FIGHT UTILITY RATE INCREASES
Everyone should have access to affordable and diverse sources of electricity.
Yet two of Minnesota’s largest electricity providers want to raise their rates for residential customers—Xcel Energy by 21% and Minnesota Power by 18%. This would increase utility bills by an average of $140-$240 per year.
If approved by the Public Utilities Commission, these rate hikes would be a blow to lower-income communities. Already, 1 in 8 Xcel customers are behind on their bills.
With our current energy system, utility companies have monopolies. This lets them assert control over the market and prioritize the needs of their investors over their customers.
As people of faith and conscience, we need to fight these utility rate increases. This is not only about unreasonable and unfair rates. It’s a climate justice issue with energy equity at its core.
Join the fight for energy democracy and say NO to utility rate increases!
Sign Our Petition
Utility Service Areas
Take Action
Get More Involved
Fill out this form if you're interested in any of these opportunities to get more involved!
Join the Energy Revolution Team
Be part of a statewide team that helps plan events and activities, digs into the issues, and grows the movement for energy democracy.
Door-Knock in the Twin Cities
Let residents know how to prepare for and fight against Xcel's rate increase. Training provided.
Host a House Party
Gather a group together to talk about the rate increase and guide people in writing to the Public Utilities Commission. We provide training and supplies. This is an easy and fun activity!
Schedule an Energy Democracy Workshop
Invite MNIPL to lead an online or in-person workshop for your faith/spiritual community on energy democracy and why fighting utility rate increases is a critical climate justice issue.
Share this flyer with your congregation or community and ask them to sign our petition.
Advocate with the PUC
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is charged with reviewing utility requests. They truly want to hear from Minnesotans and have all citizens be part of their decision-making process
The public comment period is closed for Minnesota Power, but you still have a say on the Xcel Energy rate case!
Sign Our Petition
We will include your signature in MNIPL's public comment to the PUC.
Submit a Written Comment to the PUC
Submit a comment about the Xcel rate case online, by email, or by postal mail. Make sure you reference docket 21-630.
- Fill out the PUC's online form (scroll towards the bottom of the page)
- Email [email protected]
- Mail to Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place East, Suite #350, St. Paul, MN 55101
Follow the Cases
Use the PUC's eDockets system to view documents filed in the cases. Minnesota Power's docket number is 21-335; Xcel Energy's is 21-630. Click here to subscribe and receive email notifications of any new document filings. These include public comments!
Resources
Read about our campaign in Camden News! - Green Zones can fight back against energy rate increases
Watch the recording of the August 2 community connector webinar about energy equity and the proposed rate hikes.
Resources from our partners at Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA):
- Participating in Power: How to Read and Respond to Integrated Resource Plans: This guide includes examples from states that have used administrative, legislative, and executive powers to incorporate equity, environmental justice, and consideration of energy burden more broadly into regulatory decision-making and specifically into resource planning.
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In Pursuit of Equitable Clean Energy: The Power of Coalitions for Utility Regulatory Transformation: Talks about our regulatory engagement work using MN as an example, and the ways stakeholders have been advocating for equity issues in that proceeding
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Transforming Utility Regulation to Achieve Climate Goals: This is a blog my former colleague Jake did with Rob Klee back at the beginning of our PUC mandate work that goes into some more detail on the concept
- A comprehensive list of many Utility Regulatory Transformation Resources
Minnesota Power Case
Current status: The PUC hearing was recently extended to mid-January, 2023.
Read the public comment MNIPL, along with our partners Vote Solar, Honor the Earth, and Sierra Club, filed with the PUC on August 29.
Read a press release issued by MNIPL and other environmental groups opposing Minnesota Power's rate hike.
Get highlights of 11 issues with Minnesota Power's case. Many of these also apply to Xcel Energy!
Have Questions?
- Xcel Energy rate case and the energy democracy campaign overall—Joshua Lewis, [email protected]
- Minnesota Power rate case and energy equity issues specific to northeastern Minnesota—Bret Pence, [email protected]