other factors the commissioner determines warrants an adjustment.

new text begin (d) new text end The commissioner may not approve a plan of a public utility that provides for an annual energy-savings goal of less than one percent of gross annual retail energy sales from energy conservation improvements.

deleted text begin A utility or association may include in its energy conservation plan energy savings from deleted text end new text begin The balance of the 1.75 percent annual energy savings goal may be achieved through energy savings from: new text end

new text begin (1) additional energy conservation improvements; new text end

new text begin (2) new text end electric utility infrastructure projects approved by the commission under section 216B.1636 deleted text begin or waste heat recovery converted into electricity projects that may count as energy savings in addition to a minimum energy-savings goal of at least one percent for energy conservation improvements. Energy savings from electric utility infrastructure projects, as defined in section 216B.1636, may be included in the energy conservation plan of a municipal utility or cooperative electric association. Electric utility infrastructure projects must result in increased energy efficiency greater than that which would have occurred through normal maintenance activity. deleted text end new text begin that result in increased efficiency greater than would have occurred through normal maintenance activity; or new text end

new text begin (3) subject to department approval, demand-side natural gas or electric energy displaced by use of waste heat recovered and used as thermal energy, including the recovered thermal energy from a cogeneration or combined heat and power facility. new text end

deleted text begin (e) An energy-savings goal is not satisfied by attaining the revenue expenditure requirements of subdivisions 1a and 1b, but can only be satisfied by meeting the energy-savings goal established in this subdivision. deleted text end

deleted text begin (f) An association or deleted text end new text begin (e) A public new text end utility is not required to make energy conservation investments to attain the energy-savings goals of this subdivision that are not cost-effective even if the investment is necessary to attain the energy-savings goals. For the purpose of this paragraph, in determining cost-effectiveness, the commissioner shall consider new text begin : (1) new text end the costs and benefits to ratepayers, the utility, participants, and society deleted text begin . In addition, the commissioner shall consider deleted text end new text begin ; (2) new text end the rate at which deleted text begin an association or municipal deleted text end new text begin a public new text end utility is increasing new text begin both new text end its energy savings and its expenditures on energy conservation new text begin ; and (3) the public utility's lifetime energy savings and cumulative energy savings new text end .

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end On an annual basis, the commissioner shall produce and make publicly available a report on the annual energy new text begin and capacity new text end savings and estimated carbon dioxide reductions achieved by the deleted text begin energy conservation improvement deleted text end programs new text begin under this section and section 216B.2403 new text end for the two most recent years for which data is available. new text begin The report must also include information regarding any annual energy sales or generation capacity increases resulting from efficient fuel-switching improvements. new text end The commissioner shall report on program performance both in the aggregate and for each entity filing an energy conservation improvement plan for approval or review by the commissioner new text begin , and must estimate progress made toward the statewide energy-savings goal under section 216B.2401 new text end .

deleted text begin (h) By January 15, 2010, the commissioner shall report to the legislature whether the spending requirements under subdivisions 1a and 1b are necessary to achieve the energy-savings goals established in this subdivision. deleted text end

deleted text begin (i) This subdivision does not apply to: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) a cooperative electric association with fewer than 5,000 members; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) a municipal utility with fewer than 1,000 retail electric customers; or deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) a municipal utility with less than 1,000,000,000 cubic feet in annual throughput sales to retail natural gas customers. deleted text end

new text begin (g) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, until July 1, 2026, spending by a public utility subject to this section on efficient fuel-switching improvements to meet energy savings goals under this section must not exceed 0.35 percent per year, averaged over three years, of the public utility's gross annual retail energy sales. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 1d, is amended to read:

Subd. 1d.

Technical assistance.

