Published October 28, 2020 This heating season can bring more challenges to families who are already struggling to keep up with utility bills. Contrary to common belief, utilities can be shut off during the winter months. Fortunately, Minnesota law contains consumer protections, and some extra protections are in place during the COVID-19 emergency. COVID-19 protections…
Published October 6, 2020 Happy fall everyone! As we head into October and Energy Awareness Month, we thought it was good timing to share what our outreach team has been doing in the last several months. Like many organizations, the nature of CUB’s work has been impacted by COVID-19. Since mid-March, our whole organization has…
Published October 5, 2020 A moratorium on utility disconnections remains in place for Minnesota’s regulated utilities, but some unregulated cooperative and municipal utilities have again begun shutting off customers who have past-due bills. CUB has received anecdotal reports of shutoffs by more than two dozen cooperative and municipal utilities located across Minnesota. It is difficult…
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…
Published June 23, 2020 Last Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted recommendations from CUB and partners to reconnect gas service to thousands of Minnesotans who are currently shut off and to strengthen consumers’ shutoff protections during COVID-19 and beyond. CUB has joined together with Energy CENTS Coalition, Minnesota Community Action Partnership, and Legal…
May 9, 2020 Twin Cities Pioneer Press Matthew Guerry Residential customers are having trouble paying their bills. Commercial clients are using less power as offices and other workplaces remain on lockdown. And depending on how severely those factors affect the financial health of Minnesota utility companies, rates might just end up increasing. Major utilities have…
May 6, 2020 Star Tribune Brooks Johnson A group of large utilities is asking state regulators to track pandemic expenses for potential recovery later. Minnesota utilities are bracing for a stack of unpaid bills and increased costs as the pandemic continues to upend the economy. As jobs are lost, late notices are expected to grow,…
April 13, 2020 Twin Cities Pioneer Press Dane Mizutani While most electricity and gas providers are extending additional protections during the COVID-19 crisis, Minnesotans that are behind on utility bills are still being encouraged to contact their provider to ensure service continues. This advice comes the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), a nonprofit advocate for utility…
Published April 7, 2020 Given the current COVID-19 state of emergency, the schedule for Minnesota Power’s rate increase request is being postponed for about a month. Late last year, Minnesota Power filed a request to increase customers’ rates, including a residential rate increase of 15 percent. Customers are currently paying an interim rate increase of…
This page is no longer being updated. For the latest information, visit https://cubminnesota.org/covid-19/ or contact us. Published March 16, 2020. Updated May 19, 2:24 p.m. CUB is asking all utilities to ensure customers are turned on, even people who can’t meet minimum payments right now. We are also asking the State of Minnesota leaders for…
