Senate committee recommends Audrey Partridge for Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

The Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee on Feb. 26 voted to recommend Audrey Partridge for confirmation to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

Partridge, who said she was recently appointed to the commission, testified she has worked on utility regulation and energy policy in Minnesota for more than two decades and asked the committee to forward her confirmation to the full Senate. “I was recently appointed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. I am here today seeking your recommendation for my confirmation,” Partridge said in opening remarks.

Committee members pressed Partridge on affordability, the commission’s role in supporting communities that host power plants, the future role of natural gas and the siting of large solar projects. “36% of Minnesotans can’t or [are] struggling to pay their energy bills,” said Senator Gruenhagen, urging the nominee to consider the “ripple effect” of policy on low‑income households. Partridge said affordability would be a priority: “I will go through those [rate] requests with a fine tooth comb” and that she would focus on low‑income assistance and energy efficiency programs to reduce bills.

On host communities, Partridge said the commission must ensure utilities provide early and transparent notice of retirements and support economic development and worker transitions in towns such as Becker and Cohasset. She described natural gas as likely playing a near‑term capacity role on the electric system and suggested “dual fuel” approaches — efficient electric heat pumps paired with gas backup — could reduce emissions while retaining capacity.

Senators also asked about large solar projects and local authority over siting. Partridge said she had limited direct experience in solar siting and that the commission must balance landowner interests, local concerns and broader resource needs within statutory limits on commission authority. Lawmakers raised decommissioning and cleanup of turbines and solar installations; later in the hearing another nominee said permits typically include decommissioning funding as a condition.

After questions, the committee took a voice vote. “Senator Zong moves that the committee recommend to the senate the confirmation of Audrey Partridge for commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission,” the chair announced. Committee members responded “Aye.” The chair declared the motion prevailed and the committee recommended Partridge’s confirmation to the full Senate.

Partridge described her priorities if confirmed as maintaining reliability, advancing the state’s clean‑energy goals while protecting affordability, expanding access to efficiency and assistance programs for low‑income Minnesotans, and coordinating with tribal governments and impacted communities.