(a) The commissioner shall evaluate energy conservation improvement programs new text begin filed under this section and section 216B.2403 new text end on the basis of cost-effectiveness and the reliability of the technologies employed. The commissioner shall, by order, establish, maintain, and update energy-savings assumptions that must be used new text begin by utilities new text end when filing energy conservation improvement programs. new text begin The department must track a public utility's or consumer-owned utility's lifetime energy savings and cumulative lifetime energy savings reported in plans submitted under this section and section 216B.2403. new text end

new text begin (b) new text end The commissioner shall establish an inventory of the most effective energy conservation programs, techniques, and technologies, and encourage all Minnesota utilities to implement them, where appropriate deleted text begin , in their service territories deleted text end . The commissioner shall describe these programs in sufficient detail to provide a utility reasonable guidance concerning implementation. The commissioner shall prioritize the opportunities in order of potential energy savings and in order of cost-effectiveness.

new text begin (c) new text end The commissioner may contract with a third party to carry out any of the commissioner's duties under this subdivision, and to obtain technical assistance to evaluate the effectiveness of any conservation improvement program.

new text begin (d) new text end The commissioner may assess up to $850,000 annually for the purposes of this subdivision. The assessments must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the energy and conservation account created under subdivision 2a. An assessment made under this subdivision is not subject to the cap on assessments provided by section 216B.62, or any other law.

deleted text begin (b) Of the assessment authorized under paragraph (a), the commissioner may expend up to $400,000 annually for the purpose of developing, operating, maintaining, and providing technical support for a uniform electronic data reporting and tracking system available to all utilities subject to this section, in order to enable accurate measurement of the cost and energy savings of the energy conservation improvements required by this section. This paragraph expires June 30, 2018. deleted text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner must work with stakeholders to develop technical guidelines that public utilities and consumer-owned utilities must use to: new text end

new text begin (1) determine whether deployment of a fuel-switching improvement meets the criteria established in subdivision 11, paragraph (d); subdivision 12, paragraph (a); or section 216B.2403, subdivision 8, as applicable; and new text end

new text begin (2) calculate the amount of energy saved due to the deployment of a fuel-switching improvement. new text end

new text begin The guidelines must be issued by the commissioner by order no later than March 15, 2022, and must be updated as the commissioner determines is necessary. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 1f, is amended to read:

Subd. 1f.

Facilities energy efficiency.

(a) The commissioner of administration and the commissioner of commerce shall maintain and, as needed, revise the sustainable building design guidelines developed under section 16B.325.

(b) The commissioner of administration and the commissioner of commerce shall maintain and update the benchmarking tool developed under Laws 2001, chapter 212, article 1, section 3, so that all public buildings can use the benchmarking tool to maintain energy use information for the purposes of establishing energy efficiency benchmarks, tracking building performance, and measuring the results of energy efficiency and conservation improvements.

(c) The commissioner shall require that utilities include in their conservation improvement plans programs that facilitate professional engineering verification to qualify a building as Energy Star-labeled, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, or Green Globes-certified. deleted text begin The state goal is to achieve certification of 1,000 commercial buildings as Energy Star-labeled, and 100 commercial buildings as LEED-certified or Green Globes-certified by December 31, 2010. deleted text end

(d) The commissioner may assess up to $500,000 annually for the purposes of this subdivision. The assessments must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the energy and conservation account created under subdivision 2a. An assessment made under this subdivision is not subject to the cap on assessments provided by section 216B.62, or any other law.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 1g, is amended to read:

Subd. 1g.

Manner of filing and service.

(a) A public utility deleted text begin , generation and transmission cooperative electric association, municipal power agency, cooperative electric association, and municipal utility deleted text end shall submit filings to the department via the department's electronic filing system. The commissioner may approve an exemption from this requirement in the event deleted text begin an affected deleted text end new text begin a public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end is unable to submit filings via the department's electronic filing system. All other interested parties shall submit filings to the department via the department's electronic filing system whenever practicable but may also file by personal delivery or by mail.

