Utility trade group sponsorships draw more questions for Minnesota regulators after Puerto Rico conference

Minnesota utility regulators are facing additional questions over a trip to a conference sponsored, in part, by industry interest groups.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reported Thursday on travel by members of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The commissioners had just returned from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) conference in Puerto Rico.

The PUC said the trip was educational, but critics questioned why utility trade groups are paid sponsors. Some of those groups lobby on behalf of member companies. Members of at least a couple of conference sponsors include Xcel Energy, which the PUC recently approved increased natural gas and electric rates for.

“I think it’s really important to understand that these are ab...