Author Archives: Hannah Hoeger

Disconnection Notice

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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…

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)…

Take advantage of electric heat rates and no sales tax

Published January 25, 2022 For households that heat their home with electric heat, bills can be especially high, running in the hundreds of dollars each month. If you have electric heat as a primary heating source, we encourage you to contact your utility about winter electric heating rates and programs. Electric heat is often the…

Xcel’s long-range plan faces pushback over role of fossil peaking plants

January 21, 2022 Energy News Network Frank Jossi Xcel Energy’s proposal to potentially build two new natural gas peaking plants has become a key point of contention in the utility’s long-term resource plan currently before Minnesota utility regulators. The two natural gas combustion turbine plants are part of Xcel’s integrated resource plan, a document utilities…

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