(b) Submission of a document to the department's electronic filing system constitutes service on the department. Where department rule requires service of a notice, order, or other document by the department, new text begin public new text end utility, deleted text begin association, deleted text end or interested party upon persons on a service list maintained by the department, service may be made by personal delivery, mail, or electronic service, except that electronic service may only be made upon persons on the service list who have previously agreed in writing to accept electronic service at an electronic address provided to the department for electronic service purposes.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

deleted text begin Programs deleted text end new text begin Public utility; energy conservation and optimization plans new text end .

(a) The commissioner may require new text begin a new text end public deleted text begin utilities deleted text end new text begin utility new text end to make investments and expenditures in energy conservation improvements, explicitly setting forth the interest rates, prices, and terms under which the improvements must be offered to the customers. deleted text begin The required programs must cover no more than a three-year period. deleted text end

new text begin (b) A new text end public deleted text begin utilities deleted text end new text begin utility new text end shall file new text begin an energy new text end conservation deleted text begin improvement plans deleted text end new text begin and optimization plan new text end by June 1, on a schedule determined by order of the commissioner, but at least every three years. deleted text begin Plans received deleted text end new text begin As provided in subdivisions 11 to 13, plans may include programs for efficient fuel-switching improvements and load management. An individual utility program may combine elements of energy conservation, load management, or efficient fuel-switching. The plan must estimate the lifetime energy savings and cumulative lifetime energy savings projected to be achieved under the plan. A plan filed new text end by a public utility by June 1 must be approved or approved as modified by the commissioner by December 1 of that same year.

new text begin (c) new text end The commissioner shall evaluate the deleted text begin program deleted text end new text begin plan new text end on the basis of cost-effectiveness and the reliability of technologies employed. The commissioner's order must provide to the extent practicable for a free choice, by consumers participating in deleted text begin the deleted text end new text begin an energy conservation new text end program, of the device, method, material, or project constituting the energy conservation improvement and for a free choice of the seller, installer, or contractor of the energy conservation improvement, provided that the device, method, material, or project seller, installer, or contractor is duly licensed, certified, approved, or qualified, including under the residential conservation services program, where applicable.

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end The commissioner may require a utility subject to subdivision 1c to make an energy conservation improvement investment or expenditure whenever the commissioner finds that the improvement will result in energy savings at a total cost to the utility less than the cost to the utility to produce or purchase an equivalent amount of new supply of energy. deleted text begin The commissioner shall nevertheless ensure that every public utility operate one or more programs under periodic review by the department. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end Each public utility subject to new text begin this new text end subdivision deleted text begin 1a deleted text end may spend and invest annually up to ten percent of the total amount deleted text begin required to be deleted text end spent and invested on energy conservation improvements under this section by the new text begin public new text end utility on research and development projects that meet the definition of energy conservation improvement deleted text begin in subdivision 1 and that are funded directly by the public utility deleted text end .

deleted text begin (d) A public utility may not spend for or invest in energy conservation improvements that directly benefit a large energy facility or a large electric customer facility for which the commissioner has issued an exemption pursuant to subdivision 1a, paragraph (b). deleted text end

new text begin (f) new text end The commissioner shall consider and may require a new text begin public new text end utility to undertake deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin an energy conservation new text end program suggested by an outside source, including a political subdivision, a nonprofit corporation, or community organization.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (g) new text end A new text begin public new text end utility, a political subdivision, or a nonprofit or community organization that has suggested deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin an energy conservation new text end program, the attorney general acting on behalf of consumers and small business interests, or a new text begin public new text end utility customer that has suggested deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin an energy conservation new text end program and is not represented by the attorney general under section 8.33 may petition the commission to modify or revoke a department decision under this section, and the commission may do so if it determines that the new text begin energy conservation new text end program is not cost-effective, does not adequately address the residential conservation improvement needs of low-income persons, has a long-range negative effect on one or more classes of customers, or is otherwise not in the public interest. The commission shall reject a petition that, on its face, fails to make a reasonable argument that deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin an energy conservation new text end program is not in the public interest.

