January 20, 2022 Duluth News Tribune Alex Derosier ST. PAUL — Minnesota House Democrats are proposing the state use $1 billion of its projected, record-breaking $7.7 billion budget surplus for a wide range of legislation aimed at curbing the effects of human-caused climate change. At a news conference Wednesday, Jan. 19, the House Climate Action…
20Jan
Dispelling Misinformation on Wind, Solar Amid Utility Rate Hikes
January 20, 2022 Public News Service Mike Moen Minnesota is seeing a flurry of utility rate hikes either being considered or taking effect. Those who support renewable energy warn there’s some misleading information in the public sphere about what is behind the activity. Xcel Energy has a pending rate hike before state regulators. If approved, it would…
18Jan
We’re hiring: Paid full-time legal intern
Published January 18, 2022 CUB is pleased to announce that the Minnesota State Bar Association, Public Utilities Section will be providing a stipend to partially support a paid legal internship with CUB for the summer of 2022. Interested law students can apply for the position by responding to the job posting below. Please spread the…
27Dec
Electric and gas rates set to rise across Minnesota
December 27, 2021 MPR News Dan Kraker It’s been a busy few weeks at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The PUC is charged with approving the rates that the state’s regulated utilities can charge for their electric and natural gas service. And right now, the state’s biggest electric and gas utilities are all requesting rate…
13Dec
Minnesota utility regulators soften rate increases sought by Xcel
December 9, 2021 Star Tribune Brooks Johnson Recognizing Minnesota residents are “under financial distress,” state regulators slashed a proposed Xcel Energy electric rate increase. Interim residential rates will still rise, but only about $5.50 a month instead of about $8.50. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Thursday approved a total interim rate increase of…
03Dec
Regulators approve interim rate hike for Minnesota Power customers
December 2, 2021 Duluth News Tribune Jimmy Lovrien The 7.11% increase will take effect in January. Minnesota Power customers will see bills go up beginning Jan. 1. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Thursday morning unanimously approved raising rates for the company’s residential customers by 7.11% and its industrial and commercial customers by 14.23%. The…
02Dec
In Response: Blame big industries’ ups, downs for your proposed bigger Minnesota Power bills
December 2, 2021 Duluth News Tribune Annie Levenson-Falk From the column: “The good news for residential customers is that … Minnesota Power’s rates must be approved by the state Public Utilities Commission, and the PUC never approves increases as high as a utility requests.” The News Tribune’s Nov. 22 “Our View” editorial, “Guess we could…
30Nov
Your winter energy savings checklist
Published November 30, 2021 Households might be feeling extra strained this winter season from rising heating costs. Some natural gas customers are also seeing surcharges on their bills from the February 2021 winter storm costs. While these things are largely out of our control, actions you take around your home to weatherproof and use less…
11Nov
Minnesota Power backs off hefty interim rate increase
November 11, 2021 Star Tribune Jana Hollingsworth DULUTH — Minnesota Power Wednesday proposed a reduced interim rate increase to its residential customers, following last week’s filing with state regulators. On Nov. 1, the Duluth-based utility proposed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) an electricity rate increase of 17.58%, or $108 million. The company requested an interim…
10Nov
Hefty spike in heating costs expected to hit Minnesotans
November 10, 2021 MPR News Kirsti Marohn Along with chillier weather, Minnesota homeowners should brace for a sharp increase in heating costs expected to hit pocketbooks this winter. Last month, the federal Energy Information Administration predicted that U.S. households will spend 30 to 50 percent more money to heat their homes this winter, depending on…