MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The natural gas company Minnesota Energy Resources said its billing practices after Winter Storm Uri were not out of line. The utility’s service area is scattered statewide, including 12 southeast Minnesota counties — which include Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona. In a statement from its Milwaukee headquarters, the utility said: “During this brutal weather event, our priority was to keep customers warm and safe, keep the economy moving, and avoid widespread, deadly disruptions like the ones that occurred in Texas. We took proactive steps to reduce costs for customers, including using stored gas and monthly contracts which lock in lower prices. Our approach saved customers more than $120 million. An important reminder that natural gas is a pass-through expense. We buy it on behalf of customers, there is no mark-up or profit earned on the purchase of natural gas.”
Subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Group. Provides electricity and natural gas to 4.4 million customers in four states. In Minnesota there are 243,000 customers in 179 communities.