Hearings on Xcel's 21% Rate Hike scheduled in the Twin Cities
TAKE ACTION! Join the fight for energy democracy and say NO to unprecedented utility rate increases! Your voice and Public Comments make a difference. :
The Minnesota PUC has scheduled in-person hearings and 2 virtual hearings allowing you the opportunity to express how Xcel Energy’s proposed rate increase will affect you and your family. After expressed opposition by the Just Solar Coalition intervenors of which Community Power is a member, Xcel has agreed to add hearings in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
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Thursday, October 20 at 5:30 pm in St. Paul -
St. Paul Rondo Community Library
Rondo Multipurpose Room
461 Dale St N
St. Paul, MN 55103 -
Friday, October 21 at 2:30 pm in Minneapolis -
Minneapolis Central Library
Doty Board Room
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55401
There is a huge disconnect between what Xcel says when it's selling its energy plan ("we'll keep bills low") and then requesting a 21% electric rate increase over 3 years.
When Xcel wants to raise the rates which we pay for electricity, they have to prove to the quasi-judicial 5-member Public Utilities Commission that their rates are “just and reasonable”. The public hearings they provide are where you can come in.
Because utility companies are monopolies, they have the power to assert control over the market and prioritize the needs of their investors over their customers, unless held in check by these state regulators.
Can't Make it in person? Take part in these Virtual Hearings:
- Monday, October 31 at 1:30 pm - Instructions to join via WebEx can be found here (pdf).
- Wednesday, November 2 at 6:00 pm - Instructions to join via WebEx can be found here (pdf).
October 10, 2022
This Summer, House Parties for the People's Climate & Equity Plan!
The City of Minneapolis has the scientifically correct climate goals on paper:
We need a robust People’s Climate & Equity Plan at scale for us to actually meet the targets.
In order to mobilize the City Council and the Mayor to pass something more than half-measures, the coalition campaign will be organizing outdoor house parties this summer.
I - Lee - will be hosting one in Mid-July! Community Power organized a series of 2-3 dozen house parties before and they are a great way to deepen community relations. Sign up here to host or co-host a "house" party and click here to see the House Party Toolkit to learn what is involved.
To see what an "at-scale" climate equity plan could look like in action, check out this article: Minneapolis jobs program aims to grow and diversify clean energy workforce by Frank Jossi, April 11, 2022
Read more
June 05, 2022
Xcel's 2021 Report Gives Glimpse Into Their Future Planning
The MN Public Utilities Commission has decided on Xcel recent Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), but here’s a glimpse ahead. Xcel Energy just released their 2021 Annual Report which might reveal the direction Xcel hopes to take with their future IRPs.
Overall, we need to see some more proof that Xcel trying to avoid actual investing in the things we need: solar, wind, geothermal, storage, demand response, and efficiency.
Here is the Main Page for Xcel’s 2021 Annual Report
Here is the Interactive Report where you can access the text
Click below to see some quotes from it:
May 31, 2022
Xcel and CenterPoint enabling Climate Opposition
CenterPoint CEO receives a $37 Million salary while customers pay more. The company also ranks among the nation's worst in aggressive lobbying against climate polices
- CenterPoint Boost CEO Pay to $37.8 Million, blowing past other utilities. David Lesar’s Hefty raise comes as CenterPoint Customers Face Soaring utility bills. By Karlee Weinmann April 19th, 2022
- Some CenterPoint customers fuming over high gas bills By Heather Sullivan February 22, 2022
- CenterPoint shareholders rebuke CEO David Lesar’s $38 million compensation(in a highly unusual move) By Shelby Webb, Houston Chronicle April 23, 2022
May 17, 2022
My Personal Comments on the Proposed Inclusive Financing Pilot Project
(Click Here to view my comments posted on the official website and Click Here for the official Community Power reply comment)
In addressing my comments on Docket #21-377, I’d like the MN Public Utilities Commissioners to hear an appreciation for Tariff-Based Inclusive Financing (abbreviated as TBIF) as a rare and valuable path for us to act on climate in a way that doubles as economic and housing justice. I have talked with people in the community and collected signatures in favor of Inclusive Financing (coupled with an ask for workforce development) starting on Earth Day of 2016 for nearly 4 years until COVID-19 put a hiatus on in-person events. There is a reason why I found this to be a very refreshing conversation to have at community events with friends, acquaintances and new people. I’d like the commissioners to hear first-hand just how liberating it is to be able to pitch support for a pro-climate justice & pro-environment policy innovation that does not ask those of us struggling to get by to pay just a bit extra for something but instead has the power to reduce the marginal cost of living. The petition resulted in well over 1000 petition signatures being delivered to the Energy Vision Advisory Committee and the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership Board in 2021.
May 17, 2022