Published January 3, 2019 Sometimes, depending on the weather or other circumstance, it can be hard to keep up with utility bills and you might fear getting your utilities shut off. Fortunately, Minnesota law contains several protections for consumers. There are a few different instances described below in which your utilities could be potentially shut…
Recently, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has been in the news a lot. Articles about the Commission (as the PUC is often referred) have graced local headlines across the state. The Commission’s recent decisions on the Enbridge pipeline, Minnesota Power’s proposal to construct a new generation facility, and Governor-elect Walz’s opportunity to appoint a new…
At our community events throughout Minnesota, CUB has been talking about how the energy system will be changing in the coming years. We want to give energy customers an idea of how they may be impacted. Another perspective to explore is how these changes will impact the people working in the energy system. Will our…
We’ve mentioned in previous blogs that winter usually brings the highest energy bills of the year to Minnesota households. For the households that heat their homes with electric heat, bills can be especially high, running in the hundreds of dollars each month. If your household has electric heat as a primary heating source, we encourage…
Back in the fall of 2017, we informed you about a multi-year rate increase approved for Xcel Energy electricity customers. The first, and largest, portion of rate increases went into effect on October 1, 2017, and now it’s time to get ready for another round. Effective January 1, 2019, Xcel customers will face an increase…
Every household is different and that means there is not a one size fits all when it comes to water heating. There are many different options to choose from when you are in the market for a new water heater. Determining the best fit for your household is an important consideration that can maximize efficiency…
Since last year, I’ve represented CUB on the Technical Committee for the Minnesota Solar Pathways initiative. The initiative, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, is a three-year project exploring strategies to meet Minnesota’s statutory goal of reaching 10 percent solar electricity by 2030. A Solar Potential Analysis, modeling potential costs of various renewable energy…
For most Minnesota households, winter brings the highest energy bills of the year. The colder the weather, the higher our bills. For an average Minnesota home, over half of annual energy costs are for heating and cooling. As a result, adjusting your thermostat typically represents the biggest opportunity for saving energy throughout the year. Not…
Yesterday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved Minnesota Power’s petition for a new Nemadji Trail gas power plant in a 3-2 decision. As we’ve followed on this blog, none of the parties who weighed in on this case before the PUC found a need for the electricity that this plant would generate. In contrast,…
Well, winter came early in some parts of the state. Most of us have probably already had our furnaces turned on for about a month now, so it’s definitely time make sure your furnace or boiler will be in good working order all winter long. Here are a few pointers to help ensure you are…