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (h) new text end The commissioner may order a public utility to include, with the filing of the new text begin public new text end utility's annual status report, the results of an independent audit of the new text begin public new text end utility's conservation improvement programs and expenditures performed by the department or an auditor with experience in the provision of energy conservation and energy efficiency services approved by the commissioner and chosen by the new text begin public new text end utility. The audit must specify the energy savings or increased efficiency in the use of energy within the service territory of the new text begin public new text end utility that is the result of the new text begin public utility's new text end spending and investments. The audit must evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the new text begin public new text end utility's conservation programs.

deleted text begin (g) A gas utility may not spend for or invest in energy conservation improvements that directly benefit a large customer facility or commercial gas customer facility for which the commissioner has issued an exemption pursuant to subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), (c), or (e). The commissioner shall consider and may require a utility to undertake a program suggested by an outside source, including a political subdivision, a nonprofit corporation, or a community organization. deleted text end

new text begin (i) The energy conservation and optimization plan of each public utility subject to this section must include activities to improve energy efficiency in public schools served by the utility. As applicable to each public utility, at a minimum the activities must include programs to increase the efficiency of the school's lighting and heating and cooling systems, and to provide for building recommissioning, building operator training, and opportunities to educate students, teachers, and staff regarding energy efficiency measures implemented at the school. new text end

new text begin (j) The commissioner may require investments or spending greater than the amounts proposed in a plan filed under this subdivision or section 216C.17 for a public utility whose most recent advanced forecast required under section 216B.2422 projects a peak demand deficit of 100 megawatts or more within five years under midrange forecast assumptions. new text end

new text begin (k) A public utility filing a conservation and optimization plan that includes an efficient fuel-switching program to achieve the utility's energy savings goal must, as part of the filing, demonstrate by a comparison of greenhouse gas emissions between the fuels that the requirements of subdivisions 11 or 12 are met, as applicable, using a full fuel-cycle energy analysis. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:

Subd. 2b.

Recovery of expenses.

new text begin (a) new text end The commission shall allow a new text begin public new text end utility to recover expenses resulting from deleted text begin a deleted text end new text begin an energy new text end conservation deleted text begin improvement program required deleted text end new text begin and optimization plan approved new text end by the department new text begin under this section new text end and contributions and assessments to the energy and conservation account, unless the recovery would be inconsistent with a financial incentive proposal approved by the commission. deleted text begin The commission shall allow a cooperative electric association subject to rate regulation under section 216B.026, to recover expenses resulting from energy conservation improvement programs, load management programs, and assessments and contributions to the energy and conservation account unless the recovery would be inconsistent with a financial incentive proposal approved by the commission. In addition, deleted text end

new text begin (b) new text end A new text begin public new text end utility may file annually, or the Public Utilities Commission may require the new text begin public new text end utility to file, and the commission may approve, rate schedules containing provisions for the automatic adjustment of charges for utility service in direct relation to changes in the expenses of the new text begin public new text end utility for real and personal property taxes, fees, and permits, the amounts of which the new text begin public new text end utility cannot control. A public utility is eligible to file for adjustment for real and personal property taxes, fees, and permits under this subdivision only if, in the year previous to the year in which it files for adjustment, it has spent or invested at least 1.75 percent of its gross revenues from provision of electric service, excluding gross operating revenues from electric service provided in the state to large electric customer facilities for which the commissioner has issued an exemption under subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), and 0.6 percent of its gross revenues from provision of gas service, excluding gross operating revenues from gas services provided in the state to large electric customer facilities for which the commissioner has issued an exemption under subdivision 1a, paragraph (b), for that year for energy conservation improvements under this section.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Ownership of new text begin preweatherization measure or new text end energy conservation improvement.

