In the News
CenterPoint should share burden of winter storm price spike
June 15, 2022 Star Tribune Lisa Goodman Have you noticed that your CenterPoint gas bill is up this year? You’re not alone. In addition to CenterPoint’s rate hike, some of those higher costs are from a five-day period in February 2021 when wholesale fuel prices spiked 4,000%. If the utility prevails, customers will be paying…
How to decipher your electric bill in Minnesota
June 19, 2022 Star Tribune Mike Hughlett Utility bills can be confusing. Here’s a breakdown of what all the lines on a typical bill mean and what your bill funds. The electricity-sucking summer air-conditioning season is upon us, just as energy costs are soaring. With that in mind, consumers might be scrutinizing their electricity bills….
Minnesota gas utilities criticized for making Uri crisis worse on customers
June 13, 2022 Energy and Policy Institute Karlee Weinmann Minnesota state agencies urged regulators in scathing filings this month to require gas utilities to absorb at least a portion of the combined $662 million in extra charges they racked up over a five-day cold snap in February 2021. The utilities are asking regulators for permission…
CenterPoint touts $1.3B gain from selling stake in company accused of price gouging
CenterPoint touts $1.3B gain from selling stake in company accused of price gouging June 8, 2022 Minnesota Reformer Max Nesterak This past year has been good to CenterPoint. Not so for its customers. On top of soaring gas prices, Minnesotans who get their natural gas from CenterPoint Energy are on the hook for $466 million to…
Judges: Minnesota customers should bear full $660M in costs from February 2021 storm
May 24, 2022 Star Tribune Mike Hughlett Minnesota natural gas utilities acted “prudently” during a historic February 2021 storm, so they should be allowed to fully pass on $660 million in extra gas costs to their customers, according to two administrative law judges. The judges’ conclusions, released Tuesday, rejected contentions from two state agencies that…