MN PUC: Xcel must share data with U of M researchers studying fairness of residential rates

In June of last year, the PUC approved and implemented Open Data Access Standards (Standards) that allow anonymized energy usage data to be shared with qualifying entities. These Standards provide a framework for researchers to request and analyze data for public interest purposes. On Thursday, the Commission affirmed the value of these Standards and directed Xcel to provide data to university researchers.  

CUB has been working with Gabriel Chan—a University of Minnesota professor who runs the Chan Lab—in anticipation of conducting a “customer segmentation” study about how different types of households contribute to the costs of serving the residential class. The study would be modeled after a similar analysis conducted in Illinois that found low-income households generally use less energy during “peak” times. Because it is usually more expensive to generate electricity during peak periods, these households may have been paying more than it cost to serve them, effectively subsidizing their higher-income neighbors. We suspect the same may be true for Xcel customers. Identifying and analyzing these sorts of issues can help ensure costs are being equitably distributed across the energy system. 

In February, Xcel Energy denied the Chan Lab’s request to provide anonymized data for the purpose of conducting the study. Xcel cited security concerns and explained that the Commission was already considering whether to require a similar study be conducted by the company. CUB responded by jointly filing a complaint with the Chan Lab and requesting the Commission order Xcel to release anonymized data consistent with the Standards passed last year.  

The Commission sided with CUB and the Chan Lab in its hearing on Thursday. It explained that the Standards were designed with public interest research in mind, and that the security issues Xcel raised had already been contemplated and addressed when the Standards were passed. Xcel was therefore ordered to provide anonymized data as originally requested.  

We appreciate the Commission’s commitment to upholding the Open Data Access Standards and look forward to working with the Chan Lab as this study progresses. We are hopeful that the Commission’s decision today will help establish a strong foundation for public interest researchers to analyze customer energy usage data and contribute to the development of a more equitable energy system.