deleted text begin An deleted text end new text begin (a) A preweatherization measure or new text end energy conservation improvement made to or installed in a building in accordance with this section, except systems owned by deleted text begin the deleted text end new text begin a public new text end utility and designed to turn off, limit, or vary the delivery of energy, are the exclusive property of the owner of the building except to the extent that the improvement is subjected to a security interest in favor of the new text begin public new text end utility in case of a loan to the building owner.

deleted text begin The deleted text end new text begin (b) A public new text end utility has no liability for loss, damage or injury caused directly or indirectly by deleted text begin an deleted text end new text begin a preweatherization measure or new text end energy conservation improvement except for negligence by the utility in deleted text begin purchase, installation, or modification of the product. deleted text end new text begin purchasing, installing, or modifying a preweatherization measure or energy conservation improvement. new text end

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Efficient lighting program.

(a) Each public utility deleted text begin , cooperative electric association, and municipal deleted text end new text begin and consumer-owned new text end utility that provides electric service to retail customers and is subject to subdivision 1c new text begin or section 216B.2403 new text end shall include as part of its conservation improvement activities a program to strongly encourage the use of deleted text begin LED lamps deleted text end new text begin LEDs new text end . The program must include at least a public information campaign to encourage use of deleted text begin LED lamps deleted text end new text begin LEDs new text end and proper management of spent lamps new text begin and LEDs new text end by all customer classifications.

(b) A public utility that provides electric service at retail to 200,000 or more customers shall establish, either directly or through contracts with other persons, including lamp manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers and local government units, a system to collect for delivery to a reclamation or recycling facility spent fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps from households and from small businesses as defined in section 645.445 that generate an average of fewer than ten spent lamps per year.

(c) A collection system must include establishing reasonably convenient locations for collecting spent lamps from households and financial incentives sufficient to encourage spent lamp generators to take the lamps to the collection locations. Financial incentives may include coupons for purchase of new deleted text begin LED lamps deleted text end new text begin LEDs new text end , a cash back system, or any other financial incentive or group of incentives designed to collect the maximum number of spent lamps from households and small businesses that is reasonably feasible.

(d) A public utility that provides electric service at retail to fewer than 200,000 customers deleted text begin , a cooperative electric association, or a municipal deleted text end new text begin or a consumer-owned new text end utility that provides electric service at retail to customers may establish a collection system under paragraphs (b) and (c) as part of conservation improvement activities required under this section.

(e) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency may not, unless clearly required by federal law, require a public utility deleted text begin , cooperative electric association, or municipality deleted text end new text begin or consumer-owned utility new text end that establishes a household fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamp collection system under this section to manage the lamps as hazardous waste as long as the lamps are managed to avoid breakage and are delivered to a recycling or reclamation facility that removes mercury and other toxic materials contained in the lamps prior to placement of the lamps in solid waste.

(f) If a public utility deleted text begin , cooperative electric association, or municipal deleted text end new text begin or consumer-owned new text end utility contracts with a local government unit to provide a collection system under this subdivision, the contract must provide for payment to the local government unit of all the unit's incremental costs of collecting and managing spent lamps.

(g) All the costs incurred by a public utility deleted text begin , cooperative electric association, or municipal deleted text end new text begin or consumer-owned new text end utility to promote the use of deleted text begin LED lamps deleted text end new text begin LEDs new text end and to deleted text begin collect fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps deleted text end new text begin collect LEDs new text end under this subdivision are conservation improvement spending under this section.

(h) For the purposes of this subdivision, deleted text begin "LED lamp" deleted text end new text begin "LED" new text end means a light-emitting diode deleted text begin lamp that consists of a solid state device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through a semiconductor deleted text end new text begin bulb or lighting product new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Low-income programs.

