Published July 18, 2023 Last week, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) approved a proposal to automatically enroll CenterPoint Energy customers who receive Energy Assistance into a program that caps customer bills at an affordable payment each month. These changes will go into effect on January 1, 2024. Gas Affordability Programs (GAPs) offer income-eligible…
Published September 29, 2022 Energy bills have been on the rise, and this winter’s heating bills are unfortunately predicted to be even higher than last year. This is likely going to put a strain on many household budgets. We encourage people who meet income guidelines to apply for the Energy Assistance Program. Energy Assistance provides…
Published October 6, 2021 Energy is essential, and we know all too well that energy bills can be a burden on your household. We don’t want you to be in the position where you need to choose between electricity and other essentials. If you or someone you know is struggling with energy bills there are…
Published August 17, 2021 During the earlier stages of the pandemic, some utilities were prohibited from disconnecting consumers. As of August 2, all of Minnesota’s utilities are allowed to resume disconnections for past-due bills. If you are behind on your bills, here’s what you need to know. Call your utility and ask to arrange a…
Published April 22, 2021 More Minnesota households are now eligible for Energy Assistance and have more time to apply for these important benefits. The household income eligibility guidelines have increased from 50% of the state median income to 60% of the state median income. This applies either to a household’s annual income or the three…
March 22, 2021 MPR Angela Davis and Katie Moritz There’s almost nothing the devastation of the pandemic hasn’t touched. That includes everyday things like bills and Minnesotans’ ability to pay them. During the pandemic, more Minnesotans have struggled to pay utility bills. The number of overdue bills in the state and the dollar amount of…
Published December 1, 2020 Xcel Energy has proposed a program to forgive unpaid utility bills of Minnesota customers who are among the farthest past-due on their bills. The proposal, initially filed as a part of Xcel’s proposals for economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, would forgive 75 percent of the unpaid bills for customers who…
Published June 26, 2020 Are you worried about getting your energy bills paid? Maybe you are already falling behind? It’s stressful to worry about bills piling up, having your electricity or natural gas shut off, or not being able to get your propane tank filled. Getting your utilities shut off or having an empty fuel…
Published October 20, 2019 While winter is technically a few months away, we all know it’s closer than that, and it’s time to get prepared. Households who struggle to pay their winter energy bills may be at risk for getting their heat shut off. Important protections and programs go into effect in October to help…
Updated January 26, 2021 According to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nearly 1 in 3 American households reported challenges in paying utility bills in 2015. Keeping electricity bills affordable and providing information to consumers to reduce their energy expenses is the key goal for the Citizens Utility Board. As we work to…
