Report suggests energy utilities like Xcel are increasing profits even as customer bills surge Over the last four years, investor-owned utilities have been steadily increasing their profits as electricity bills soar. Xcel called the report flawed.

Read more: www.cpr.org/2026/03/13/p...

From 2021-2024, these for-profit companies pulled in ~$186 BILLION, while in 2021-2025, residential electric bills jumped nearly 40%. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has an opportunity to rein in these profits by denying Xcel’s newest gas rate increase–the third request in six years.

“For every dollar utilities collected from customers between 2021-2024, [investor-owned utilities] kept around 13 cents as profit.” @energyandpolicy.org found utilities serving most of the country raked in rising profits while families paid the price.

Upcoming Events - Clean Heat Minnesota UPCOMING EVENTS May 6 | Xcel Energy Gas Rate Case Public Comment Writing Workshop Come join Clean Heat Minnesota and Third Act Minnesota for an in-person public comment workshop about Xcel Energy’s cu...

Interested? Register here: bit.ly/XcelGasHike

We’ll discuss Xcel’s gas rate hike request and hear from @thirdactorg.bsky.social's Dave Mann on writing testimony based in your values. Afterward, folks will have plenty of time to enjoy conversations, community, and good food as you learn how to write and submit your own comments ➡️

We’re urging the Minnesota PUC to deny this request, but we need your help. Are you in Xcel’s gas service area? Join our public comment writing workshop on May 6 from 6- 7:30 pm at the Riverview Public Library in Saint Paul ➡️

Xcel Energy wants to raise gas rates AGAIN! If approved, this would be the 3rd hike in 6 years. That’s ~$85 more per year for Minnesotans, while the utility keeps investing in costly gas pipes and passing the bill and profits on to customers ➡️

How energy codes shape comfort and costs at home » Yale Climate Connections Eric Fowler of Fresh Energy in Minnesota says stronger standards can lower bills and improve safety during outages.

With growing weather extremes and energy costs on the rise, quality building codes can ensure new housing is more efficient, more resilient, and cheaper to live in. Read more: yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/04/how-...

Quality homes also mean greater resilience to extreme weather. Homes built to modern building standards maintain safer temperatures nearly twice as long during power outages, allowing people to shelter in place during extreme weather.

With energy costs rising, why build a drafty home? Efficient housing is one of the most effective ways to lower bills. Energy efficient homes hold their temperature, so you use less energy and pay less every month.

Building codes ensure quality housing and greater energy efficiency to lower utility bills and keep you safe and comfortable at home.

@freshenergy.bsky.social's Eric Fowler: “What we can do is make sure that our homes are sipping rather than guzzling that energy. And even if the price of energy is going up, we can make sure that the bill that we get at the end of the month is as minimal as possible.” Let’s break this down >>>

Paying More for Less: Why gas bills are rising in Minnesota - Clean Heat Minnesota What many people don’t realize is that utilities generally don’t make money from the gas they sell. Their profits come from infrastructure investments, such as replacing gas lines.

Can’t get enough? Check out our blog explaining how gas bills are rising despite Minnesotans using less gas: cleanheatmn.org/paying-more-...

The Hidden Culprit Behind Rising Gas Utility Bills  - Inside Climate News From the cold snap this winter to the U.S.’s war with Iran, rising energy bills are making headlines. But there’s a larger story behind spikes in gas-utility costs, one decades in the making.  The mai...

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission must act to rein in these rising costs and hold utilities accountable. Read more: insideclimatenews.org/news/0704202...

In fact, gas bills are rising faster than electric bills and 4x faster than inflation, even as gas use declines. That means we’re paying more for an aging, underused system. Over the past decade, utilities have tripled spending on pipelines––costs passed directly onto customers.

A new report from @buildingdecarb.org finds that 70% of gas utility bills come from infrastructure costs like pipeline replacements and company profits, while the gas itself makes up just 30%.

@canarymedia.com: “In most cases, homes can go all-electric on 100 amps.”

New research shows most homes can go all-electric on as little as 100 amps. No expensive upgrades. No volatile gas heating. No indoor air pollution. Read more:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...

Mind-blowing March heat wave crests; records melt from Arizona to Minnesota » Yale Climate Connections Fourteen states have set all-time March heat records, and the U.S.-wide record was tied or beaten on four consecutive days.

Minnesota’s record-breaking 88° in March shows a growing need for highly efficient cooling beyond just summer alone. Weatherization + efficient heat pumps = lower bills & cooler homes as summers get hotter. Read more: yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/03/mind...

It’s time to invest in efficient, affordable, electric tech like heat pumps for a better energy future. Read more: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

“Circumstances are going to be unpredictable.”

Customers everywhere are feeling the squeeze from volatile natural gas prices driven by global conflicts, unstable energy markets, and corporate profits. ->

Report: Minnesota home insurance premiums to continue rising amid extreme weather The state could rank No. 9 for most expensive premiums by the end of the year as damage from storms and floods drive up costs.

Minnesota homeowners are seeing soaring insurance costs, close to $4k this year, thanks to extreme weather. Weatherizing homes + efficient heat pumps = lower bills, safer homes, real relief as temps swing hotter & colder. Read more:

www.startribune.com/report-minne...

Minnesota slaps limits on pay for utility executives The restrictions mean that top officials at Xcel Energy can't collect more than $150,000 a year in salary from state ratepayers. That's on par with what

This applies to one case only, but it’s a stark reminder: ratepayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for bloated executive compensation. Read more: www.eenews.net/articles/min...

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission just upheld a decision to cap how much utility customers can be charged for top executive pay at $150k per exec, closing out a year-long legal fight after Xcel challenged it in court.

Report: Minnesotans could pay billions a year if the state doesn’t adapt to climate change A new legislative study showed the potential costs of the state’s warming climate.

Read more: www.startribune.com/report-minne...

Heat pumps are ~24% more efficient than the best AC and nearly half of heat-related deaths happen indoors. Doing nothing is the most expensive option. Clean, efficient cooling = lifesaving cooling and greater resilience and cost savings.

@StarTribune.com: “As the climate warms, air conditioning would be the “single largest investment.” Minnesotans could pay $20B/year in climate costs if we don’t act.

Visit our website in the link in our bio to learn more about our work at the PUC and how you can weigh in on Xcel’s recent gas rate increase request.

We need to rein in gas pipeline and infrastructure spending that delivers corporate profits and instead invest in the affordable, reliable, clean energy systems we need to lower energy costs and provide greater resilience to weather extremes.

This follows a familiar pattern: profiting by charging customers for construction projects AND an excessively high return for corporate shareholders. MN PUC serves as a critical check on corporate profiteering by utilities with monopoly power.

@cbsnews.com Despite profiting a record $2B in 2025, @Xcel is AGAIN asking the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to raise gas rates for nearly 500,000 Minnesotans – an 8.7% increase to already-rising bills.