REGIONAL— Minnesota Power continues to lead the way among the state’s utilities for energy conservation. In 2022, for the 13th year in a row, the Duluth-based electric utility has exceeded the state’s annual goal of reducing electrical demand by 1.5 percent a year as part of an effort to reduce climate-impacting emissions.
Minnesota Power is the only Minnesota utility to have exceeded the goal each year since 2010.
Minnesota Power achieved energy savings of 2.9 percent of gross annual retail energy sales in 2022, well above the goal set by the state in 2010, and also above the goal of 1.75 percent established in the 2021 Energy Conservation and Optimization Act.
Minnesota Power’s Conservation Improvement Program team works with business and residential customers to provide tools and programs to help them reduce energy use. Those efforts paid off by saving 76.4 million kilowatt-hours in 2022, enough energy to power about 8,433 homes for a year. The savings translate to an approximately 45,191-ton reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide, which is comparable to taking 8,912 cars off the road for a year.
Minnesota Power reported the savings in its annual Conservation Improvement Program report submitted April 3 to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
“Helping our residential customers, businesses and communities save energy—and reduce carbon emissions—is a key aspect of our sustainability in action strategy and building a clean-energy future,” said Frank Frederickson, vice president of Customer Experience and Engineering Services at Minnesota Power. “Our Conservation Improvement team continues to create new offerings and resources to ensure that customers can make informed choices about how they use energy, while powering the rest of their needs with a state-leading supply of 50 percent renewable energy. We will continue to be a leader in energy conservation as we move toward our vision for a 100-percent carbon-free energy supply.”
Energy conservation is an important component of Minnesota Power’s EnergyForward vision for delivering 100 percent carbon-free energy safely, reliably and affordably. The company offers a variety of services, programs, rebates and incentives to help customers make informed choices about their energy use. Services include:
• Rebates on energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
• Rebates on cold- climate air source heat pumps. New technology enables this energy-efficient alternative to traditional furnaces to perform in cold climates.
• Free energy analysis for homes and businesses.
• Refrigerator/freezer recycling.
For more information about these options and other ideas for saving energy, visit www.mnpower.com.