In the News
Minnesota utility regulators getting pushback on economic stimulus initiative
November, 8 2020 Star Tribune Mike Hughlett Minnesota utility regulators made an unusual call this spring. They asked the state’s electric and gas utilities to pitch investments that could help jump-start the state’s economy, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Xcel Energy responded with a multibillion-dollar plan that it said could create…
Xcel’s Minnesota customers will pay more next year — the question is how much
November 2, 2020 Star Tribune Mike Hughlett Xcel Energy has filed for an electricity rate increase of $597 million, or 20% over three years, with most of it hitting pocketbooks next year. But the Minneapolis-based utility — by far the state’s largest electricity provider with 1.3 million customers — also said the increase may not be…
Minnesota regulators consider who should have access to smart meter data
August 3, 2020 Energy News Network Frank Jossi A proposal from the state’s Citizens Utility Board wants to make anonymous data open to third-party researchers. As utilities begin to collect more data from smart meters, regulators are facing questions about who should have access to the potential treasure trove. Minnesota regulators took a first step…
Major Minnesota utilities can’t disconnect customers during the pandemic — but local ones can
July 24, 2020 The Bemidji Pioneer Matthew Guerry ST. PAUL — Carla McElmury was already struggling to pay for her utilities when she lost her job. Having taken time off in late 2019 to heal from an operation to remove excess skin, the result of an earlier gastric bypass surgery, she was no longer able…
Utility efficiency programs offer model to merge climate, racial justice solutions
July 2, 2020 Energy News Network Kari Lydersen Many states require utilities to help low-income customers conserve energy despite higher costs and barriers. As urgency grows to simultaneously address climate change and racial justice through proposals like the Green New Deal, low-income energy efficiency programs provide a potential example of how to merge the priorities. …