(a) The commissioner shall ensure that each new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin and association deleted text end subject to subdivision 1c provides deleted text begin low-income deleted text end new text begin energy conservation and efficient fuel-switching new text end programs new text begin to low-income households new text end . When approving spending and energy-savings goals for low-income programs, the commissioner shall consider historic spending and participation levels, energy savings deleted text begin for deleted text end new text begin achieved by new text end low-income programs, and the number of low-income persons residing in the utility's service territory. new text begin Beginning January 1, 2022, new text end a deleted text begin municipal utility that furnishes gas service must spend at least 0.2 percent, and a deleted text end public utility furnishing gas service must spend at least deleted text begin 0.4 deleted text end new text begin one new text end percent deleted text begin , deleted text end of its most recent three-year average gross operating revenue from residential customers in the state on low-income programs. A new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end that furnishes electric service must spend at least deleted text begin 0.1 deleted text end new text begin 0.4 new text end percent of its gross operating revenue from residential customers in the state on low-income programs. deleted text begin For a generation and transmission cooperative association, this requirement shall apply to each association's members' aggregate gross operating revenue from sale of electricity to residential customers in the state. deleted text end Beginning in deleted text begin 2010 deleted text end new text begin 2024 new text end , a new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end that furnishes electric service must spend deleted text begin 0.2 deleted text end new text begin 0.6 new text end percent of deleted text begin its deleted text end new text begin the public utility's new text end gross operating revenue from residential customers in the state on low-income programs.

(b) To meet the requirements of paragraph (a), a new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end may contribute money to the energy and conservation account new text begin established under subdivision 2a new text end . An energy conservation improvement plan must state the amount, if any, of low-income energy conservation improvement funds the new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end will contribute to the energy and conservation account. Contributions must be remitted to the commissioner by February 1 of each year.

(c) The commissioner shall establish low-income new text begin energy conservation new text end programs to utilize deleted text begin money contributed deleted text end new text begin contributions made new text end to the energy and conservation account under paragraph (b). In establishing low-income programs, the commissioner shall consult political subdivisions, utilities, and nonprofit and community organizations, especially organizations deleted text begin engaged in deleted text end providing energy and weatherization assistance to low-income deleted text begin persons deleted text end new text begin households new text end . deleted text begin Money contributed deleted text end new text begin Contributions made new text end to the energy and conservation account under paragraph (b) must provide programs for low-income deleted text begin persons deleted text end new text begin households new text end , including low-income renters, in the service territory of the new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end providing the money. The commissioner shall record and report expenditures and energy savings achieved as a result of low-income programs funded through the energy and conservation account in the report required under subdivision 1c, paragraph deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end . The commissioner may contract with a political subdivision, nonprofit or community organization, public utility, deleted text begin municipality, deleted text end or deleted text begin cooperative electric association deleted text end new text begin consumer-owned utility new text end to implement low-income programs funded through the energy and conservation account.

(d) A new text begin public new text end utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end may petition the commissioner to modify its required spending under paragraph (a) if the utility deleted text begin or association deleted text end and the commissioner have been unable to expend the amount required under paragraph (a) for three consecutive years.

new text begin (e) Representatives of each public utility must participate in the stakeholder group on multifamily building eligibility for low-income energy conservation programs, as provided under section 216B.2403, subdivision 5, paragraph (e). Notwithstanding the definition of low-income household under section 216B.2402, a public utility may apply the most recent guidelines for eligibility of multifamily buildings to participate in low-income energy conservation programs published by the commissioner under section 216B.2403, subdivision 5, paragraph (e). new text end

new text begin (f) Up to 15 percent of a public utility's spending on low-income programs may be spent on preweatherization measures. A public utility is prohibited from claiming energy savings from preweatherization measures toward the public utility's energy savings goal. new text end

new text begin (g) The commissioner must, by order, establish a list of preweatherization measures eligible for inclusion in low-income programs no later than March 15, 2022. new text end

