The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has unanimously denied Xcel’s request to purchase the Mankato Energy Center power plant. The PUC agreed with CUB that Xcel failed to show that spending $650 million was in the public interest and, crucially, that the utility was attempting to sidestep crucial regulatory processes in place to protect consumers from…
Today, CUB filed a formal request that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) set rules to make electricity data available for research and analysis that can reduce waste, save consumers money, and cut emissions. CUB’s request for Open Data Access Standards CUB has asked the PUC to adopt Open Data Access Standards that would allow…
Here at CUB, we work to provide consumers with reliable information on the latest energy-saving technology, so you can make informed decisions related to your energy use. This blog post will inform you on the basics of heat pump technology, direct you to reliable resources to learn more, and highlight some deep rebates available now…
Statement on Governor Walz’s 100% Clean Energy Announcement and HF 1956 Governor provides leadership toward 100% clean energy for Minnesota in a way that will save customers money, maintain reliability, and create jobs. MINNEAPOLIS/ ST. PAUL – March 6, 2019 – The Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota applauds the bold leadership of Governor Walz and…
While driving around town nowadays you may have noticed more and more electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads, and you are not alone. Xcel Energy has also taken notice and is now looking to expand its services to support the growth of the EV market. Xcel has proposed a pilot to build out charging infrastructure…
So, you have decided you are interested in electric vehicles (EVs)? EVs offer lower fuel costs and lower maintenance costs, and they are better for the environment. That said, there are many different questions you may be asking before you purchase. What is an electric vehicle? There are many vehicles out there that are powered…
Meeting Minnesota’s electricity demands mainly through renewable energy would keep the electric system reliable, drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save the average household thousands of dollars. That is the conclusion of a new study conducted by Vibrant Clean Energy for the McKnight Foundation. The study examined options to achieve Minnesota’s statutory goal of reducing…
One of our roles at CUB is to help Minnesotans better understand their energy options. To do that, we also want to help people understand some of the basic, technical aspects of energy, such as measuring it. In most of our homes, energy as a resource is something we can’t see, feel, hear, or touch….
Last month, Great River Energy (GRE) announced that 50% of its electricity supply will come from renewable resources by 2030. This will more than double the power cooperative’s current renewable generation over the next 12 years. GRE, based in Maple Grove, is Minnesota’s second-largest electricity generator behind Xcel Energy, which announced last year that it…
A fundamental goal of energy policy has been to reduce the amount of electricity used as much as possible. That is, until recently. Now, the power sector is rapidly changing, more clean energy generation is coming online, and new goals are emerging. We still want to squeeze every bit of efficiency out of our energy…
