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For Immediate Release:
August 19, 2022
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Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
Contact: Cori Rude-Young, 651-201-2241
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MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISION ACCEPTS CENTERPOINT ENERGY RATE CASE SETTLEMENT
St. Paul, Minnesota — On August 18, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) adopted the $48.5 million settlement in CenterPoint Energy’s rate case. Originally CenterPoint requested a rate increase of $67 million.
The company filed their general rate increase request in November 2021. In December 2021 the Commission approved a reduced interim rate increase of 3.9 percent for CenterPoint Energy residential natural gas customers. At the same time, the Commission referred the case to the Office of Administrative Hearings to continue public review and comment.
In February 2022, CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota Department of Commerce, Minnesota Office of Attorney General, Fresh Energy, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and the Suburban Rate Authority began settlement discussions which resulted in a March 14, 2022, settlement. In May 2022, the Administrative Law Judge recommended approving the settlement that results in a $48.5 million rate increase, or 4.2 percent. CenterPoint's original proposal would have increased natural gas rates by 6.5 percent, or about $67.1 million.
One of the key functions of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is to ensure the reasonableness of rates charged by regulated electric and natural gas utility companies. This is done through a rate case, which is a legal proceeding conducted by the Commission to determine the amounts to charge customers through rates, based on a utility’s costs to serve its customers. A regulated utility cannot increase its rates without Commission approval. For additional information about the rate review process please visit the Commission’s website.
About
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regulates three cornerstone service industries in Minnesota's economy: electricity, natural gas and telephone. The Commission’s mission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment that ensures safe, adequate and efficient utility services at fair, reasonable rates consistent with State telecommunications and energy policies. It does so by providing independent, consistent, professional and comprehensive oversight and regulation of utility service providers. Learn more at mn.gov/puc.
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