new text begin (h) A public utility may elect to contribute money to the Healthy AIR account under section 216B.2403, subdivision 5, paragraph (h), to provide preweatherization measures to households eligible for weatherization assistance under section 216C.264. Remediation activities must be executed in conjunction with federal weatherization assistance program services. Money contributed to the account counts toward: (1) the minimum low-income spending requirement in paragraph (a); and (2) the cap on preweatherization measures under paragraph (f). new text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (i) new text end The costs and benefits associated with any approved low-income gas or electric conservation improvement program that is not cost-effective when considering the costs and benefits to the new text begin public new text end utility may, at the discretion of the utility, be excluded from the calculation of net economic benefits for purposes of calculating the financial incentive to the new text begin public new text end utility. The energy and demand savings may, at the discretion of the new text begin public new text end utility, be applied toward the calculation of overall portfolio energy and demand savings for purposes of determining progress toward annual goals and in the financial incentive mechanism.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Assessment.

The commission or department may assess new text begin public new text end utilities subject to this section deleted text begin in proportion to their respective deleted text end new text begin to carry out the purposes of subdivisions 1d, 1e, and 1f. An assessment under this subdivision must be proportionate to a public utility's new text end gross operating revenue from sales of gas or electric service within deleted text begin the state deleted text end new text begin Minnesota new text end during the last calendar year deleted text begin to carry out the purposes of subdivisions 1d, 1e, and 1f. Those assessments deleted text end new text begin , as applicable. Assessments made under this subdivision new text end are not subject to the cap on assessments provided by section 216B.62, or any other law.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Programs for efficient fuel-switching improvements; electric utilities. new text end

new text begin (a) A public utility providing electric service at retail may include in the plan required under subdivision 2 programs to implement efficient fuel-switching improvements or combinations of energy conservation improvements, fuel-switching improvements, and load management. For each program, the public utility must provide a proposed budget, an analysis of the program's cost-effectiveness, and estimated net energy and demand savings. new text end

new text begin (b) The department may approve proposed programs for efficient fuel-switching improvements if the department determines the improvements meet the requirements of paragraph (d). For fuel-switching improvements that require the deployment of electric technologies, the department must also consider whether the fuel-switching improvement can be operated in a manner that facilitates the integration of variable renewable energy into the electric system. The net benefits from an efficient fuel-switching improvement that is integrated with an energy efficiency program approved under this section may be counted toward the net benefits of the energy efficiency program, if the department determines the primary purpose and effect of the program is energy efficiency. new text end

new text begin (c) A public utility may file a rate schedule with the commission that provides for annual cost recovery of reasonable and prudent costs to implement and promote efficient fuel-switching programs. The commission may not approve a financial incentive to encourage efficient fuel-switching programs operated by a public utility providing electric service. new text end

new text begin (d) A fuel-switching improvement is deemed efficient if, applying the technical criteria established under section 216B.241, subdivision 1d, paragraph (e), the improvement meets the following criteria, relative to the fuel that is being displaced: new text end

new text begin (1) results in a net reduction in the amount of source energy consumed for a particular use, measured on a fuel-neutral basis; new text end

new text begin (2) results in a net reduction of statewide greenhouse gas emissions as defined in section 216H.01, subdivision 2, over the lifetime of the improvement. For an efficient fuel-switching improvement installed by an electric utility, the reduction in emissions must be measured based on the hourly emission profile of the electric utility, using the hourly emissions profile in the most recent resource plan approved by the commission under section 216B.2422; new text end

new text begin (3) is cost-effective, considering the costs and benefits from the perspective of the utility, participants, and society; and new text end

new text begin (4) is installed and operated in a manner that improves the utility's system load factor. new text end

new text begin (e) For purposes of this subdivision, "source energy" means the total amount of primary energy required to deliver energy services, adjusted for losses in generation, transmission, and distribution, and expressed on a fuel-neutral basis. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Programs for efficient fuel-switching improvements; natural gas utilities. new text end

