Gas utilities in the Twin Cities are advising customers to conserve energy as a mass of arctic air sweeps through Minnesota.
Xcel Energy said its natural gas customers will face a temporary price hike as winter weather across the country juices demand for heating fuel.
While temperatures are plunging far below zero across Minnesota, a large winter storm will dump “crippling” snow, ice and cold from the southern plains through Ohio and into the Mid-Atlantic this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
As a result, widespread heating needs have made the wholesale price of natural gas rise.
“While the company has taken steps to mitigate the impacts to customer bills from the higher natural gas prices, customers may want to consider conserving energy for the next few days,” Xcel said in a statement.
Xcel supplies natural gas to nearly half a million customers in 27 Minnesota counties. The utility’s rates for natural gas have already risen for 2026, with a 6.8% price hike that kicked in on Jan. 1.
CenterPoint Energy, which supplies natural gas to more than 900,000 customers in Minnesota, is also urging customers to conserve energy, but it did not report the oncoming weather would affect gas rates.
Both companies suggested their customers take the following steps for energy conservation:
