MN SF100

Allows public utilities to petition the Public Utilities Commission to recover costs from energy storage system pilot projects, requiring submission of detailed reports on technology, capacity, location, costs, grid interaction, and project goals.

Establishes a 90-day timeline for the Commission to determine eligible cost recovery amounts for approved pilot projects and allows utilities to petition for automatic rate schedule adjustments to recover prudently incurred investments and expenses.

Requires each public utility filing resource plans to include an assessment of how energy storage systems contribute to meeting generation and capacity needs and evaluating ancillary services using appropriate modeling methods.

Mandates the Commissioner of Commerce to contract with an independent consultant to produce a cost-benefit analysis of energy storage systems by December 31, 2019, examining potential costs, savings, grid impacts, renewable energy integration, and case studies of existing applications.

Appropriates $150,000 from the renewable development account in fiscal year 2019 to the Commissioner of Commerce for conducting the energy storage systems cost-benefit analysis, available until June 30, 2020.