March 17, 2022 Public News Service Mike Moen Wind and solar often get attention for job growth in clean energy, and in Minnesota, those who specialize in home weatherization say demand for this type of work shouldn’t be overlooked. The new federal infrastructure law includes $3.5 billion for weatherization programs, which help low-income households with projects such…
17Mar
Welcome Laura Bretheim, CUB’s new outreach intern
Published March 17, 2022 Laura joined the Citizens Utility Board in March 2022 as an Outreach Intern. She will be supporting outreach activities throughout the spring and summer and looks forward to connecting customers with energy resources. Laura is a first-year student in the University of Minnesota’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program. Prior to…
09Mar
Utility protections ending April 30
Published March 9, 2022 Since the onset of COVID, major utilities across Minnesota have offered special protections against utility shut off. After April 30, 2022, the last of the special protections will end. For customers of CenterPoint Energy, Dakota Electric Association, Great Plains Natural Gas, Greater Minnesota Gas, Minnesota Energy Resources, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power, and Xcel Energy: A…
05Mar
Report takes aim at CenterPoint’s gains from Texas merger
March 1, 2022 MPR News Kirsti Marohn An advocacy group is raising questions about CenterPoint Energy’s financial interest in a Texas-based energy company that it says made billions of dollars from natural gas price spikes following a February 2021 winter storm. The Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, which advocates for utility customers, released the report…
04Mar
Heating costs, driven by high fuel prices, pile on customers already behind on bills
February 26, 2022 Duluth News Tribune Alex Derosier ST. PAUL — Minnesotans have seen their utility bills rise this winter in response to climbing energy prices. While the portion of customers behind on payments has remained steady, filings with state regulators show the amount they owe has grown. In keeping with a general national trend…
21Feb
“I’m struggling”: Soaring heating bills stress Minnesotans
February 21, 2022 Minnesota Reformer Rilyn Eischens Bebe Brandt turned off the heat, piled on blankets and limited stove use to one day a week this winter in hopes of containing her ballooning heating bill. Still, it wasn’t enough. Brandt, a single mom of two in Minneapolis, said her past-due balance swelled to $400. Brandt’s…
15Feb
2021 Winter Storm Uri Repercussions Still Felt – in Minnesota
February 14, 2022 Public News Service Roz Brown The grid failure in Texas this time last year went far beyond the state’s border, and consumer advocates say it means the country needs to shore up its energy infrastructure. Brian Edstrom, senior regulatory advocate for the nonprofit Citizens Utility Board in Minnesota, said the infrastructure bill recently signed into law…
09Feb
State regulators approve Xcel plan that shifts from coal to nuclear energy, renewables
February 8, 2022 Star Tribune Mike Hughlett Minnesota utility regulators on Tuesday unanimously approved Xcel Energy’s long-term plans for power generation, which are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliable and affordable electricity. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) gave the go-ahead for Minneapolis-based Xcel to close its coal plants by 2030, extend the…
07Feb
Public hearings being held on Feb ‘21 natural gas price spike
Published February 7, 2022 The Public Utilities Commission wants to hear from you. Minnesota’s natural gas utilities want ratepayers to cover the entire cost of last February’s natural gas price spike. CUB is currently party to a contested case proceeding where we are arguing that four of these utilities (CenterPoint, Xcel, MERC, and Great Plains)…
03Feb
Energy costs rising, a double whammy for Twin Cities homeowners already behind due to the pandemic
February 3, 2022 Twin Cities Pioneer Press Deanna Weniger Minnesotans turned down the thermostat, wrapped themselves in electric blankets, put plastic over their windows and updated their furnaces to cut costs this winter, but in many cases saw no change on their heating bills. “I’ve been a homeowner for eight years. This is the highest…