Great news for solar energy, Xcel Energy withdrew their proposed rate increase on solar and net metered customers!

Denver, CO – August 4, 2009 – We have just learned that Xcel Energy has withdrawn the proposed increase on solar customers. We want to thank everyone who took the time to write or voice their concerns to the PUC. The response we received was overwhelming, and thanks to you Xcel has withdrawn their proposal for now.

We couldn’t have done this without you so thank you for supporting solar!

Please note that there are additional proposals that may affect electricity rates if you would like to learn more about these proposals please read the PUC request…

Quote from motion to modify tariff document:

“Public Service Company of Colorado, pursuant to Commission Rule 1309(d), hereby moves the Commission for an order permitting the Company to modify the tariff sheets that the Company filed with Advice Letter No. 1535 Electric, to withdraw the Company’s proposal for a minimum transmission and distribution capacity charge for customers in rates schedules Residential R and the Commercial C. This proposed charge would affect primarily customers who have installed solar panels that are provided net metering. Public Service sets forth in this motion good cause for withdrawing this proposal. We do not believe that any party to this docket will be immediately prejudiced by this modification; but as we explain below, the issue that we attempted to address by this minimum bill still needs to be addressed in the future. We are recommending that this issue be addressed through a different process than this current rate case.”

Developing news in the ongoing proposal from Xcel to raise rates on solar energy customers.

Xcel is presently asking for back-to-back rate increases for your utility bill.

These rate increases could total a 13% increase for residential bills and are almost entirely for the costs of investments in fossil fuel generation including the new Unit 3 coal plant in Pueblo (”Comanche 3″), new gas turbines at Fort St. Vrain (which will cost over 30 cents/kwh to run) and millions of extra $$ to pay for operating costs at coal plants and other fossil fuel infrastructure. Xcel is also proposing to charge a new fee to owners of solar systems that are tied to Xcel’s system.

The next public hearing is Wednesday August 5, 2009 from 4-6 pm at the PUC, 1560 Broadway (corner of Broadway and Colfax, at the top of the 16th Street Mall in Denver and across the street from the State Capitol).

Training sessions to provide background information in Boulder (7/30) and Denver (8/3) are optional but will help you understand more why those “cheap” fossil fuels are driving up utility rates….

Monday August 3, 2009, 6-8 pm–Denver Training
Blair Caldwell Library
2400 Welton St.
Denver, CO

Wednesday August 5, 2009, 4-6 pm–PUC Public Hearing
Colorado Public Utilities Commission
1560 Broadway
Denver, CO

Comments can be submitted electronically to
pucconsumer.complaints@dora.state.co.us.

MOST IMPORTANTLY–Tell your elected officials (both state, local) that you are sick of rate increases for fossil fuels, that you want more clean energy and you want better oversight over the PUC to help protect consumers.

Dear All,

Last Friday CoSEIA and the Solar Alliance met with Public Service (with their respective Counsel) to discuss the current rate case which includes a proposal that will effect net metered PV customers.

The proposal from PSCo is a distribution and transmission charge to recover costs from residential and commercial ratepayer classes. This is a variable minimum charge that can be higher than the existing minimal charge for other rate payers. Xcel Energy believes net metered customers need to pick up their fair share of the costs and this is an appropriate allocation of cost. What Xcel didn’t include in their cost analysis were the benefits of PV to the electrical grid. We believed this is a misplaced charge and have asked PSCo to remove the proposal from the rate case.

In the discussion, we learned the net metering charge would not go into effect until April of 2010 and all net metered customers prior to that would be grandfathered in. Also the calculations for the charge are different than anticipated. CoSEIA and the Solar Alliance have been waiting for answers to our discovery questions which are a week late. Without these answers we draw our conclusions from the testimony given and attempt to make them as accurate as possible.

CoSEIA and the Solar Alliance offered to send PSCo reports completed by NREL, SMUD, and others, which analyze and describe the benefits of solar electric systems to the grid. Xcel Energy stated they would take into consideration what was discussed and would follow up once the reports were received.

Despite the better understanding of the proposal, we know these charges are ridiculous when the benefits of PV are not calculated into the equation. We appreciate PSCo meeting with us and will continue to work for good policies.

More updates soon. Have a great Monday,
Beth Hart
Executive Director

It has come to the attention of Bella Energy that Xcel Energy is proposing another rate increase this year. This new measure is targeted specifically at net metered customers and will penalize home owners that have chosen to invest in solar energy.

We need your voice! If you don’t stand up no one will.

We are asking each and every one of our customers, and anyone is considering solar energy for their home, to call or write the PUC to voice their opposition the the proposed rate changes.

The proposal will have a public comment hearing on:
Wednesday, August 5th
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1560 Broadway, Suite 1550
Denver, CO 80202

If you cannot attend this meeting, please write the PUC to voice your opposition to the new rate change, and your support for solar energy, BE SURE TO REFERENCE DOCKET #09AL-299E.

Under Xcel’s proposed rate structure:

• Every residence with a solar system will be charged a ratcheted MINIMUM MONTHLY CHARGE-regardless of how much electricity is generated by the solar system in that month. If a solar household purchases electricity from Xcel Energy in ANY twelve-month period, Xcel will charge the customer for that same amount of electricity as A MINIMUM CHARGE EVERY SINGLE MONTH FOR THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS-even in months when you are producing all of your own electricity!
• If you purchase electricity from Xcel Energy in more than one month, the new minimum monthly charge will be pegged to the month in which you purchase the GREATEST number of kilowatt-hours!
• These charges are IN ADDITION to the current monthly minimum of $7.50 already paid by solar customers!

From the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (CoSEIA)

The Public Service Company of Colorado (aka Xcel Energy) filed a proposal for another rate hike with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on May 1st. The proposal also includes a new charge for net metered customers.

CoSEIA and its members believe that both the rate hike and the new charge are discriminatory and designed to penalize Solar Energy Households & Residents with grid-tie solar systems in Xcel territory. These households and residents will be subject to a SOLAR PENALTY under the proposal currently being review by the PUC.

PUBLIC ATTENDANCE AT THE PUC’S PUBLIC HEARING IS IMPERATIVE!

Please spread the word and try to turn out as many voices as possible!

Sincerely,
Beth Hart
Executive Director
CoSEIA