Overview
- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has opened a statewide investigation into the affordability of rates for electricity and natural gas and will compile a report with policy recommendations for the Legislature.
- The PUC held the first of three informational sessions, which took place on Tuesday, and is taking public comments through Oct. 16 with two more sessions set for Nov. 2 and Dec. 8.
- Advocates say unpaid residential balances roughly doubled since the pandemic and disconnections have hit record levels, forcing some households to skip essentials and causing small businesses to delay hiring or raise prices.
- Utilities, including Xcel Energy, have requested recent rate increases to pay for grid and gas infrastructure upgrades, and they cite higher project costs from supply‑chain issues and tariffs as drivers of higher bills.
- The commission aims to weigh testimony from consumers, the attorney general, utilities and experts to define affordability and recommend actions utilities, state officials or legislators could take to reduce customer cost burdens.