This is the landing page for the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s (Commerce) 2027-2029 Minnesota Cost-Effectiveness Advisory Committee (CAC). Information about the 2024-2026 process can be found here. The Department convened the current CAC to review and update the cost-effectiveness tests utilities will use to develop their 2027-2029 Energy Conservation and Optimization Act (ECO) Triennial filings.
10/31/25 Status – Staff have distributed a document summary the CAC’s activities and the proposed revisions and updates to the Utility System and Non-Utility System Impacts included in the Minnesota Cost Test (MCT). Stakeholders are requested to provide comments on the Summary document by November 17, 2025. Following receipt of comments, Department Staff will develop a Proposed Decision for consideration by the Deputy Commissioner.
Notes and PowerPoint slides from CAC meetings between June 2024 and August 2025 can be found here.
Updating Cost-Effectiveness Models / Quantifying Impacts
The CAC is reviewing the elements of the Minnesota Test, the cost-effectiveness tests Minnesota utilities use to evaluate cost-effectiveness of distributed energy resources (energy efficiency, load management, and efficient fuel switching). This web page will be the means of tracking progress and sharing information related to proposed model updates and quantified impacts. The Committee has agreed to update and quantify a specific set of Utility System (USI) and Non-Utility System Impacts (NUSI) that are components of the Minnesota Test. The sections that follow provide information on the USIs and NUSIs selected for update/quantification and track progress on efforts to date.
Utility System and Non-Utility System Impacts Considered for Review
The following graphic shows the Utility and Non-Utility System Impacts that the CAC is reviewing for updates/quantification.
Current and Proposed Changes to Utility and Non-Utility System Impacts
The following graphic shows the current (2024-2026 Triennial) Utility and Non-Utility System Impacts and proposed updates/revisions (2027-2029 Triennial).
