The Legislature enacted a law this year to help iron ore mines, steel mills, paper mills and other large energy users become more globally competitive by giving them a chance to lower or better predict their electricity bills. The law gave certain utilities the right to petition the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to change the rate structures for these customers if they could show "a net benefit." Minnesota Power (MP), a Duluth-based utility serving the Iron Range, filed with the PUC to lower the rates for these industrial customers, which would result in a rate hike of 14.5% for residential customers – including low-income and senior Minnesotans.

The Legal Services Advocacy Project (LSAP), AARP, Energy CENTS Coalition, the Attorney General and the Department of Commerce, and other consumer groups, filed briefs claiming that MP has failed to meet its burden to show net benefit, and that the proposed increase was not just and reasonable, and would exacerbate the financial hardship being felt by consumers on the Range.

"The issue is why does it have to be, "You win, and I lose?" Ron Elwood, supervising attorney for LSAP, said in an interview. "Why can't we figure out a way to minimize the impact?" Read the full Star Tribune story.