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Last Updated: April 2007
09/00:
A report by the Minnesota Department of Commerce recommended changes in
the State's power industry but not full electric competition. The report,
entitled "Keeping the Lights On: Securing Minnesota's Energy Future"
stated that the Department would not recommend implementation of full retail
electric competition because of potential shortfalls in available energy. The
Department estimates that by 2006 the Midwest could encounter an energy
shortfall of 5,000 MW, and in its report proposes a change in the tax structure
to promote the building of new power plants. The report also included
suggestions for mandated statewide energy planning, increased energy
conservation, and competition on the wholesale level. Fourteen public meetings
on the proposal were scheduled across the state through the end of October 2000.
01/00: The Minnesota Legislative Electric Energy Task Force's January 2000 report confirmed that there is still no underlying consensus among stakeholders as to whether the state should restructure. However, most stakeholders believed that restructuring in Minnesota is inevitable and that there are many areas of consensus in terms of the broad issues. The report recommended that the task force's term be extended beyond its current expiration date of June 30, 2000. The task force also recommended that the staff draft a restructuring plan or outline restructuring options to assist the legislature in its determination of whether and how Minnesota should restructure.
05/99: The PUC issued an "order initiating development of unbundling program and opening new investigation docket." The purpose of this order was "to investigate issues of unbundling/retail choice/restructuring in the gas and electric utilities industries." The PUC scheduled the development of a program by January 2001, and presented it to the Legislature for consideration.
01/99: The Minnesota Legislative Electric Energy Task Force's January 1999 report recommended that a continued study of electric restructuring issues. A 1999 work plan was drafted and a report was scheduled to be completed in January 2000.
04/98: House File 3654 (Chapter 380 of the Laws of Minnesota 1998) established technical advisory work groups within the task force to study "bulk power system reliability, infrastructure, and regulation issues; distribution reliability, safety, and maintenance issues; energy prices and price protection mechanisms issues; and universal service issues." The groups were tasked with preparing a report for the full task force to review by November 30, 1998, and the task force was scheduled to present a report to the Legislature by January 15, 1999.
01/98: The Minnesota Legislative Electric Energy Task Force released its 1998 report to the Legislature, and recommended against acting on electric industry restructuring in the 1998 session. It also recommended further study of the issues with a report due January 1999.
10/97: The PUC issued a report that reflected the discussions held by the Minnesota PUC Electric Competition Work Group from February 1996 to October 1997. The report identified restructuring issues and is intended as a starting point for state policy makers and stakeholders to restructure the electric industry.
05/97: The Legislature amended the role of The Minnesota Legislative Electric Energy Task Force to review and analyze issues related to electric power industry restructuring with the passage of Senate File 1820 (Chapter 191 of the Laws of Minnesota 1997). A report was scheduled to be due in January 1998.