Testify at 7 pm tonight on Xcel Energy’s plan to increase your electric bill to build electric vehicle chargers
On Monday, March 6th, Minnesotans had a chance to let Xcel Energy know about its plan to increase your electric bills to pay for electric vehicle charging stations. If you missed Monday’s hearing, you can air your grievances tonight at 7 pm.
To participate, click the link below and type this number: 2494 184 6116, into the box that says “Enter Meeting Information.” For the password, type MnPUC!
https://mn.gov/puc/about-us/calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D165320009
Most of the comments I heard on Monday opposed the rules based on fairness, namely that it would be unfair to charge people who do not have electric vehicles for charging stations they would never use. Even some Tesla owners called in to say they did not feel they should be forced to pay for additional charging stations.
If you are not sure what to say, here is some suggested language you can use. You can also sign our petition by filling out the green box below.
Dear Members of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
I am testifying today because I strongly oppose Xcel Enery’s attempt to increase my electric bill to fund the building of electric vehicle charging stations. I am urging you to vote no to this proposal in the strongest-possible terms.
Minnesota families and businesses are already struggling with high electricity costs as electricity rates in 2022 reached new all-time highs.[1] Unfortunately, Xcel’s proposal would compound these hardships.
It is absolutely wrong to increase the cost of electricity for low and middle-income families to pay for electric vehicle charging stations because these families, as a rule, cannot afford electric cars. As a result, this proposed initiative will benefit wealthy people on the backs of hardworking families. If you care about concepts like environmental justice, you cannot support this proposal.
Furthermore, the transmission and distribution of electricity are natural monopolies, but the provision of electric vehicle charging stations is not. Tesla did not need a government-approved rate of return to establish a robust charging network, and neither does Xcel Energy.
If Xcel Energy wishes to participate in the public electric vehicle charging industry, it should do so through an unregulated subsidiary and not as a regulated monopoly. The company should not be allowed to cynically use the funds of captive ratepayers to pad its rate base and increase its corporate profits under the guise of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.