2025 MMUA Legislative Conference

MMUA held its annual Legislative Conference January 28-29 in St. Paul. The conference is one of the municipal utility community’s primary opportunities to inform and influence state lawmakers. Included in the sessions was a legislative panel on energy and utility policy attended by three of the four leaders of committees charged with those issues. Shown above (l-r) are Kent Sulem, MMUA’s Director of Government Relations, Senator Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, Senator Nick Frentz, D-North Mankato, Representative Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, and Bill Black, MMUA’s government relations attorney. 

Audrey Partridge appointed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

On January 30, Governor Tim Walz nominated Audrey Partridge to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Partridge has served as Director of Policy at the Center for Energy and Environment since 2017 and has also worked for CenterPoint Energy. The seat had been vacated by Valerie Means, who did not seek to be reappointed to the Commission.

In a statement, Partridge said, “I will work each and every day to meet Minnesota's ambitious clean energy goals, while maintaining affordability and reliability, and supporting Minnesota's communities and our highly skilled energy workforce."



Partridge joins the other four members of the PUC as they continue their work on the renewable energy transition and examine issues such as data centers and carbon capture. Learn more here.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approves certificate of need, route permit for Northland Reliability Project

On January 23, PUC approved a certificate of need and a route permit for the 180-milelong transmission line called the Northland Reliability Project.

The $1 billion transmission line will be built in two parts, one going from Grand Rapids to a substation near St. Cloud. The second section will replace lines stretching between Benton and Sherburne Counties. Minnesota Power and Great River Energy will build the project.

Construction is expected to start later this year, with completion anticipated by 2030.

Learn more here.

MMUA grant project outreach

Last year, MMUA was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce to support our members' grant efforts. In our proposal, we outlined a commitment to providing technical assistance and collaboration with our utility members and the communities they serve to create a catalog of actionable projects for Minnesota.

These projects are intended to enhance the resiliency and reliability of utility systems, contingent on securing adequate funding. To ensure we address your specific needs and priorities, we would like to schedule a 10–15-minute call with each of you to discuss your plans, potential funding opportunities, and next steps.

Please watch for an email from Blaine Chaulklin in the coming weeks to schedule a call.

Minnesota is one of 23 states to establish energy efficiency resource standards with next generation features

A report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has found that Minnesota, along with 21 other states and the District of Columbia, have established energy efficiency resource standards with so-called “next generation features.” These features allow the plans to set additional goals for things like decarbonization, electrification, and low-income spending or savings. States with plans including these features usually achieve much higher energy savings than states without them.

In total, only 26 states, plus the District of Columbia, have energy efficiency resource standards at all. Learn more here.

Climate Smart Communities Initiative now accepting grant applications to help communities accelerate climate resilience plans and projects

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative is seeking proposals from communities facing significant climate-related challenges based on environmental as well as socioeconomic considerations.



For the purposes of the grant program, a community must be represented by a community-based organization and a local, regional, or Tribal government entity working collaboratively, and they must complete the application in partnership with an adaptation professional. Grant applications will be accepted into March of 2025. Learn more here.

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program in Minnesota

This program, offered through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development mission area, affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.

An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings. Public works vehicles and equipment are examples of eligible items. Learn more here.

Emergency Preparedness

and Restoration Conference

February 19–20

St. Cloud, MN

Make plans to join other municipal utility professionals at this interactive conference. If your utility is ever in need of receiving mutual aid or interested in traveling, in-state or out-of-state, to assist with mutual aid, this conference can help prepare you and your team to be successful. Leadership and crew personnel will gain valuable insight into the process and help MMUA improve its coordination efforts.

Topics to be covered include:



• Review Hurricane Milton efforts
• Hands-on tabletop exercise
• Mutual aid coordination and strategies
• Florida's new F-ROC billing form

Please click below to register for this valuable training opportunity.

Substation School

March 11–13

Otsego, MN



Make plans to join us for the 2025 Substation School.

Having the best distribution system in the world doesn't matter if your substation isn't operating properly. This is your once-a-year opportunity to learn about current trends and best practices for managing this critical nexus in your electrical infrastructure.

In addition to expert-led classroom instruction on a variety of topics, participants will tour a substation and a solar farm with battery storage and enjoy camaraderie and sharing ideas with other utility professionals.

Topics to be covered include:

• Substation maintenance and inspection
• Key components and systems
• Case study review and discussion
• Proper switching techniques
• Benefits of protective relays 

Please click below to register for this valuable training opportunity. Register by February 14, 2025, for best rate.