MINNESOTA UTILITY RATE ASSISTANCE

• As a result of legislation passed in 1994, Minnesota requires that electric companies serving over 200,000 residential customers provide a 50 percent discount for low-income customers on the first 300 kilowatt hours consumed each month. The provision applies only to the state's largest utility, Xcel Energy. In 2002, approximately $4.2 million in discounts were provided to 46,672 households.

• Late payment and security deposit waivers.

LEVERAGING

2002: $4.7 million
2001: $4.2 million
2000: $3 million
1999: $4.0 million
1998: $3.2 million
1997: $4.2 million
1996: $3.8 million
1995: $2.9 million