Minnesota law will soon require electricity to be carbon-free by 2040, as the 100% clean electricity bill heads to Governor Walz’s desk. This is one of Minnesota’s largest-ever moves to address climate change. It is the result of more than four years of work by the Governor and legislative leaders, environmental experts, utilities, labor, consumer…
Published January 17, 2023 Hearings begin this week on a bill to fully decarbonize Minnesota’s electricity sector. The bill, authored by Representative Jamie Long (HF 7) and Senator Nick Frentz (SF 4) and supported by Governor Walz, would require electric utilities to provide carbon-free power by 2040, ten years earlier than Xcel Energy’s and Minnesota…
Published December 14, 2022 Last year, Xcel Energy filed a request with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to increase rates for its Minnesota electric customers. Because the process for evaluating whether these new rates should be allowed (i.e. a “rate case”) takes time, Minnesota law allows Xcel to increase electricity rates on a temporary basis…
Published October 27, 2022 Last year, Xcel Energy filed a request with state regulators to charge its Minnesota electric customers an additional $677 million over the coming years. In its filing, Xcel addresses several reasons why it seeks to raise rates. For example, Xcel notes that it will be incurring additional costs to build new…
Published July 26, 2022 Otter Tail Power will soon offer an electricity bill discount to income-qualified customers after the company’s proposal was approved by the Public Utilities Commission last week. With this approval, all of Minnesota’s investor owned utilities will now offer affordability programs for customers with low incomes. Otter Tail’s program, called Uplift, will…
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….
Published February 9, 2022 Yesterday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) made its determination in Xcel Energy’s integrated resource plan (IRP), mapping Xcel’s future power generation. The plan will substantially reduce emissions while maintaining reliability. Under the plan, Xcel will close expensive fossil fuel generators, build out clean energy resources, help affected power plant workers…
Published January 25, 2022 For households that heat their home with electric heat, bills can be especially high, running in the hundreds of dollars each month. If you have electric heat as a primary heating source, we encourage you to contact your utility about winter electric heating rates and programs. Electric heat is often the…
Published January 7, 2022 If you receive natural gas or electricity service from Xcel Energy, you’ll notice an interim rate increase on your next bill. Before the holidays, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the increases, beginning January 1, but at substantially lower amounts than Xcel initially requested. An interim rate hike is a…
November 11, 2021 Star Tribune Jana Hollingsworth DULUTH — Minnesota Power Wednesday proposed a reduced interim rate increase to its residential customers, following last week’s filing with state regulators. On Nov. 1, the Duluth-based utility proposed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) an electricity rate increase of 17.58%, or $108 million. The company requested an interim…
