The Office of Legislative Auditor has set a public hearing to take comments on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC’s) public engagement process. It will be Friday, May 31, 10 – 11 a.m. in the Minnesota State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Room 10.
The May 31 hearing won’t be the only opportunity for the public to comment. People can submit comments online through the Legislative Auditor’s website or by e-mailing team leader Laura Schwartz directly at laura.schwartz@state.mn.us. Legislative Auditor staff also will be conducting one-on-one interviews.
This review grew out complaints about the PUC’s public engagement as part of its review of the proposed Enbridge Line 3 tar sands pipeline across northern Minnesota. Minnesota state Sen. Patrica Torres Ray worked to get the issue on the research agenda for the Office of Legislative Auditor, which reviews a half-dozen or so state programs every year. Sen. Nick Frentz, who sits on the Legislative Audit Commission, played an important role in promoting the PUC study.
Other advocacy groups interact with the PUC on issues such as utility rate cases. If you know of anyone who has experience before the PUC who has a relevant comment, please share this information.
A final report from the Office of Legislative Auditor is expected around January or February, in time for consideration by the 2020 Legislative session.
Here are links to previous blogs on the topic:
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