ST. PAUL — Minnesota Power customers would receive $50 million in bill credits and the company would consider alternatives to adding natural gas-fired power plants if regulators approve the sale of parent company Allete to a pair of private investment firms.

It would also not charge ratepayers for costs associated with the acquisition for the next five years.

The commitments were outlined in documents filed Wednesday, a day before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission held all-day oral arguments on the proposed sale of Duluth-based Allete to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and BlackRock-owned Global Infrastructure Partners.

The five-member PUC, which will determine whether the deal is in the public interest, is expected to vote on whether to approve the purchase Oct. 3. It is t

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