State of Minnesota Thirty-third Meeting
House of Representatives Eighty-Sixth Session
Energy Finance and Policy Division
Representative Bill Hilty, Chair, called the thirty-third meeting to order at 2:58 p.m. on February 17, 2010 in the Basement hearing room of the State office Building.
The Clerk noted the roll.
Members present:
Hilty, Bill
Falk, Andrew
Westrom, Torrey
Anderson, Bruce
Atkins, Joe
Beard, Michael
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Gunther, Bob
Hackbarth, Tom
Hoppe, Joe
HORTMAN, Melissa
Johnson, Sheldon
Kalin, Jeremy
Knuth, Kate
Kulick Jackson, Gail
Magnus, Doug
Nornes, Bud
Obermueller, Mike
Persell, John
Sailer, Brita
SEIFERT, Marty
Welti, Andy
A quorum was not present.
3:01 a quorum was present.
HF2798 (Hilstrom) Interim rates approval process revised for public utilities; disclosure required of travel, entertainment, and related expenses.
Handout. "Overview of Interim Rates" MN Public Utilities Commission (Slides).
Dr. Burl Haar, Executive Secretary
Public Utility Commission
651-201-2222 (w) | 651.297.7073 (fax) |
Burl.Haar@state.mn.us
121 7th Place E., Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101-2147 | 651.296.7124
www.puc.state.mn.us
Dr. Haar explained the PUC rate case procedures.
Members asked questions.
Rep. Hilty moved that HF2798 be recommended to pass and be returned to the Committee on Finance.
Rep. Hilstrom presented HF2798.
3:19 p.m.
Testifying in favor of the bill:
Handout: "Results of Recent Minnesota Utility Rate Increase Requests" (Chart).
Mr. Kermit Fruechte, Assistant Attorney General
Minnesota Attorney General's Office
651-757-1059 (w) |
kermit.fruechte@state.mn.us
Bremer Tower, Suite 1100, 445 Minnesota St, St. Paul, MN 55101-2128
www.ag.state.mn.us
Taking questions on the bill:
Mr. William Stamets, Assistant Attorney General
Minnesota Attorney General's Office
651-757-1343 (w) |
Bremer Tower, Suite 1100, 445 Minnesota St, St. Paul, MN 55101-2128
www.ag.state.mn.us
Rep. Hilstrom
Mr. Kermit Fruechte, Assistant Attorney General
3:46 p.m.
Testifying against the bill.
Eric Swanson, Attorney on behalf of CenterPoint Energy
Winthrop & Weinstein, P.A.
612-604-6511 (w) | 612.604.6800 (fax) |
eswanson@winthrop.com
225 S 6th St, Ste 3500, Minneapolis, MN 55402-4629 | 612.604.6400
www.winthrop.com
Members asked questions.
4:01 p.m.
Handouts: "Interim Rates", Minnesota Power (Slides).
"How the Regulatory Model works", Minnesota Power.
Ms. Margaret Hodnik, Vice President, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs
Minnesota Power
218-723-3966 (w) | 218-591-8623 (c) | 218-723-3983 (fax) |
mhodnik@mnpower.com
30 West Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802-2093 | 218-722-5642
www.mnpower.com
4:22 p.m.
Handout: "2008 Elec Rate Case Timeline".
Mr. Christopher Clark, Managing Attorney
Xcel Energy
612-215-4593 (w) |
christopher.b.clark@xcelenergy.com
414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1993
www.xcelenergy.com
4:37 p.m
Rep. Falk moved approval of the minutes of February 15, 2009. The motion prevailed. The minutes were adopted.
4:38 p.m. - The meeting was adjourned.
Additional handouts:
"Editorial: Better watchdogs: Laws would check utilities on travel, rates." Star Tribune. January 15, 2010.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/81791012.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UthPacyPE7iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Packet :
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office Fact Sheet (p. 1)
H2798A1 (p. 3)
H2798A2 (p. 3)
H2798A3 (p. 4-5)
H2798A4 (p. 6 )
Proposed Amendments (p. 7-11)
_____________________________
Representative Bill Hilty, Chair
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Committee Legislative Assistant