Protecting Energy Access for Minnesotans with Low Incomes
Energy CENTS members recognize the need to confront utility practices, promote regulatory policies and encourage legislative bodies in order to create solutions to the problems that energy costs and utility policies place on low income citizens and communities. The Coalition will identify actions, policies and funding that promotes the following: guaranteeing universal and affordable utility service to low income households, investing in low income conservation and demand side management programs and protecting low income customers in restructuring of the utility industries.
Our Impact
Energy CENTS has leveraged over $400 million in non-federal resources for low income energy consumers through:
- policy development and legislative advocacy
- regulatory participation
- bill payment and conservation assistance programs
- local projects
By the Numbers
20k+
Customers helped
Our affordability programs assist over 20,000 customers each year.
$400m
of support
Over $400 million in non-federal resources for low income energy consumers
600+
Homes upgraded
Our conservation programs assist over 600 households each year.
Our Mission is to promote affordable utility service for low and fixed income people, to ensure the basic necessity of energy to all citizens, and to encourage the participation of low and fixed income citizens in energy issues and energy related decision-making.
Key Accomplishments
Protecting low income people from high utility rates
We passed legislation requiring the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider ability to pay as a factor in setting utility rates and establishing low-income utility programs.
Strengthening Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule Law
Strengthened and streamlined Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule law, allowing customers to negotiate payment plans and avoid disconnection during the coldest months of the year.
Requiring Utilities to invest in conservation programs
We secured passage of legislation requiring all investor-owned utilities to invest in low-income
Our History
1988
ECC Established
West Hennepin Human Services (formerly the LIHEAP administrative agency in Suburban Hennepin County) establishes ECC and acts as the fiscal agent. ECC is created by volunteers from original organizational members.
1992
First paid staff
First paid staff hired with assistance of a $7,500 grant from the Headwaters Foundation.
1994
Becomes a non-profit
ECC incorporates as an independent non-profit; at least 50% of ECC’s board members must be low-income community members.
Today
How We've Grown
ECC employs 7 FTE staff and two contracted energy auditors. The organizational budget has grown to $5 million. The budget includes $2.3 million in pass-through funds for furnaces, water heaters, insulation and other conservation measures that are offered free to eligible low-income households. ECC’s conservation programs assist over 600 households each year. ECC’s affordability programs assist over 20,000 customers each year.
I want to help this program for all the help it gave me so I could keep up with my utility bills!
PowerON participant
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