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HF2553 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Incumbent electric transmission owner rights eliminated.

Related bill: SF434

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to modify rules related to the rights of electric transmission line owners in Minnesota. It is focused on eliminating certain exclusive rights held by incumbent electric transmission owners when it comes to building and maintaining these lines.

Main Provisions

  • Repeal of Existing Statute: The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 216B.246, which previously granted rights to incumbent electric transmission line owners.
  • Impact on Incumbent Owners: The existing law provided that incumbent transmission owners had the exclusive right to construct, own, and maintain high-voltage transmission lines that are part of federally approved plans. This bill removes those rights, potentially opening up the construction, ownership, and maintenance of these lines to other entities beyond the incumbents.
  • Definitions: The repealed section defined terms such as "electric transmission line" (those with a capacity of 100 kilovolts or more) and "incumbent electric transmission owner" (entities like public utilities and municipal power agencies that currently own and operate these lines).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Elimination of Exclusive Rights: The removal of section 216B.246 means that incumbent owners will no longer have automatic rights to build and maintain new electric transmission lines, even if those lines connect to their existing facilities.
  • Potential for Broader Participation: By repealing the incumbent rights, the bill may pave the way for increased competition and participation from non-incumbent entities in the transmission line sector.

Relevant Terms

  • Electric transmission line
  • Incumbent electric transmission owner
  • High-voltage transmission line
  • Federally approved transmission plan
  • Public utility
  • Transmission company
  • Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 216B.246

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 19, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toEnergy Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references section 216B.02 which defines terms related to electric transmission within Minnesota's statutes.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "216B.02"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill addresses processes outlined in section 216B.243 regarding the requirement of a certificate of need for certain electric transmission lines.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "216B.243"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Section 216B.2425 is mentioned which involves certification procedures for establishing new electric transmission lines.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "216B.2425"
  }
]

Sponsors