MMUA Digest: MISO expansion, GIS conference, new safety workshop, and more

News of the week

MISO approves historic $9 billion transmission expansion plan for 2023

On December 7, the Board of Directors for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) greenlit the 2023 MISO Transmission Expansion Plan (MTEP23), marking the largest transmission expansion initiative in MISO's history in terms of both volume and investment. This plan allocates $9 billion to address 572 projects aimed at tackling aging infrastructure, accommodating new load demands, and incorporating additional generation as traditional resources retire.

Notably, the plan includes over 700 miles of new or upgraded transmission lines. In a departure from conventional MTEP cycles, where investments are typically dispersed regionally, MISO emphasizes a targeted approach with $3.9 billion (43% of the total investment) earmarked specifically for projects in Louisiana and Texas. This strategic allocation is a response to the surge in generation retirements and increased load attributed to economic development in these areas.

To read more, click here.

Registration is open for the Security Threats and Preparation Workshop

Every year there are thousands of electrical physical security incidents reported to the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center, affecting local utilities across the country. There are thousands of additional physical security breaches at water and wastewater facilities, city offices, and storage warehouses. Utilities are also vulnerable to cybersecurity breaches, sometimes leading to destruction of assets and stoppage of service. To maintain the characteristic excellence of hometown utilities, hardening security infrastructure is a must. Attend this workshop to deepen your understanding of trends in security and mitigation tactics.

This workshop will cover:

Analyzing real case studies
Discussing physical security essentials
Performing a comprehensive threat assessment
Reviewing cybersecurity trends
Engaging with local law enforcement

The workshops will be led by Michael Coe, Vice President for Security, Resilience, and Energy Solutions for the American Public Power Association (APPA), and Mike Willetts, MMUA's Director of Training and Safety.

January 30—New Ulm

January 31—Brainerd

February1—Plymouth

MN Dept. of Commerce offering webinar on heat pumps

Air-to-water heat pump (AWHP) systems are a flexible type of air source heat pump that could extend heat pump savings to more customers and integrate hot water loads. However, with this flexibility comes complexity that may hinder adoption of this new technology.

In response, the Center for Energy and Environment will share research results in this webinar to fill knowledge gaps and provide context to AWHP systems for Minnesota consumers. These field results provide real-world data on the cost-effectiveness and energy saving capabilities of AWHPs in cold climates.

Register for this free webinar on December 19 at 11:00 am to hear key findings on “Air-to-Water Heat Pumps: A Cold Climate Solution for High-Efficiency Cooling, Space Heating, and Water Heating."

Clean energy advocates challenge Xcel Energy's solar expansion constraints

Clean energy advocates, led by the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association, have raised concerns about technical restrictions imposed by Xcel Energy, hindering the growth of solar energy in Minnesota. In a complaint filed with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), advocates argue that Xcel's "technical planning limit," implemented last March, violates state law and restricts customers' ability to benefit from solar energy.

Xcel defends its 20 percent operational and reliability margin on substations, citing the need for safety and reliability in managing fluctuations from increasing solar installations. However, advocates assert that this margin is too high and lacks evidence of posing a significant challenge to the system.

Critics contend that Xcel's rule is impeding clean energy production and could reduce the state's solar energy capacity by 2.5 to 3 gigawatts. The PUC is set to hear arguments on December 14 regarding the advocates' complaint, addressing the broader issue of regulatory oversight in Xcel's interconnection practices.

To read more, click here.

GIS conference opportunity in St. Cloud

The Midwest ESRI Utility Users Group (MWEUUG) has opened registration for the 2024 MWEUUG Conference, which will be held April 3-5 at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Cloud, MN. MWEUUG was founded in 2006 to provide a forum where utility companies can collaborate and get information on the latest ESRI technology and how it applies to the utility industry. The group is completely volunteer-owned and operated and membership is free.

The conference is an affordable opportunity to discuss best practices and innovations in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). MWEUUG is still seeking presenters for the conference, and admission is free for presenters. If you would like to present, please contact Mike Siedschlag. You can learn more about the organization and the conference by visiting MWEUUGA's website.

Looking ahead

Transformer School

Registration is open for Transformer School, which will be held from January 23-26. This school has been rescheduled from December due to instructor availability.

Transformer School will cover three-phase transformer connections. Click here for more information and registration. The pre-conference session will cover basic single-phase transformer connections and theory. Please note: separate registration is required for the pre-conference session. Register by December 21 for the best rate.

Meter School

Meter School registration is open. The school, held from February 6-9 at the MMUA Training Center in Marshall, is your once-a-year opportunity to obtain electric metering instruction and hands-on application, installation, and troubleshooting. Participants select from two course options, dependent upon skill/work experience: Basic/intermediate or Advanced.

Basic/intermediate: ideal for those with little metering experience. This track builds on the concepts covered in the pre-conference session.
Advanced: intended for those who steadily work with meters and wiring meter installations.

This course will cover a wide range of topics including why we have electric meters and the core principles behind single and three-phase metering, mounting and wiring meter sockets on a variety of set ups, voltage transformers, testing procedures, metering hazards, safety procedures and precautions, and more.

A pre-conference learning session is also held in conjunction with the school. The pre-conference is an ideal introductory course for those with little metering experience or as a "refresher" on basic metering. Separate registration is required for the pre-conference session.

2024 Emergency Preparedness and Restoration Conference

Join other municipal utility and city professionals at the 2024 Emergency Preparedness and Restoration Conference in St. Cloud from February 21-22, 2024. This interactive conference will include a tabletop exercise to increase your understanding of the mutual aid process that is activated during a national event. Please click here to register or to learn more about this ever-evolving annual session. For best rate register before January 23; the deadline to register online is January 31, 2024.

As always, thank you for your association with MMUA and your commitment to delivering excellent service through locally owned utility assets in your community. Have a great week!

Christian Glanville

Marketing and Member Relations Manager

Direct: 763.746.0727 / Cell: 612.655.0598

Fax: 763.551.0459

cglanville@mmua.org | www.mmua.org

To download a copy of this email, click here.

Hometown solutions. Hometown strengths. Hometown solutions.