MN PUC passes nation-leading protections against extreme heat and unhealthy air quality
On July 17, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a first-in-the-nation plan to remotely reconnect the electricity service of households in Xcel Energy’s service territory during periods of extreme heat and unhealthy air quality. These measures will ensure that all customers can access to electricity to protect themselves from dangerous heat and air pollution.
CUB was actively involved in the development of these protections and strongly supports the Commission’s continued efforts to shelter Minnesotans from climate impacts.
Necessity of Protections
Extreme heat and unhealthy air quality pose significant health risks to Minnesotans. Between 2000 and 2023, excessive heat resulted in at least 77 deaths and nearly 1,800 hospitalizations across the state. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) likewise reports that air pollutants can worsen lung and heart diseases, leading to hospitalizations, cancer, or even premature death.
Extreme Heat Protections
By law, Minnesota utilities are prohibited from disconnecting electricity service to households when an excessive heat watch, advisory, or warning is in effect. Because electricity is used to run air conditioners and other cooling appliances, it plays an essential role in reducing health risks on hot days.
Until now those protections did not extend to customers who already had their electricity service turned off. However, Xcel Energy’s new advanced meters now allow for the remote reconnection of customers’ electricity service. Starting in May 2026, Xcel will begin offering residential households the option of remotely restoring electric service during extreme heat events. Service will be reconnected for the duration of the event, allowing customers to turn on their air conditioning, run fans, or use other cooling equipment.
For more information about how you can protect yourself against extreme heat, please review the Minnesota Department of Health’s safety guidelines.
Air Quality Protections
In addition to being hot and humid, Minnesota summers have become very smoky. In 2023, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recorded 52 air quality alerts—the highest number in Minnesota history—as a result of wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada. Color-coded air quality alerts are issued when air pollution could negatively impact people. “Orange” alerts are unhealthy for sensitive groups, including those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, pregnant individuals, outdoor workers, and historically marginalized populations. “Red” alerts are unhealthy for everyone, and “purple” alerts further increase the risk of adverse health effects. During unhealthy air quality alerts, Minnesotans are typically warned to stay inside, close their windows, and avoid outdoor activities to the extent possible.
Unlike extreme heat, Minnesota law does not prevent utilities from disconnecting customers when air quality is bad. That does not mean that electricity is any less important when facing high levels of air pollution. Closing windows to avoid unhealthy air quality could be dangerous without air conditioning on hot days. In addition, air filtration systems that could help reduce pollution usually rely on electricity to operate. For these reasons, CUB advocated to extend disconnection and reconnection protections to instances of unhealthy air quality.
The Commission agreed with CUB and required Xcel to both pause disconnections and offer to reconnect utility service to customers without power when a “red” air quality alert is issued. Xcel has been directed to make these protections available by May 2026 and will be required to submit a compliance filing by the end of the year detailing protection specifics.
To read more about air quality, please refer to MPCA’s website and this EPA guide.
Medical Protections
Xcel has also committed to educating customers about available medical protection measures. For example, if a customer has medical equipment that requires electricity—or has asthma or other health conditions that make them especially prone to extreme heat or air pollution—they can receive protection against disconnection. These protections are always available, and do not require air quality or extreme heat alerts in order to be triggered. In the case of electricity outages due to storms or other factors, restoration of service is also prioritized for these customers.
If you are interested in Xcel’s medical protections, you can access the application here. You will need to have a medical professional sign the form before the protections can be made available. After you have been approved, you will need to renew your application on an annual basis in order to continue receiving medical protection.
Conclusion
CUB greatly appreciates the Commission’s commitment to protecting customers from extreme heat and unhealthy air quality, and thanks Xcel for its cooperation in making these protections a reality.