Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to change how rights are assigned for constructing, owning, and maintaining electric transmission lines in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Repeal of Statute: The bill proposes the repeal of Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 216B.246. This section currently governs the rights of incumbent electric transmission owners in the state.

• Incumbent Rights Removal: By repealing this statute, the bill seeks to eliminate the preferential rights that certain existing utility companies and entities (referred to as incumbent transmission owners) have over constructing and maintaining high-voltage electric transmission lines with a capacity of 100 kilovolts or more.

• Competitive Construction Opportunities: This change could potentially open up opportunities for new entrants or competitors to participate in the construction and maintenance of such transmission lines without being required to defer to incumbent transmission owners.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Elimination of Priority Rights: The bill removes the legal framework that gave priority rights to incumbent electric transmission owners, which includes public utilities, cooperatives, municipal agencies, and transmission companies, to build and maintain lines once a federally approved transmission plan was in place.

• Change in Notification Requirements: Previously, incumbent owners were required to notify the state's commission of their intent to build a transmission line within 60 days of approval for construction. This requirement would be removed, altering how transmission line projects advance in Minnesota.

Relevant Terms

• Incumbent electric transmission owner
• Electric transmission line
• High-voltage transmission
• Federally registered planning authority
• Certificate of need
• Transmission company
• Utilities