October 17, 2019 Mankato, Minnesota (KEYC) Holly Bernstein Xcel Energy is currently working on an Integrated Resource Plan, which determines how it will provide electricity to its customers for the next 15 years. For consumers, the plan maps out the source of their home electricity and how much energy comes from coal, gas, wind and solar power….
03Oct
Make your voice heard: Cleaner, cheaper electricity for Xcel customers
Published October 3, 2019 If you follow this blog, you know that Xcel is in the midst of its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), the map of where Xcel will get its electricity from for the next 15 years. If you’re an Xcel customer, you care about clean energy, and/or you don’t want to be charged…
27Sep
PUC denies Xcel’s request to purchase gas power plant
Published September 27, 2019 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…
06Sep
Keeping our eye on Integrated Resource Planning
September 6, 2019 It’s been two months since Xcel Energy submitted its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Over the last 60 days, CUB and several other parties have had a chance to give the plan a good once (twice, three times) over. The plan brings to light, once again, the…
06Aug
CUB petitions PUC to unleash consumer energy data in the public interest
Published August 6, 2019 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…
05Aug
Xcel’s proposal to buy gas power plant in Mankato should be denied
Published August 5, 2019 Since the beginning of this year, CUB has been monitoring the proposal by Xcel Energy to purchase a 720-megawatt gas power plant in Mankato: the Mankato Energy Center (MEC). For over seven months, parties like CUB, the Department of Commerce, the Office of the Attorney General, the City of Minneapolis, the…
09Jul
Xcel Energy rolling out two new electric vehicle pilots
Published July 9, 2019 In the coming weeks, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is expected to release its Order approving two of several electric vehicle pilot programs from Xcel Energy. As many of you know, electric vehicle (EV) adoption is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. These two pilots take on several challenges…
27Jun
News Release: CUB Announces Regulatory Partnership for Consumer Advocacy in Xcel Energy’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2019 Contact: Annie Levenson-Falk, annielf@cubminnesota.org, 612-568-5707 (cell) Citizens Utility Board Announces Regulatory Partnership for Consumer Advocacy in Xcel Energy’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan Team of legal and technical experts will develop lowest-cost, cleanest energy path for one million Xcel consumers in Minnesota [SAINT PAUL] The Citizens Utility Board…
21May
Xcel’s proposed plan: Good progress on clean energy, but for consumers, the devil is in the details
Published May 21, 2019 Yesterday, clean energy and labor organizations joined with Xcel Energy to propose that Xcel close its remaining coal plants in Minnesota by 2030, more than triple its solar power capacity, increase wind power, and make a strong commitment to energy efficiency. In addition, Xcel would purchase the Mankato Energy Center gas…
15May
What are fair utility rates for large and small customers? Let’s ask Sven and Ole.
Have you heard the old tale about how big businesses pay too much for their utilities, and subsidize residential and small businesses utility rates? Well ya, Ole’s heard that one, too.