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District Energy St Paul Inc

EIN 41-1358662 · Saint Paul, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE THE PREFERRED PROVIDER OF COMMUNITY ENERGY SERVICES THAT BENEFIT OUR CUSTOMERS, THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$58.2 million
Spending
$55.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-18.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
109
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$1.0 million, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 94% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $38.0 million spent. DISTRICT ENERGY SERVICES:DISTRICT ENERGY ST. PAUL IS A NON-PROFIT UTILITY PROVIDING ENERGY SERVICES TO DOWNTOWN SAINT PAUL, MN FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE CORE HEATING NETWORK SERVES OVER 200 BUILDINGS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE RIVER TO A SECONDARY AREA OF COMMERCIAL, LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. THE COOLING NETWORK SERVES MORE THAN 120 BUILDINGS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. THE CUSTOMER BASE INCLUDES THE STATE OF MINNESOTA CAPITOL COMPLEX, CITY AND COUNTY OWNED BUILDINGS, HIGHER EDUCATION, HOSPITALS, FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS, CONDOS, AND TOWNHOMES, AS WELL AS HOTELS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SPORTS VENUES. DISTRICT ENERGY ST. PAUL IS THE LARGEST HOT WATER DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY AS A LEADER IN INTEGRATED AND DYNAMIC ENERGY SERVICES. TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY, RELIABILITY, AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE OF THE SYSTEM, THE UTILITY HAS INCORPORATED THERMAL STORAGE, SOLAR THERMAL, AND BIOMASS-FIRED COMBINED HEAT AND POWER. THE WORK ON THE SYSTEM THIS YEAR INCLUDED SEVERAL DISTRIBUTION PROJECTS THAT SUPPORTED GROWTH OF THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS, CAPITAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS TO MAINTAIN HIGH RELIABLY OF SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW THERMAL PLANT TO INCORPORATED ADDITIONAL THERMAL STORAGE. AS THE BROADER TRANSFORMATION OF THE ENERGY SYSTEM CONTINUES, DISTRICT ENERGY REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADAPTING AND DEVISING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT EFFECTIVELY SERVE CUSTOMERS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE SAINT PAUL COMMUNITY. DISTRICT ENERGY MAINTAINS THE VALUE OF IN-PERSON CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND THIS YEAR THE COMPANY HOSTED ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SEMINARS, AND TRAININGS TO ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR USE OF DISTRICT ENERGY. IN ADDITION, DISTRICT ENERGY CONTINUED TO HELP CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR ENERGY MONITORING VIA THE CUSTOMER PORTAL. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WERE OFFERED TO EXISTING CUSTOMERS WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING THEM DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THEIR ENERGY USAGE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES. AS THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO GROW, IT REMAINS DEDICATED TO PRIORITIZING THE CUSTOMERS' NEEDS FOR RELIABILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS.
  2. $10.7 million spent. OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT SERVICES:DE SERVICES LLC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF MULTIPLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND OPERATIONS IN SAINT PAUL, MN, INCLUDING ENERGY PARK UTILITY COMPANY, DISTRICT ENERGY ST. PAUL, ST. PAUL COGENERATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL WOOD SUPPLY. THESE LAST THREE ENTITIES WORK TOGETHER TO HELP USE LOCAL TREE WASTE (BIOMASS) TO GENERATE HEAT AND ELECTRICITY FOR A LOW-CARBON ENERGY SOLUTION FOR LOCAL CUSTOMERS. THE TEAM WORKS WITH CITIES, COUNTIES, PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, AND BUSINESSES WHO NEED HELP DEALING WITH STORM-DAMAGED, DISEASED, INFESTED AND OTHER COMPROMISED TREES. THE TEAM CONTINUES TO SUPPORT EFFORTS OF THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY THROUGH BIOMASS STAKEHOLDERS WORKGROUP MEETINGS. THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO MANAGE A LARGE QUANTITY OF WOOD FOR THE METROPOLITAN REGION DUE TO THE REMOVAL OF TREES HARMED BY THE EMERALD ASH BORER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.