“Energy bills don’t pause just because a family is experiencing lost income or upheaval. We’ve heard from hundreds of households who did everything they could to get through the winter—and now they’re facing the aftermath. Support like this helps families catch up, stay housed, and begin to recover.”– ANNIE LEVENSON FALK, CITIZENS UTILITY BOARD OF MINNESOTA
Minneapolis, MN – May 12, 2026: As spring arrives and Cold Weather Rule protections come to an end, thousands of Minnesota families are facing a hard reality: they may lose access to the energy they need to keep their homes safe, livable, and stable. Many households are still recovering from Operation Metro Surge, adding to the number of families struggling with job loss, reduced income, and rising monthly bills. Across the state, Minnesotans are now a staggering $156 million behind on their utility bills, according to data reported by utilities to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
When utility bills go unpaid, families can lose more than service—they can lose food, medicine, safety, and the stability they need to recover. To help meet this urgent need, the McKnight Foundation has awarded a $300,000 grant to the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota (CUB) in support of its Lights On, Homes Warm utility bill relief fund, which provides direct assistance to households struggling to pay electricity and natural gas bills.
Utility bills are one of the largest monthly expenses Minnesota families face after housing and food. Twin Cities workers lost $240 million in wages because of the Surge according to researchers at UC San Diego, stretching already strained household budgets even further. Shutoffs can deepen housing instability, add stress to already burdened families, and make recovery even harder for people trying to get back on their feet. And when those bills go unpaid, the consequences ripple outward to schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
“A crisis doesn’t end when the headlines fade,” said Tonya Allen, president of the McKnight Foundation. “For many families, it shows up months later in overdue bills and the fear of losing essential services. Keeping homes warm in the winter and safe in the summer is fundamental to health and stability—and recovery demands that we address these quiet, compounding burdens with the care and urgency they deserve.”
The Lights On, Homes Warm fund provides direct payments to utility providers to reduce or eliminate overdue balances, helping households avoid disconnection and stabilize their finances as winter protections expire. CUB also helps households connect to energy assistance programs and other resources that can lower bills over time.
“Energy bills don’t pause just because a family is experiencing lost income or upheaval,” said Annie Levenson Falk, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota. “We’ve heard from hundreds of households who did everything they could to get through the winter—and now they’re facing the aftermath. Support like this helps families catch up, stay housed, and begin to recover.”
This grant reflects McKnight’s commitment to keeping energy affordable for families as a core climate and equity issue, and follows the Foundation’s investment of an additional $20 million to strengthen communities and democracy in 2026, including $2.6 million in rent relief to keep Minnesotans housed after the Surge. For families with the fewest financial buffers, high energy burdens can erase months of progress toward stability, forcing impossible tradeoffs between rent, food, medical care, and transportation.
By partnering with trusted, community-facing organizations like CUB, McKnight aims to support communities with immediate help that families can feel right away—while strengthening systems that promote long-term affordability and resilience.
“No one should lie awake at night wondering if their power will be shut off,” said McKnight board chair Ted Staryk. “This grant is about dignity—about making sure families can keep the lights on and their homes stable as they recover. Energy affordability sits at the intersection of climate, housing, and economic security, and the need across Minnesota far exceeds any single grant. We encourage others to join us and continue showing up for our neighbors.”
To learn more about the Lights On, Homes Warm Fund, support utility bill relief, or join efforts to keep Minnesota families safe from shutoffs, visit https://cubminnesota.org/lights-homes-warm.
About the McKnight Foundation
McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.
About the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota
The Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota (CUB) is a nonprofit advocate for Minnesota’s utility consumers. They provide Minnesotans with free, unbiased information about their energy rights and obligations. They champion affordable, reliable, safe, and clean home energy for all Minnesotans.