new text begin (a) As part of a public utility's plan filed under subdivision 2, a public utility that provides natural gas service to Minnesota retail customers may propose one or more programs to install electric technologies that reduce the consumption of natural gas by the utility's retail customers as an energy conservation improvement. The commissioner may approve a proposed program if the commissioner, applying the technical criteria developed under section 216B.241, subdivision 1d, paragraph (e), determines that: new text end

new text begin (1) the electric technology to be installed meets the criteria established under section 216B.241, subdivision 11, paragraph (d), clauses (1) and (2); and new text end

new text begin (2) the program is cost-effective, considering the costs and benefits to ratepayers, the utility, participants, and society. new text end

new text begin (b) If a program is approved by the commission under this subdivision, the public utility may count the program's energy savings toward its energy savings goal under section 216B.241, subdivision 1c. Notwithstanding section 216B.2402, subdivision 4, efficient fuel-switching achieved through programs approved under this subdivision is energy conservation. new text end

new text begin (c) A public utility may file rate schedules with the commission that provide annual cost-recovery for programs approved by the department under this subdivision, including reasonable and prudent costs to implement and promote the programs. new text end

new text begin (d) The commission may approve, modify, or reject a proposal made by the department or a utility for an incentive plan to encourage efficient fuel-switching programs approved under this subdivision, applying the considerations established under section 216B.16, subdivision 6c, paragraphs (b) and (c). The commission may approve a financial incentive mechanism that is calculated based on the combined energy savings and net benefits that the commission has determined have been achieved by a program approved under this subdivision, provided the commission determines that the financial incentive mechanism is in the ratepayers' interest. new text end

new text begin (e) A public utility is not eligible for a financial incentive for an efficient fuel-switching program under this subdivision in any year in which the utility achieves energy savings below one percent of gross annual retail energy sales, excluding savings achieved through fuel-switching programs. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Cost-effective load management programs. new text end

new text begin (a) A public utility may include in the utility's plan required under subdivision 2 programs to implement load management activities, or combinations of energy conservation improvements, fuel-switching improvements, and load management activities. For each program the public utility must provide a proposed budget, cost-effectiveness analysis, and estimated net energy and demand savings. new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may approve a proposed program if the commissioner determines the program is cost-effective, considering the costs and benefits to ratepayers, the utility, participants, and society. new text end

new text begin (c) A public utility providing retail electric service to Minnesota customers may file rate schedules with the commission that provide for annual cost recovery of reasonable and prudent costs incurred to implement and promote cost-effective load management programs approved by the department under this subdivision. new text end

new text begin (d) The commission may approve, modify, or reject a proposal made by the department or a public utility for an incentive plan to encourage investments in load management programs. The commission may approve a proposal that the commission determines: new text end

new text begin (1) is needed to increase the public utility's investment in cost-effective load management; new text end

new text begin (2) is compatible with the interest of the public utility's ratepayers; and new text end

new text begin (3) links the incentive to the public utility's performance in achieving cost-effective load management. new text end

new text begin (e) The commission may structure an incentive plan to encourage cost-effective load management programs as an asset on which a public utility earns a rate of return at a level the commission determines is reasonable and in the public interest. new text end

new text begin (f) The commission may include the net benefits from a load management activity integrated with an energy efficiency program approved under this section in the net benefits of the energy efficiency program for purposes of a financial incentive program under section 216B.16, subdivision 6c, if the department determines the primary purpose of the load management activity is energy efficiency. new text end

new text begin (g) A public utility is not eligible for a financial incentive for a load management program in any year in which the utility achieves energy savings below one percent of gross annual retail energy sales, excluding savings achieved through load management programs. new text end

new text begin (h) The commission may include net benefits from a particular load management activity in an incentive plan under this subdivision or section 216B.16, subdivision 6c, but not both. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 19.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, subdivisions 1, 1b, 2c, 4, and 10, new text end new text begin are repealed. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor May 21, 2021

Signed by the governor May 25, 2021, 8:20 a.m.