Thread by @skycedar

Something went down in the Midwest yesterday that you need to know about! The @MN_PUC fined Xcel Energy $1 million for failing to provide customers seeking to interconnect #solar with adequate service. This is unprecedented, but I want to share why this is so valuable.🧵

First, what is unprecedented? I know of no other time that a utility has been subject to a financial penalty for an overall failure to adequately manage their interconnection obligations. $1 million is not terribly substantial when it comes to a large utility, but it is notable.

But there are 3 particularly important aspects of the PUC's decision here beyond the fine itself. #1: the Commissioners emphatically affirmed that solar customers are owed the same level of service as any of the utility's customers. Sound obvious? Well Xcel didn't think so.

#2: The fine was not issued for a violation of any specific timeline, rather this was a customer service metric. It confirms that interconnection IS a customer service obligation, AND provides an avenue for customers to express dissatisfaction beyond compliance with timelines.

#3: BUT, the PUC went even beyond the customer service metric! It established new reporting requirements and a process to establish better avenues for dispute resolution and greater accountability for the utility.
But, you may be wondering, why was all this even needed?

Stakeholders have spent the last five years working on improving the interconnection process in MN. New rules were adopted with timelines that Xcel requested, timelines that are substantially more generous than most other states. But Xcel massively flubbed the rollout.

They did not even try to defend their performance, they conceded that they were indeed wildly out of compliance with the tariff (still are) and that their interconnection portal had significant and repeated flaws that were not immediately remedied.

No party in this case was focused on the fine, rather everyone just wants a better & more efficient interconnection process. But it was clear that if Xcel did not suffer any consequences for its failures that they were unlikely to ever take it seriously. Lets hope they do now.

Finally, lets note the huge lift that went into this victory. @allenergysolar took the brave step of filing the initial complaints on behalf of their customers. @mn_seia spoke up on behalf of the installer community and provided quality data to show this was no anomaly.

The Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul participated on behalf of their residents - lead by @StacyMiller111. @CUB_MN provided important ratepayer advocacy, especially in light of the failure of the MN Department of Commerce to do so.

@IRECUSA lead a group of clean energy NGOs including @FreshEnergy, @votesolar and @ELPCenter in filing comments and providing oral argument in the case. IREC's full blog post is available here: irecusa.org/2021/01/minnes…

Finally, we owe thanks to the Commissioners who did the right thing, followed the tariff and not only held Xcel accountable, but implemented additional measures to ensure real improvements are seen. Particular thanks to Commissioner Schuerger and the PUC staff.