Minnesota utilities fell $90M short in protecting customers from February storm costs, agency says

Steep bills for natural gas customers during a crippling winter storm in February could end with some changes in what's allowed for Minnesota utilities if two state agencies have anything to say about it.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce says consumers are being socked with $90 million in extra natural gas costs because utilities failed to draw enough gas from storage during the supply crisis that stemmed from the storm, which paralyzed the nation's gas-producing regions.

Meanwhile, the state Attorney General's Office has called for limits on how much utilities can automatically charge consumers when gas prices skyrocket, as they did in February.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-agency-says-utilities-fell-90m-short-in-protecting-customers-from-february-storm-costs/600056967/