MN HF234

Shifts burden of proof in disputes between public utilities and qualifying facilities to the public utility, requiring the utility to prove its case rather than the facility.

Requires the prevailing party in utility disputes to receive cost and attorney fee reimbursement, except qualifying facilities only pay utility fees if their claims are made in bad faith, are a sham, or are frivolous.

Allows municipal electric utilities to regulate qualifying facilities through their city councils or designated rate-setting boards instead of through the Public Utilities Commission.

Permits cooperative electric associations to opt out of Public Utilities Commission regulation by adopting board resolutions and implementing dispute resolution rules that include independent third-party mediation.

Limits Public Utilities Commission investigation of cooperative fee-setting methodologies to Docket No. 16-512, with completion required by December 31, 2017; compliant methodologies cannot be challenged in future disputes.