This may be the last meaningful opportunity to influence S.F. 1735. Suggestions:
Call/Email Sen. John Marty asking him to WITHDRAW S.F 1735, the Xcel deregulation bill, but act to defend the Community Solar Garden law: (651) 296-5645, jmarty@senate.mn
Contact the members of the Committee on Rules and Administration. Especially the Chair, Tom Bakk, 651-296-8881. Ask them NOT to approve S.F. 1735
Ask Attorney General Lori Swanson to stand up for ratepayers and OPPOSE S.F. 1735: (651) 296-3353 or 1-800-657-3787, Attorney.General@ag.state.mn.us.
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There are so many bad things happening in the Minnesota Legislature, and so few good things, that one is tempted to give up in disgust, but:
This bill, S.F. 1735, “Public utilities performance-based multiyear rate plans authorization,” has a huge potential to cost Minnesotan billions with no public benefit.
“The breadth and depth of NSP’s [Xcel’s] current efforts to gut the utility regulatory process and impose its will on Minnesota energy policy is breathtaking. Stand by for more details on this. And: expect some really horrible legislation to sneaked through the Minnesota Legislature.”
On March 18th I wrote:
“RED ALERT: oppose mega-horrible utility deregulation bills“
On March 19th I wrote:
See also Carol Overland’s March 18th post:
The essence of of S.F. 1735, and it’s House equivalent H.F. 1315, is to replace “rate cases,” proceedings in which Xcel and other utilities have to PROVE UP their need for increased electric rates, with informal, essentially bogus, proceedings controlled by Xcel and other utilities.
“…the [Public Utilities] Commission shall approve by order a set of performance metrics … and the associated incentive mechanisms after receiving recommendations from a stakeholder group that must include the utility ….”
The basic idea is that Xcel and other utilities will behave better–support more energy conservation, for example–if allowed to do what they want, free of meaningful regulation. The absurdity of this is well-illustrated by how Xcel is behaving now in regard to the Community Solar Gardens authorized in the last legislative session:
From the Star-Tribune, April 28th (The STRIB always seems to give Xcel the benefit of the doubt):
“Xcel Energy wants size limits on its Minnesota community solar gardens
Xcel Energy Inc., alarmed that its Minnesota community solar program has unleashed large-scale corporate solar development, on Tuesday said it will enforce size limits on projects — a controversial step that would cancel more than 80 percent of those proposed so far.”
Solar developers are more explicit:
“Dustin Denison, board chair of Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA), said the filing shows Xcel’s ‘defiance of the PUC and defiance of state statute…this is their third or fourth attempt to stop a train that has left the station.'”
It seems that if Senator Marty and his colleagues were more focused on the public interest they would be working to hold Xcel to the present law, rather than advancing giveaways.
The committee hearings and actions for S.F 1735 are here. To summarize, Marty’s environment and energy committee has held two hearings on the bill:
On March 19th two Xcel lobbyists, Bill Grant from the Department of Commerce–Commerce apparently wrote the bill–, and Mike Bull, from an Xcel front called “Center for Energy and Environment,” testified for the bill.
Testimony in opposition came from Asst. Attorney General James Canaday, Carol Overland, and Alan Muller (me).
Others testified “with concerns.”
On April 14th, Marty brought S.F. 1735 back up. Xcel lobbyist Rick Evans and Mike Bull (of course) testified in support. Wayne Brandt of Minnesota Forest Industries testified in opposition. Others testified “with concerns” or in partial support. (I was not there but would have testified in opposition.)
Note that no organizations representing Minnesota ratepayers testified against S.F. 1735. I don’t know whether such organizations no longer exist in Minnesota or if they do exist but Xcel has bought them off, or ….
Now: S.F. 1735 is before the Committee on Rules and Administration
Chair: Sen. Thomas M. Bakk
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
10:30 a.m.
Room 112 Capitol
This may be the last meaningful opportunity to influence S.F. 1735. Suggestions:
Call/Email Sen. John Marty asking him to WITHDRAW S.F 1735, the Xcel deregulation bill, but act to defend the Community Solar Garden law: (651) 296-5645, jmarty@senate.mn
Contact the members of the Committee on Rules and Administration. Especially the Chair, Tom Bakk, 651-296-8881.
Ask Attorney General Lori Swanson to stand up for ratepayers and OPPOSE S.F. 1735: (651) 296-3353 or 1-800-657-3787, Attorney.General@ag.state.mn.us.
(Note: it is not clear that the bill as posted on the Senate website includes all amendments.)
[…] the initial hearing on the giveaway bills, only three parties testified against: Carol Overland, Alan Muller (me), and Mr. James Canaday […]