Minnesotans make personal plea to state utility commission to reject BlackRock takeover
October 2, 2025
Tomorrow, Friday October 3rd, the Minnesota Public Utility Commission is expected to make a final decision on BlackRock’s attempted acquisition of Allete, the parent company of Minnesota Power. PESP has been engaged in this process for months now, but as we approach the last step in the proceeding, we wanted to share some of the personal comments that have been sent to the Commission.
Page after page in the docket show pleas from Minnesotans to the commissioners to reject the deal. Here are small handful that have been filed just in the last few days:
“Please oppose this sale and protect us as homeowners who rely on this power and literally have no option to get our power anywhere else.”
“Electricity is too expensive already and selling to them will increase our rates dramatically”
“Do the right thing for Minnesota and the country”
“Will their desire to prioritize recovery on that investment and future profits jeopardize affordable energy for ratepayers as well as the jobs for Northern Minnesotans?”
“Please do not approve this at the expense of Minnesota and Minnesotans—we and our kids can’t afford that.”
“Utilities are not just businesses—they are lifelines for our communities. I urge the Commission to reject this proposed acquisition and ensure that Minnesota Power remains accountable to the people it serves.”
“Cost of living is a big issue, and allowing any potential loss of control of a big part of our bills is scary for consumers. I would like to see MN protect consumers from investors more interested in profits than providing a service for our community.”
“We can expect Black Rock to make as much money as possible, as quickly as possible, off the backs of residents. Minnesotans deserve a power company that we can trust to maintain affordable utility rates, especially during winter.”
“Please say no to the sale of MN Power to Blackrock. We don’t want the risk of much higher premiums and profit prioritization or to have our local company owned by a private equity company.”
“I am a resident of Duluth and I am writing in to strongly voice my opposition to letting BlackRock acquire MN Power. Power utilities are not a commodity, they are not a profit center, and they are not for sale to the highest bidder. Power is a basic essential service that should be owned by the people who are served by it. Keep private equity and billionaires out of our essential services. I am asking you to do your jobs and to do what is right.”
“I am asking you to please vote NO to this sale and protect the future citizens of our great state of Minnesota from the whims and greed of private equity firms.”
“It is your job to protect the utility interest of Minnesota residents. Please vote no to this acquisition.”
“We the People do NOT WANT THIS! I implore you, since you are supposed to be a servant of the public, PLEASE for ONCE put the public ahead of Big Business. Please be on the right side of history on this issue. “
You can read these and many more in the full docket HERE, including state lawmakers and a wide range of advocacy groups, along with the groups formally intervening against the deal such as the Office of the Attorney General, Citizens Utility Board, CURE MN, Sierra Club, and Large Power Interveners.
