The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) took action on the application by Minnesota Power Company for a general increase in its electric rates.

 

The Commission substantially reduced the final rates from the overall amount requested by the company.

 

Specifically, the Commission approved an estimated $12.6 million rate increase, which is substantially less than the approximately $55 million increase requested by Minnesota Power. It is also less than the approximately $16 million rate increase recommended by the Administrative Law Judge assigned to this case. The new rates, which will go into effect in late 2018, will increase the average residential bill by approximately $2.63 per month compared to the rates set in the utility’s last rate case.

 

The overall rate increase approved by the Commission will be less than the interim rate increase currently paid by Minnesota Power’s customers. The residential rates approved by the Commission will be 1.5% lower than current interim rates. This means the average residential ratepayer’s bill will decrease by approximately $1.18 per month compared to what they currently pay.

 

The Commission’s decisions in this case and prior cases will ensure that there will be no surcharges on customer bills related to the Energy Intensive Trade Exposed (EITE) rate discounts previously approved by the Commission.

 

A written order formally documenting the Commission’s decisions will be issued in several weeks. This order will be filed in Docket 16-664, which is available on the Commission’s website via the Commission’s e-Dockets system.

 

Information about the Commission can be found on the Commission’s website at www.mn.gov/puc or by contacting the agency’s Consumer Affairs Office at consumer.puc@state.mn.us or 800-657-3782 | 651-296-0406.