MN HF1193

Amends Minnesota Statutes sections 216B.241, subdivisions 1b and 1c regarding energy conservation programs for municipalities and electric cooperative associations.

Requires municipalities to spend 0.5 percent of gross operating revenues from gas sales and 1.5 percent from electricity sales on energy conservation improvements; cooperative electric associations must spend 1.5 percent of gross operating revenues.

Establishes energy-savings goals of 1.5 percent of gross annual retail energy sales, with provisions allowing entities experiencing zero or negative growth to meet a reduced goal of 0.75 percent, and permitting carryforward of excess savings to subsequent years.

Allows up to 10 percent of required conservation spending to fund research and development projects, permits load-management activities to count toward 50 percent of conservation requirements, and enables generation and transmission cooperatives and municipal power agencies to fulfill obligations on an aggregate basis for entities they serve.

Modifies reporting and review requirements by changing plans to be "reviewed" rather than "approved or approved as modified" by the commissioner, with evaluations to be "summarized" rather than "detailed," and extends the commissioner's consideration of various factors when making recommendations.