Do Minnesotans Now Pay More Or Less For Utilities Compared To Other States?

Minnesotans are tough. Every winter we can handle the cold, the snow, and... our ever-increasing energy and heating bills. But just how do our utility bills here stack up against those in the rest of the country?

Utility bills are a fact of life we all have to deal with to live in a current, modern society. And while they always *seem* to be increasing, here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we have a governmental body set up to oversee those rates energy companies charge us.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates electricity, natural gas and telephone utilities across the state. Its mission, according to the PUC is 'to improve the lives of all Minnesotans by ensuring safe, reliable, and sustainable utility services at just and reasonable rates.' One of the rules it uses is Minnesota's Cold Weather rule, which helps keep the heat on for every Minnesotan during the winter. (Read more about it below.)

READ MORE: Here's Minnesota's Recommended Thermostat Setting to Stay Comfy and Save Money

So how good is the PUC at keeping those rates reasonable for all us paying customers here in the North Star State? Well, a new survey was just conducted by hot water experts Eden Emerald Hot Water.  They looked at the average cost of utilities in each U.S. state, including gas, electric, water, and more. They then compared that total cost with the annual salary in each location to come up with a ranking.

And you might think, courtesy to those frigid temperatures and snow we get each year courtesy of Old Man Winter, that Minnesota is likely one the states with the highest utility bills. I thought so... before I saw this survey, that is. Because, believe it or not, Minnesota is actually one of the states with the cheapest utility costs.

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In fact, Minnesota ranked 7th on the list of the Eden Emerald Hot Water survey of States Spending The Least on Monthly Utility Bills. Here in the Gopher State, the survey said we spend an average of $7,031 per year on utility and energy bills, good for 11.05 percent of our average salaries. While $7,000 is still a lot of money, of course, at least our rate is over a full percentage point below the national average of 12.61 percent.

Which states pay less than we do in Minnesota? Only Massachusetts, Utah, New York, California, and Washington had lower utility bills than the Bold North. Colorado's bills are the cheapest in the nation, according to the survey, with a rate of 9.86 percent of average salaries.

States That Spend The Least Amount on Monthly Utility Bills

1. Colorado
2. Washington
3. California
4. New York
5. Utah
6. Massachusetts
7. Minnesota
8. New Jersey
9. Maryland
10. Virginia

SEE ALSO: Everything You Need to Know About Minnesota's 'Cold Weather' Utility Bill Rule

So just which states pay the MOST when it comes to monthly utilities? That would be the folks who call West Virginia home.  According to the study, the state’s annual bills average $8,007, and salaries average $49,170, good for a rate of 16.28 percent of their average salaries on household bills-- nearly 30 percent above the national average of 12.61 percent.  

Mississippi, Maine, Hawaii, and Alabama round out the top five states whose residents spend the most on their monthly utility bills. Again, those results are somewhat surprising, if you ask me. Especially seeing that several cities here in Minnesota made the list of the Coldest Cities in America again this year. Keep scrolling to see which ones they are!

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