reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MN Stat § 216B.1642 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.1642 — Solar Site Management.

216B.1642 SOLAR SITE MANAGEMENT. Subdivision 1. Site management practices.  An owner of a ground-mounted solar site with a generating capacity of more than 40 kilowatts may follow site management practices that (1) provide native perennial vegetation and foraging habitat beneficial to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators, and (2) reduce storm water runoff and erosion at the solar generation site. To the extent practicable, when establishing perennial vegetation and beneficial foraging habitat, a solar site owner shall use native plant species and seed mixes under Department of Natural Resources "Prairie Establishment & Maintenance Technical Guidance for Solar Projects." Subd. 2. Recognition of beneficial habitat. An owner of a solar site implementing solar site management practices under this section may claim that the site provides benefits to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators only if the site adheres to guidance set forth by the pollinator plan provided by the Board of Water and Soil Resources or any other game bird, songbird, or pollinator foraging-friendly vegetation standard established by the Board of Water and Soil Resources. An owner making a beneficial habitat claim must: (1) make the site's vegetation management plan available to the public; (2) provide a copy of the plan to a Minnesota nonprofit solar industry trade association; and (3) report on its site management practices to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, on a standard reporting form developed by the board for solar site management practices, by June 1, 2020, and every third year thereafter. An owner that enters into operation after June 1, 2019, must report to the board on the progress made toward establishing beneficial habitat on or before June 1 of the year after operations commence and every third year thereafter. History:  2016 c 181 s 1; 2016 c 184 s 9; 1Sp2019 c 7 art 11 s 3
MN Stat § 216B.1646 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.1646 — Rate Reduction; Property Tax Reduction.

216B.1646 RATE REDUCTION; PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION. (a) The commission shall, by any method the commission finds appropriate, reduce the rates each electric utility subject to rate regulation by the commission charges its customers to reflect, on an ongoing basis, the amount by which each utility's property tax on the personal property of its electric system from taxes payable in 2001 to taxes payable in 2002 is reduced. The commission must ensure that, to the extent feasible, each dollar of personal property tax reduction allocated to Minnesota consumers retroactive to January 1, 2002, results in a dollar of savings to the utility's customers. A utility may voluntarily pass on any additional property tax savings allocated in the same manner as approved by the commission under this paragraph. (b) By April 10, 2002, each utility shall submit a filing to the commission containing: (1) certified information regarding the utility's property tax savings allocated to Minnesota retail customers; and (2) a proposed method of passing these savings on to Minnesota retail customers. The utility shall provide the information in clause (1) to the commissioner of revenue at the same time. The commissioner shall notify the commission within 30 days as to the accuracy of the property tax data submitted by the utility. (c) For purposes of this section, "personal property" means tools, implements, and machinery of the generating plant. It does not apply to transformers, transmission lines, distribution lines, or any other tools, implements, and machinery that are part of an electric substation, wherever located. History:  1Sp2001 c 5 art 3 s 11; 2002 c 377 art 4 s 3; 2002 c 398 s 2; 2002 c 400 s 12
MN Stat § 216B.1647 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.1647 — Property Tax Adjustment; Cooperative Association.

216B.1647 PROPERTY TAX ADJUSTMENT; COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION. A cooperative electric association that has elected to be subject to rate regulation under section 216B.026 is eligible to file with the commission for approval an adjustment for real and personal property taxes, fees, and permits. History:   2016 c 189 art 6 s 5
MN Stat § 216B.166 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.166 — Cogenerating Power Plant.

