6.1a ERMUSR 02-14-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The LEC is currently working on the 2025 Minne- continuing conservation improvements throughout sota Energy Planning Project. This process started the state. DER agreed that it was time for a new in July 2015. The LEC Taskforce finished designing study since the last study was over five years old. its Action Plan in late summer of 2016 to identify A Request for Proposals to conduct the study was key areas to drive the state forward toward a 2025 issued by DER with the study to commence in 2017. energy future. The areas of discussion were Trans- portation; Electricity Supply and Grid Modern- Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) ization; Efficient Buildings and Thermal Energy; study groups Industry and Agriculture; and Local Planning. MMUA participated in study groups on Smart Grid The group and its stakeholder committee held two Technologies, cyber security, advancing solar op- meetings in 2016. portunities and development of possible changes to the state's distributed generation interconnection e21 Initiative standard. The e21 Initiative, convened by the Great Plains Institute and the Center for Energy and Environ- Clean Power Plan (EPA) ment, "aims to develop a more customer-centric MMUA met with the MPCA and a stakeholder and sustainable framework for utility regulation, group throughout the year to discuss compliance that better aligns how utilities earn revenue with with the proposed Clean Power Plan issued in public policy goals, new customer expectations, and 2014. The Final Rule was released by the EPA in the changing technology landscape." The initiative 2015 with the CPP publication in the Federal Reg- brings together a wide variety of interests to accom- ister in October of that year. MMUA was an active plish the above-stated goal and"enable Minnesota participant in the stakeholder process to define and to continue to lead in shaping an electric system guide the State Plan. for the 21st century." Phase II started in January of 2015, with meetings occurring monthly or more Along with the MPCA Stakeholder group, many often in 2016. No consensus on reaching goals was sub-group meetings were held to help guide the reached by November and the report was delayed larger stakeholder process. MMUA was active with for re-writes. multiple groups as the details of the rule were be- ing developed. With the outcome of the November Minnesota Division of Energy Resources (DER): election, the future of the CPP is in doubt. Workshops were held and are continuing on multi- ple aspects of regulatory policy guidance including: Other efforts Jagusch presented to the Midwest Governors As- •Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) im- sociation on the Research and Development efforts provements for public power utilities with stake- of the public power community. holders from the Minnesota Legislature, DER, The Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE) Jagusch continued as a member of the American and the University of Minnesota Clean Energy Re- Public Power Association's Demonstration of En- source Teams (CERTs). This process was a continu- ergy and Efficiency Developments (DEED) Board ing discussion from Legislation proposed by MMUA of Directors and is public power's representative on in 2015. Though no formal changes have been made the National Energy Efficiency Registry, which is to the rule, the process has allowed a free flow of developing a national trade desk for energy efficien- ideas among the stakeholders. cy credits. Jagusch also served as a member of the Minnesota Energy Storage Alliance and the Divi- •Combined Heat and Power (CHP). This is another sion of Energy Resources CIP Advisory Group. He multi-year stakeholder group that is struggling also worked with the National Renewable Energy with the development of standby charges for CHP Laboratory (NREL), to develop a cyber security projects. The group is working through the multiple framework for small public power utilities. proposed standby tariff formulas that the IOUs and Dakota Electric have proposed. This process will Jagusch also served as staff support for the Solar continue in 2017. Distributed Generation Task Force, the Minnesota Municipal Gas Association (an MMUA sister orga- •Conservation Potential Study. This was a proposal nization) and also for the Midwest Consortium of from MMUA and MREA to study the potential for Municipal Utilities, MMUA's financing arm. 10-2016 Year in Review 149