Published October 6, 2021 Energy is essential, and we know all too well that energy bills can be a burden on your household. We don’t want you to be in the position where you need to choose between electricity and other essentials. If you or someone you know is struggling with energy bills there are…
Published October 6, 2021 In recent weeks, CUB has received a lot of phone calls from concerned consumers who have experienced, or are currently facing, utility service disconnections. Some of these consumers are concerned about being disconnected while they are waiting to receive financial assistance for rent and overdue utility bills through the RentHelpMN program….
Published October 1, 2021 It’s Energy Awareness Month! If you are interested in staying up to date with the latest trends, research, and debates on energy here are some trending podcasts for you to listen to throughout your day. Whether you are already an avid follower of energy news or are interested in beginning your…
Published October 1, 2021 It’s that time of the year again, Energy Awareness Month. CUB has been waiting all year to celebrate! Last year we encouraged people to think about issues of access and equity when it comes to energy. This year we want to focus on the importance of weatherization and its long-term benefits…
Published September 22, 2021 What is an IRP? This fall, numerous utilities across Minnesota are filing Integrated Resource Plans, or IRPs, with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”). Among those utilities are Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power, and Otter Tail Power. But what exactly is an IRP? Essentially, the purpose of an IRP is to lay…
Published September 22, 2021 After such a warm summer, some of us may be looking forward to the cooler weather of the fall season! When it comes to energy use, early fall and late spring are typically our lowest energy use months because we’re not having to heat or cool our homes very often. As a transition…
Published September 8, 2021 Since 2019, an active group of community organizations and individuals have been busy increasing their knowledge of energy policy and energy efficiency programs. This group is known as the Energy Efficiency Peer Learning Cohort. The Citizens Utility Board has the pleasure of being part of planning this effort along with the…
Published September 8, 2021 It will be a busy fall at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. This blog post provides a brief overview of the policy and regulatory work CUB expects to be involved in over the next several months. There are already numerous complex dockets underway before the Commission, including several unique dockets arising…
Published September 2, 2021 In May of 2020, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) opened a docket (the “Economic Recovery” docket) with the goal of identifying possible utility investments that could help Minnesota recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PUC required utilities to provide a report of ongoing, planned, or possible investments…
Published September 1, 2021; Updated December 7, 2021 Last January CUB was awarded a Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The purpose of the grant was to complete a research project that will seek improvements to energy efficiency programs to better serve renter, low-income, and Black, Indigenous, and…
