Fortnightly Magazine - March 1 1997

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has adopted a schedule of environmental costs for electric utilities evaluating and selecting resource options in all commission proceedings including resource-plan and certificate-of-need cases.

In each such case the utilities will be required to provide three cost analyses for each generation-option provided: one using the values at the low end of the range (see table), one using values at the high end of the range, and one reflecting "direct costs only" (i.e., using zero environmental externalities values).

Table.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue and the Minnesota Department of Public Service have released a study finding that electric and natural gas utilities pay higher taxes in certain categories than in other states in the region, which could put Minnesota at a disadvantage as the utility industry becomes increasingly competitive.

The study, mandated by the 1996 state Legislature, finds that in addition to paying high real estate taxes, utilities also pay personal property taxes on machinery and equipment. However, in 1996, Gov.

Myth 1. RTP increases the utility's costs and revenue requirements. %n1%n

Reality 1. A well-conceived RTP program reduces the utility's costs and revenue requirements.

RTP programs can reduce peak demands for power, increase off-peak demands, and reduce the need for additional peak-load capacity. This increase in efficiency can lead both to higher company profits and greater customer savings. As the electric industry becomes more competitive, these savings will flow to those customers most responsible for lowering the utility's costs.

Concerned that competition in the natural gas market might affect reliability of gas supply for core customers, the New York Public Service Commission has adopted new short-term curtailment procedures for the states natural gas local distribution companies.

According to the commission, the new procedures "recognize the restructured natural gas industry," and require that in the event of short-term interruptions or force majeure curtailment situations, the needs of core customers are met first.