Public hearings being held on Feb ‘21 natural gas price spike

February 7, 2022

Published February 7, 2022

The Public Utilities Commission wants to hear from you.

Minnesota’s natural gas utilities want ratepayers to cover the entire cost of last February’s natural gas price spike. CUB is currently party to a contested case proceeding where we are arguing that four of these utilities (CenterPoint, Xcel, MERC, and Great Plains) should not be permitted to recover all of last February’s costs from their customers. Over the last couple of months, CUB has been fielding many questions around this contested case, and now anyone who wishes to participate can join the public hearings via telephone or the internet. The hearings are your chance to tell regulators what you think. Your comments will become a part of the record before the Public Utilities Commission and will inform the decision they make on whether to require utility companies to cover part of these costs themselves. Any member of the public may give verbal comments, written submissions, and/or ask questions of witnesses.

Hearings will be held on March 3, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Join by telephone (audio only)

March 3, 2022 1:00 p.m.	March 3, 2022 6:00 p.m.
Phone: 1-855-282-6330 Access Code: 2498 923 7063	Phone: 1-855-282-6330 Access Code: 2493 269 8672

Join by internet (audio and video)

Navigate to: https://minnesota.webex.com
In the open box asking you to enter “Meeting Information,” type the Event Number below:

March 3, 2022 1:00 p.m.	March 3, 2022 6:00 p.m.
Event Number: 2498 923 7063 Event Password, if needed: MnPUC!	Event Number: 2493 269 8672 Event Password, if needed: MnPUC!

The hearings aren’t your only chance to give your input. You can also give comments in writing or you can record and submit a video comment using Flipgrid.

Written submissions

Online: mn.gov/puc/consumers/public-comments, and follow the instructions.
Email: consumer.puc@state.mn.us
U.S. Mail: Consumer Affairs Office, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul MN 55101

Submit a video comment with Flipgrid

It is free to use Flipgrid. You will need a Microsoft or Google account, like a Gmail email address, to access Flipgrid. Videos can be up to 3 minutes in length and must include your name, city, and state where you live. Follow the link https://flipgrid.com/7576e770 to record your video. You may also visit the Flipgrid main page at, https://info.flipgrid.com/, and type in Join Code 7576e770.

Regardless of whether a video comment is played during the public hearing, all videos received by March 3rd at 6:00 p.m. will be reviewed by Administrative Law Judge Moseng.

Reference docket number 21-135 in your comment. Please note that your comment along with your name and any other identifying personal information you include will be part of the public record.