Minn. utilities rebut state claims of gas mismanagement during February storm Commerce Department has claimed utilities fell $90 million short in protecting ratepayers by not withdrawing enough gas from storage. May 24, 2021 — 4:41pm Text size Copy shortlink: Minnesota utilities have fired back at a state analysis faulting them for inadequate gas management during a historic February freeze that will cost consumers $800 million. The Minnesota Department of Commerce earlier this month said about $90 million of that tab stemmed from the utilities' failure to withdraw enough natural gas from storage during a severe supply crunch. Therefore, state staff said, the utilities should not be able to recover the $90 million from ratepayers.