PUC meeting on CETF’s and NoCapX’s Petitions for Reconsideration

Posted on | July 22, 2009 |

On July 14 the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission met concerning Petitions for Reconsideration brought by CETF and NoCapX2020.

1. The PUC quickly decided not to reconsider any of the issues CETF or the NoCapX group asked to reconsider.
2. Regarding the Office of Energy Security petition for removal of wind conditions on the Brookings Line:The PUC’s May 22nd 3-2 vote on wind conditions for the Brookings line made the decision vulnerable to reconsideration. The Commissioners at first discussed  removing the conditions entirely, citing “unintended consequences” of their decision on costs for energy generating companies. However, after our attorney, Paula Maccabee argued from details in the record, that cost allocation was not affected by the wind condition decision, the PUC decided they would only change wind conditions if and when the Applicants came back to them with a separate order showing why the conditions could not work. Paula’s comment from the hearing:“It was heartening to know that a big part of the reason why the wind conditions weren’t rejected entirely was the fact that citizens had been promised that the Brookings line was for wind. By the end of the discussion, even some of the least supportive commissioners were making CETF’s point.”

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