216B.166 COGENERATING POWER PLANT. Subdivision 1. Findings. The legislature finds and declares that significant public benefits may be derived from the cogeneration of electrical and thermal energy and that cogenerated district heating may result in improved utilization and conservation of fuel, the substitution of coal for scarce oil and natural gas, the substitution of domestic fuel for imported fuel, and the establishment of a reliable, competitively priced heat source. Since the cost of cogenerated thermal energy is dependent upon the method used to allocate costs between the production of electric and thermal energy at a power plant, and because the method of cost allocation can be a significant factor in determining investment in district heating, it is necessary to develop cost allocation methods rapidly. Subd. 2. Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings given. (a) "Cogeneration" means a combined process whereby electrical and thermal energy are simultaneously produced by a public utility power plant. (b) "District heating" means a process whereby thermal energy is distributed within a community for use as a primary heat source. (c) "District heating utility" means any person, corporation, or other legal entity which owns and operates a facility for district heating. Subd. 3. Cost allocation. The methods used to allocate or assign costs between electrical and thermal energy produced by cogeneration power plants owned by public utilities shall be consistent with the following principles: (a) The method used shall result in a cost per unit of electricity which is no greater than the cost per unit which would exist if the power plants owned by the public utility had been normally constructed and operated without cogenerating capability. (b) Costs which the public utility incurs for the exclusive benefit of the district heating utility, including but not limited to backup and peaking facilities, shall be assigned to thermal energy produced by cogeneration. (c) The methods and procedures may be different for retrofitted than for new cogeneration power plants. (d) The methods should encourage cogeneration while preventing subsidization by electric consumers so that both heating and electricity consumers are treated fairly and equitably with respect to the costs and benefits of cogeneration. History:   1981 c 334 s 9
MN Stat § 216B.1681 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.1681 — Curtailment Payments.

216B.1681 CURTAILMENT PAYMENTS. The commission shall conduct a study of curtailment payments for wind energy projects to assess whether utilities are unduly discriminating among project ownership structures in regard to the contractual availability of curtailment payments. The commission shall submit the study to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy policy by January 15, 2008. History:   2007 c 136 art 4 s 9
MN Stat § 216B.169 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.169 — Renewable And High-efficiency Energy Rate Options.

216B.169 RENEWABLE AND HIGH-EFFICIENCY ENERGY RATE OPTIONS. Subdivision 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them. (a) "Utility" means a public utility, municipal utility, or cooperative electric association providing electric service at retail to Minnesota consumers. (b) "Renewable energy" has the meaning given in section 216B.2422, subdivision 1, paragraph (c). (c) "High-efficiency, low-emissions, distributed generation" means a distributed generation facility of no more than ten megawatts of interconnected capacity that is certified by the commissioner under subdivision 3 as a high-efficiency, low-emissions facility. Subd. 2. Renewable and high-efficiency energy rate options. (a) A utility may offer its customers one or more options that allow a customer to determine that a certain amount of the electricity generated or purchased on behalf of the customer is renewable energy or energy generated by high-efficiency, low-emissions, distributed generation such as fuel cells and microturbines fueled by a renewable fuel. (b) Rates charged to customers must be calculated using the utility's cost of acquiring the energy for the customer and must: (1) reflect the difference between the cost of generating or purchasing the additional renewable energy and the cost that would otherwise be attributed to the customer for the same amount of energy based on the utility's mix of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources; and (2) be distributed on a per kilowatt-hour basis among all customers who choose to participate in the program. (c) The utility may acquire the energy demanded by customers, in whole or in part, through procuring or generating the renewable energy directly, or through the purchase of credits from a provider that has received certification of eligible power supply pursuant to subdivision 3. (d) For the purposes of this section, "renewable energy" has the meaning given to "eligible energy technology" in section 216B.1691, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), but does not include energy recovered from combustion of mixed municipal solid waste or refuse-derived fuel from mixed municipal solid waste. Subd. 3. Certification and tradable credits. (a) The commissioner shall certify a power supply or supplies as eligible to satisfy customer requirements under this section upon finding: (1) the power supply is renewable energy or energy generated by high-efficiency, low-emissions, distributed generation; and (2) the sales arrangements of energy from the supplies are such that the power supply is only sold once to retail consumers. (b) To facilitate compliance with this section, the commission may, by order, establish a program for tradable credits for eligible power supplies. History:  2001 c 212 art 8 s 2; 2007 c 3 s 3; 2009 c 110 s 12,38
MN Stat § 216B.18 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.18 — Service Of Notice.

216B.18 SERVICE OF NOTICE. Service of notice of all hearings, investigations, and proceedings pending before the commission and of complaints, reports, orders, and other documents must be made personally, by electronic service as provided in section 216.17, or by mail as the commission may direct. Regulated utilities and state agencies must provide an electronic address to the commission for electronic service purposes and agree to accept electronic service as official service. History:  1974 c 429 s 18; 2007 c 10 s 4; 2013 c 135 art 3 s 20
MN Stat § 216B.19 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.19 — Joint Hearing And Investigation.

