MINNEAPOLIS – The biggest utility in the Twin Cities  and southern Minnesota, Xcel Energy, asked state regulators for a 9.4% rate increase in January. The request to the state Public Utilities Commission asks, alslo,  for a 21% hike in all over three years. Most of the new revenue would  be spent on new feeder lines from solar and wind farms.  Residential customers would see an average monthly increase between $15 and $21, Xcel said.

Earlier: Brace for much, much higher heating bills