In the News
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…
Coming this Summer: Spiking Electricity Bills Plus Blackouts
May 11, 2022 Inside Climate News Dan Gearino Electricity prices are rising in much of the country at the same time that climate change is contributing to extreme heat and a high chance of blackouts this summer. For consumers, the result is an increase in financial strain to pay for a product that often is…
CenterPoint boosts CEO pay to $37.8 million, blowing past other utilities
April 19, 2022 Energy and Policy Institute Karlee Weinmann CenterPoint Energy paid its CEO a total of $37.8 million last year, far exceeding executive pay at peer companies while it sought massive rate hikes for customers already struggling to keep up with skyrocketing utility bills. A review of executive compensation at large U.S. utilities places David Lesar’s…