216B.19 JOINT HEARING AND INVESTIGATION. In the discharge of its duties under Laws 1974, chapter 429, the commission or the department may cooperate with similar commissions of other states and any federal agency and may hold joint hearings and make joint investigations with other commissions. History:  1974 c 429 s 19; 1980 c 614 s 114
MN Stat § 216B.20 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.20 — Separate Rate Hearing.

216B.20 SEPARATE RATE HEARING. The commission may, in its discretion, when complaint is made of more than one rate or charge, order separate hearings thereon, and may consider and determine the several matters complained of separately and at times it may prescribe. History:   1974 c 429 s 20
MN Stat § 216B.21 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.21 — Summary Investigation.

216B.21 SUMMARY INVESTIGATION. Subdivision 1. Authority. Whenever the commission has reason to believe that any rate or charge may be unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory or that any service is inadequate or cannot be obtained or that an investigation of any matter relating to any public utility should for any reason be made, it may on its own motion summarily investigate the same with or without notice. Subd. 2. Formal hearing. If, after making the summary investigation, the commission becomes satisfied that sufficient grounds exist to warrant a formal hearing being ordered as to the matters investigated, it shall set a time and place for a hearing. Subd. 3. Notice. Notice of the time and place for the hearing shall be made as provided in sections 216B.17 and 216B.18. History:   1974 c 429 s 21
MN Stat § 216B.22 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.22 — Municipality; Amicus Curiae Authority.

216B.22 MUNICIPALITY; AMICUS CURIAE AUTHORITY. Any municipality that regulates and controls the exercise of a public utility franchise by reason of its home rule charter on January 1, 1975, is authorized to assist the Public Utilities Commission as amicus curiae in any proceeding brought before the commission with respect to the rates, fares, prices, regulation, or control of any utility operating therein. History:  1974 c 429 s 22; 1980 c 614 s 123
MN Stat § 216B.23 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.23 — Lawful Rate; Reasonable Service.

216B.23 LAWFUL RATE; REASONABLE SERVICE. Subdivision 1. Determination as to rate; order. Whenever upon an investigation made under the provisions of Laws 1974, chapter 429, the commission shall find rates, tolls, charges, schedules or joint rates to be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, or unjustly discriminatory or preferential or otherwise unreasonable or unlawful, the commission shall determine and by order fix reasonable rates, tolls, charges, schedules, or joint rates to be imposed, observed, and followed in the future in lieu of those found to be unreasonable or unlawful. Subd. 1a. Authority to issue refund. (a) On determining that a public utility has charged a rate in violation of this chapter, a commission rule, or a commission order, the commission, after conducting a proceeding, may require the public utility to refund to its customers, in a manner approved by the commission, any revenues the commission finds were collected as a result of the unlawful conduct. Any refund authorized by this section is permitted in addition to any remedies authorized by section 216B.16 or any other law governing rates. Exercising authority under this section does not preclude the commission from pursuing penalties under sections 216B.57 to 216B.61 for the same conduct. (b) This section must not be construed as allowing: (1) retroactive ratemaking; (2) refunds based on claims that prior or current approved rates have been unjust, unreasonable, unreasonably preferential, discriminatory, insufficient, inequitable, or inconsistent in application to a class of customers; or (3) refunds based on claims that approved rates have not encouraged energy conservation or renewable energy use, or have not furthered the goals of section 216B.164, 216B.241, or 216C.05. (c) A refund under this subdivision does not apply to revenues collected more than six years before the date of the notice of the commission proceeding required under this subdivision. Subd. 2. Finding as to service; order. Whenever the commission shall find any regulations, measurements, practices, acts, or service to be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, preferential, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise unreasonable or unlawful, or shall find that any service which can be reasonably demanded cannot be obtained, the commission shall determine and by order fix reasonable measurements, regulations, acts, practices, or service to be furnished, imposed, observed and followed in the future in lieu of those found to be unreasonable, inadequate, or otherwise unlawful, and shall make any other order respecting the measurement, regulation, act, practice, or service as shall be just and reasonable. Subd. 3. Copy of order served; notice. A copy of the order shall be served upon the person against whom it runs or the person's attorney, and notice thereof shall be given to the other parties to the proceedings or their attorneys. History:  1974 c 429 s 23; 1986 c 444; 2009 c 110 s 14
MN Stat § 216B.24 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.24 — Construction Of Major Facility; Filing Plans.

