Minnesota AG says utilities mismanaged natural gas flow in February, leading to spike in prices

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office has concluded that the state's utilities mismanaged natural gas procurement after a historic winter storm in the South, leading them to overbill their customers for $380 million in wholesale gas costs.

The office said Wednesday it is recommending the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) allow utilities to recover only 53% of the roughly $800 million in costs they are trying to pass down to consumers, saying the companies could have reduced their wholesale gas bills during the run-up - but failed to do so.

"While Minnesota utilities did not cause Winter Storm Uri or the run-up in natural gas prices, they should have reacted forcefully to the pricing emergency and used every tool at their disposal to reduce costs," Ellison said in a statement.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-ag-says-utilities-mismanaged-natural-gas-flow-in-february-leading-to-spike-in-prices/600075849/