Utilities
A tradition of forward thinking attitude toward public infrastructure development has provided Minnesota with modern, well-maintained communications and power systems.
For example:
- More than 32 long distance carriers provide local phone service in the Twin Cities region.
- Minnesota has one of the nation's most efficient networks for high-speed transmissions, including more than 1 million digital access lines and already 11,000 miles of fiber optic cable.
- Commercial electric rates are 15 percent below the national average. Industrial electric rates are 17 percent below the national average.
- Commercial natural gas prices are 17 percent below the national average, while industrial natural gas prices are only 2 percent above the national average.
- Two nuclear facilities produce a quarter of the state’s power needs and a boom in ethanol production and wind power are beginning to have effect on Minnesota’s dependency on carbon-based fuels.
