Published June 7, 2021 Daurius joined the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota in June 2021 as the outreach and communications Intern. He will be responsible for assisting with the outreach and communications goals of CUB. Daurius is a student at Saint Paul College pursuing an associate’s degree in Biology. Prior to working with CUB, he…
Published June 3, 2021 Brandon joined the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota in June 2021 as a summer legal intern. He will be conducting legal research and writing to support CUB’s participation in Public Utilities Commission dockets and to help us better understand and share information on emerging energy-related legislation. Brandon is a third-year student at the…
Published June 3, 2021 According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, heating and cooling comprise 55% of a typical Minnesota home’s energy use. The challenge during these next 3-4 months of warm weather is that using a lot of air conditioning can result in high electricity bills. Below are some tips to try to keep…
Published May 26, 2021 On May 17, the Minnesota legislature passed the first major energy reform in more than a decade. The Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act will provide more options for Minnesotans to reduce their energy use, costs, and environmental impact. The bill updates the state’s long-standing and successful Conservation Improvement Program and…
Published May 26, 2021 This past February, severe cold weather in Texas and the Midwest caused natural gas prices to spike nationwide. The price spike was caused by a “perfect storm” of: (i) increased demand (many households rely on natural gas for heat), (ii) reduced supply (some gas pipelines literally froze up in Texas and…
Published May 18, 2021 I recently wrote a blog about CenterPoint Energy’s petition to begin installing smart meters at the homes and businesses of its Minnesota customers. Like any time a regulated utility asks to spend its customers’ money, this proposal required approval by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). CUB recommended that the Commission…
Published April 27, 2021 CUB is seeking a motivated intern to support our outreach and communications programs. The intern will support CUB’s outreach events, assist with CUB’s communications strategies, and help people understand their electric and gas bills, how to reduce energy waste and save money, and their options for renewable energy. Until further notice,…
Published April 22, 2021 More Minnesota households are now eligible for Energy Assistance and have more time to apply for these important benefits. The household income eligibility guidelines have increased from 50% of the state median income to 60% of the state median income. This applies either to a household’s annual income or the three…
Published April 21, 2021 Last Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted a transition plan to allow the state’s regulated utilities to resume service disconnections of residential customers. These utilities had been prohibited from disconnecting residential customers for nonpayment since the spring of 2020. The PUC approved a plan that will allow shutoffs to…
Published April 15, 2021 Over the last few years, CUB has fielded an increasing number of calls from consumers interested in learning more about air source heat pumps. This blog provides an overview of resources for those interested in learning more about this technology and whether it could be a good option for their homes….
