MN HF1084

Allows the Public Utilities Commission to approve tariff mechanisms for automatic annual adjustment of charges for Minnesota jurisdictional costs of new transmission facilities, including those approved under section 216B.243, priority projects, out-of-state projects approved by other state regulators, and projects subject to advance commission determinations.

Expands eligible transmission projects to include: facilities approved by regulatory commissions in other states and determined by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator to benefit the utility; facilities where the commission makes an advance prudence determination; and charges from other transmission owners' regional projects that benefit the utility.

Requires tariffs to allow utilities to recover costs on a timely basis, including return on investment at rates approved in the utility's last rate case, returns on construction work in progress, and recovery of other expenses if shown to promote least-cost options or serve the public interest.

Establishes a new petition process allowing utilities to request advance determinations of prudence for transmission projects with expected jurisdictional costs of at least $1,000,000, with commission decisions required within ten months of filing.

Requires utilities filing annual rate adjustments to provide project descriptions, implementation schedules, cost details, documentation of cost-containment efforts, and calculations showing consistency with the approved tariff.