In short: Duluth is on Minnesota Power, whose homes paid about 15.7¢ per kWh in 2024, below Xcel’s 17¢, and lost about 120 minutes of power each (EIA). St. Louis County rates “very high” for cold waves, lightning and winter weather. Minnesota Power pays $500 toward a Level 2 charger and runs an income-qualified solar rebate.
This page covers what is specific to Duluth: Minnesota Power and its programs, the city’s permits, the Lake Superior climate and charging. For statewide rules, including net metering under 40 kW and the solar tax exemptions, see our Minnesota energy guide.
Duluth at a glance
- Minnesota Power (ALLETE; Duluth and much of northeastern Minnesota): about 15.7¢ per kWh on average for homes in 2024. Outages: 120 minutes per customer, about 1.3 interruptions a year. It reported no separate major-event figure, so the two numbers are the same (EIA-861, 2024).
- Outside the city: Lake Country Power, a rural co-op, averaged about 17.9¢ and 373 minutes of outages with major events, 188 without. Hibbing, Virginia, Ely and Proctor run city utilities (EIA-861, 2024).
- Sun: about 3.7 kWh per square meter per day, from 1.1 in December to 5.9 in June (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,080 kWh a year per kW of panels, about 4% less than Minneapolis.
- Top hazards: St. Louis County is “very high” for cold waves, lightning and winter weather, and “relatively moderate” for hail, ice storms, inland flooding and strong wind (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 57 ports at 19 locations in Duluth (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
- Home solar: Minnesota Power had 1,014 net-metered home solar systems in 2024, and 30 had a battery (EIA-861).
Your utility and what it means
- Solar: Minnesota Power follows the state’s net metering rule for systems under 40 kW (see the state page). Its SolarSense rebate is for households earning under 150% of area median income. It pays $0.27 for each kWh the system is expected to make in a year, capped at $5,000 or 60% of the installed cost, whichever is less. Minnesota Power’s own example is an 8 kW Duluth roof expected to make 8,874 kWh, for a $2,396 rebate. 2026 funds are awarded by lottery, and you must own the home and the system.
- EVs: $500 toward a Level 2 charger if you are on a time-based or interruptible rate: the whole-home Time-of-Day rate, the separately metered Residential EV Service rate or Dual Fuel. Choosing the EV Service rate brings another $500 “second service” rebate, and buying an EV from a licensed dealer earns $500 for a new one or $250 for a used one.
- Batteries: we found no Minnesota Power battery rebate. Duluth is outside Xcel territory, so the state incentive applies (below).
Backup power in Duluth
Minnesota Power’s 2024 outage total, about two hours per customer with outages averaging about an hour and a half, was well under Xcel’s Minnesota figure with storms counted (EIA). The bigger issue in Duluth is the weather when power fails. St. Louis County rates “very high” for cold waves and winter weather. A furnace that loses its blower and controls during a cold snap is the outage that matters. Rural homes on Lake Country Power had about three times as much outage time in 2024.
Plan backup around heat. A natural gas or propane standby generator can run for days. A home battery keeps the furnace, sump pump and fridge going through a typical outage, but winter sun is too weak to recharge it quickly from solar. For a cabin or a short outage, a portable power station covers lights, phones and the router, but keep it indoors, because lithium batteries lose capacity in the cold. Compare the options in backup power options, and size them with the battery backup calculator or the generator sizing tool.
Safety first: the CPSC says to run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house and never in a garage. Clear snow from around the exhaust and fit battery-backed CO alarms. A licensed electrician installs the transfer switch (generator installation).
Solar in Duluth
Duluth gets a little less sun than southern Minnesota: about 1,080 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate, with very little in December. At Minnesota Power’s 2024 average of about 15.7¢, each kW is worth about $170 a year in power you use or have credited. That is a slower payback than in Xcel territory unless SolarSense covers part of the cost. Snow is the other factor: steeper roofs shed it faster. These are estimates. Check your roof with the solar potential tool and the solar savings calculator, and read solar installation and how net metering works.
Batteries in Duluth
Under net metering, a battery here is for backup, not bill savings. Duluth homes on Minnesota Power can use the Minnesota Department of Commerce incentive for customers outside Xcel territory: $250 per kWh of capacity up to $7,000, for a battery of up to 50 kWh paired with solar. A 13.5 kWh battery would get about $3,375. The state reported about $1.42 million left on August 17, 2026, first come, first served, so check the program page first. Size it for a winter night. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Duluth
At about 30 kWh per 100 miles, home charging costs roughly $4.70 per 100 miles at Minnesota Power’s 2024 average (our estimate), less off-peak on the Time-of-Day or EV Service rate. Cold weather raises use per mile. Duluth has 57 public ports (AFDC, October 3, 2026). A garage charger keeps the battery warmer in winter. A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit from a licensed electrician and a state electrical permit (below). See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Duluth: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Duluth: Construction Services & Inspections issues building permits and publishes a residential solar checklist of what to submit before a solar permit is issued.
- Electrical permits: Duluth sends electrical permits to the state, through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. That covers solar, battery, charger and transfer switch wiring.
- Utility and HOA: Minnesota Power must approve the interconnection before solar or a battery goes live. Check any association rules in writing.
Cities we cover
- Duluth
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Duluth energy FAQ
Who qualifies for Minnesota Power’s SolarSense rebate?
Minnesota Power customers with household income under 150% of area median income who own the home and the solar system. The rebate is $0.27 per expected kWh a year, up to $5,000 or 60% of cost. In 2026, funds are awarded by lottery, so apply before you commit.
Is solar worth it in Duluth?
It can be, but slower than farther south. Panels make about 1,080 kWh a year per kW by our estimate, and power costs about 15.7¢, so each kW is worth roughly $170 a year. Net metering, the state’s sales and property tax exemptions and, if you qualify, SolarSense improve the math.
What EV rebates does Minnesota Power offer?
$500 for a qualifying Level 2 charger on a time-based or interruptible rate, another $500 if you add a separately metered EV Service line, and $500 for a new or $250 for a used EV bought from a licensed dealer. Allow six to eight weeks for the check.
Who issues electrical permits in Duluth?
The State of Minnesota. The city handles building permits, including its solar checklist, but electrical permits go through the Department of Labor and Industry. Your licensed electrician normally files them.
Sources
Utilities, prices, outages and solar and battery counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. Minnesota Power SolarSense, electric vehicle and rebate pages. Minnesota Department of Commerce on-site energy storage incentive. City of Duluth Construction Services & Inspections and solar installation pages. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center. Generator safety: CPSC. All checked October 3, 2026.