216B.24 CONSTRUCTION OF MAJOR FACILITY; FILING PLANS. Subdivision 1. Major utility facility defined. The words "major utility facility" means: (1) electric generating plant and associated facilities designed for, or capable of, operation at a capacity of 50 megawatts or more; (2) an electric transmission line and associated facilities of a design capacity of 125 kilovolts or more; and (3) a gas transmission line and associated facilities designed for, or capable of, transporting gas at pressures in excess of 125 pounds per square inch; provided, however, that the words "major utility facility" shall not include electric or gas distribution lines and gas gathering lines and associated facilities as defined by the commission. Subd. 2. Construction plan filed; rules. Under rules as the commission may prescribe, every public utility shall file with the commission, within the time and in the form as the commission may designate, plans showing any contemplated construction of major utility facilities. Subd. 3. Applicability to municipalities. The provisions of this section shall apply to the construction of major utility facilities by a municipally owned gas or electric utility. History:  1974 c 429 s 24; 1985 c 248 s 70
MN Stat § 216B.2401 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.2401 — Energy Savings And Optimization Policy Goal.

216B.2401 ENERGY SAVINGS AND OPTIMIZATION POLICY GOAL. (a) The legislature finds that energy savings are an energy resource, and that cost-effective energy savings are preferred over all other energy resources. 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. The legislature further finds that cost-effective energy savings and load management programs 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 equivalent to at least 2.5 percent of annual retail energy sales of electricity and natural gas through multiple measures, including but not limited to: (1) cost-effective energy conservation improvement programs and efficient fuel-switching utility programs under sections 216B.2402 to 216B.241; (2) rate design; (3) energy efficiency achieved by energy consumers without direct utility involvement; (4) advancements in statewide energy codes and cost-effective appliance and equipment standards; (5) programs designed to transform the market or change consumer behavior; (6) energy savings resulting from efficiency improvements to the utility infrastructure and system; and (7) other efforts to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation. (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. (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. History:  2007 c 136 art 2 s 4; 2010 c 361 art 5 s 8; 2011 c 97 s 17; 2013 c 85 art 12 s 2; 2021 c 29 s 2
MN Stat § 216B.2412 (2021)
2021 Minnesota Statutes|Chapters 216 - 217 — Utilities|Chapter 216B — Public Utilities|Section 216B.2412 — Decoupling Of Energy Sales From Revenues.

216B.2412 DECOUPLING OF ENERGY SALES FROM REVENUES. Subdivision 1. Definition and purpose. For the purpose of this section, "decoupling" means a regulatory tool designed to separate a utility's revenue from changes in energy sales. The purpose of decoupling is to reduce a utility's disincentive to promote energy efficiency. Subd. 2. Decoupling criteria. The commission shall, by order, establish criteria and standards for decoupling. The commission may establish these criteria and standards in a separate proceeding or in a general rate case or other proceeding in which it approves a pilot program, and shall design the criteria and standards to mitigate the impact on public utilities of the energy-savings goals under section 216B.241 without adversely affecting utility ratepayers. In designing the criteria, the commission shall consider energy efficiency, weather, and cost of capital, among other factors. Subd. 3. Pilot programs. The commission shall allow one or more rate-regulated utilities to participate in a pilot program to assess the merits of a rate-decoupling strategy to promote energy efficiency and conservation. Each pilot program must utilize the criteria and standards established in subdivision 2 and be designed to determine whether a rate-decoupling strategy achieves energy savings. On or before a date established by the commission, the commission shall require electric and gas utilities that intend to implement a decoupling program to file a decoupling pilot plan, which shall be approved or approved as modified by the commission. A pilot program may not exceed three years in length. Any extension beyond three years can only be approved in a general rate case, unless that decoupling program was previously approved as part of a general rate case. History:  2007 c 136 art 2 s 6; 2009 c 110 s 21; 1Sp2021 c 4 art 8 s 18