Minnesota Power, an ALLETE Company

In the current block rate structure, the energy charge is based on four levels of usage, with a different energy charge as you reach each level. This means the more energy you use, the more expensive it is per kilowatt-hour (kWh). For low energy users, the cost per kilowatt-hour is less.

With a flat rate, you pay the same energy charge per kilowatt-hour no matter how much energy you use. This is generally how electric utilities in Minnesota charge for energy used.

The impact on your bill from changing to a flat rate will vary depending on your energy usage. Most customers will not see an overall increase in energy charge costs and many will notice a small savings on their monthly bills. To help ease the transition and minimize bill impact, customers who average 1,000 kilowatt-hours or less per month will receive a 30% discount on up to their first 600 kilowatt-hours of energy used each month. This means that the energy charge for the first 600 kilowatt-hours for usage-qualified customers will be $0.06071/kWh.

Beginning in October 2022, the usage-qualified discount will remain in place for customers who:

• continue to average 1,000 kWh or less per month AND
• are either approved for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or inform Minnesota Power that they are income-qualified through a self-declaration process that will be offered in 2022.

No, this change is not an increase to rates, but it is a change to the pricing structure for energy used. See the chart below for examples of the difference in the monthly energy cost under the old block rates compared to the new flat rate, showing impacts for customers with a usage-qualified discount and for customers without this discount.

*Monthly costs include the energy charge only. The $8 monthly service charge is not changing as part of this conversion to a flat rate. Other line items on bills are not included in the comparison table.

Our block rates have been in place for many years—even as energy sources have changed. For example, in 2005, Minnesota Power had 95% coal-based energy and in 2021 we are delivering 50% renewable energy. Our vision is to deliver 100% carbon-free energy by 2050. Click here to learn more about EnergyForward and our vision for a clean-energy future.

Changing how rates are structured will set the stage for the electric grid of the future by recognizing the shift to more renewable energy and enabling a better match of energy usage to the hours when renewable energy is most abundant. We developed our multiyear plan with input from consumer groups, policymakers and other interested parties.

Our phased transition:

• Simplifies a complicated and often confusing rate structure.
• Provides a discount for customers who use 1,000 kWh or less per month, on average.
• Gives customers more control over how they use energy and their bill.
• Opens the door to additional products and services to benefit customers.
• Reflects changes in technology, what customers want, and state and federal energy policy goals.