Minnesota like many other states has statutes allowing for compensation to qualifying participants in certain Public Utilities Commission dockets.
Who is likely to qualify for compensation
Eligible nonprofit organizations
Federally recognized Indian Tribes located in Minnesota
What is the process
To qualify for the compensation, a participant must file a request that meets the relevant criteria in statute. This request must be filed in the docket where a participant is seeking compensation for their participation and served on each party to that docket.
The Commission will consider the petition in relation to the law and decide on the petition and the amount requested.
Participant compensation requests may be referred to the Commission’s Participant Compensation Subcommittee for decision unless a participant requests that the matter not go to the subcommittee.
Which types of dockets qualify
Dockets related to:
Rates – rate cases, rate riders, and other requests related to cost recovery, utility tariffs
Protections - Rate payer protections, service quality, disconnection policies, low-income affordability
Utility performance plans
Distribution planning and grid modernization
Pilot programs that cost $5M or more
Some types dockets do not qualify, for instance:
Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs)
Energy infrastructure siting and routing dockets
Citation
Participant compensation is in Minn. Stat. § 216B.631
