Xcel wants 8% Electricity Rate Hike
(Parts of this article originally appeared in Denver
Business Journal)
Xcel Energy Inc. wants to raise electricity rates in Colorado
by $174.7 million, the utility announced Friday.
This would be the 4th
major increase in 3 years - representing a total
increase of over 45%.
The rate request was made with the Colorado Public Utilities
Commission, which is expected to hold public hearings during
the next six months before any increase would take effect
in the summer.
Small-business customers would see their electricity bills
climb 8 percent, or an average of $7.84 a month more, to $105.83.
Bills for typical residential customers are expected to pay
8.4 percent more, or another $5.13 a month, to a total of
$66.31.
Xcel said it has made “significant investments”
in such areas as expanding a power plant in Pueblo, new natural
gas-fired generating units in Platteville and the cost of
continuing to reduce emissions.
Solar Image of the Month
This is a photo of a recent Astralux Solar
installation on a Spanish Tile Roof in Lone Tree, Colorado.
We were able to recess the panels into the roof, giving a
Building-Integrated Solar solution. We truly work with any
roof, contact
us for more information.
Small Colorado Co-Ops Get on Board
(Parts of this article originally appeared in a Nov 4th
article of Renewableenergy.com)
To our less heard but never forgotten customers that do not
fall into one of the main electricity providers often frustration
and anger are the dominant feelings when dealing with their
local providers. At Astralux we field calls every day from
very interested customers that say they are very interested
in taking advantage of Colorado’s amazing solar opportunities,
but are not supported with rebates from their supplier. Although
some utilities, such as IREA, have made it clear that they
will never support renewable energy rebates, most have realized
that the time to become part of the future is now. Those who
chose to fight against progress will only fall behind or disappear.
Stay positive my friends in other areas though, Colorado’s
smaller utilities are starting to get with the program.
According to the Governor's
Energy Office, 44 utilities — a mix of
municipal, co-op and investor-owned — are involved in
generating and transmitting electrical power throughout the
state. Though Xcel and Tri-State account for the lion's share
of the market, bringing the many smaller municipal utilities
and co-ops on board in developing a renewable energy economy
is critical to its success and long-term viability.
Some have been reluctant to adopt and promote renewable energy
alternatives, preferring to take a wait-and-see approach while
arguing that, at present, doing so would only jack-up customers'
electricity and heating/cooling bills. Others are taking the
renewable energy drive to heart, focusing on promoting and
facilitating energy conservation and efficiency as a first
step while working up some creative ways to tap into local,
as well as more distant, renewable energy and power resources.
The Delta-Montrose
Energy Association (DMEA) has been at the forefront
of this kind of change. Delivering some 100 MW of power to
customers throughout its territory on Colorado's Western Slope,
DMEA is diversifying into power generation. It has set a goal
of producing 5% of its power needs — all of which it
currently purchases from Tri-State — from local renewable
resources by 2010.
At present, it looks like much of that will come from small-scale
hydropower, according to Phil Zimmer, DMEA's key accounts
supervisor. "We have a lot of water, different watersheds...All
the irrigation here is still done predominantly by flood irrigation...We
plan to drop hydro plants where we have some fall without
hurting anything just by using irrigation ditches."
"DMEA is a little different," according to Zimmer.
In probable contrast to many of his peers, he says, "I
don't think it's a threat to my job if we quit burning coal
or natural gas." In fact, Zimmer and his colleagues at
DMEA are making careers dreaming up ways of developing local
renewable energy resources and finding affordable ways for
customers to tap into them.
So while some small utilities are waging war on renewables,
most have forward thinking leadership like Zimmer and the
future looks bright for most utility customers all across
Colorado.
Bidding Wars in a Disposable Economy
Osea Nelson
Astralux Power Systems
Recent reports have painted a very interesting picture of
the emerging solar market in the Denver metro area. Recent
studies have found that due to Colorado’s amazing sunshine
coupled with the state utility rebates and the newly uncapped
federal tax credit that the Denver solar market has become
one of the most “cutthroat” markets in the country.
One report from COSEIA goes on to say that the term cutthroat
is not speaking to any inter-business nastiness; more simply
it speaks to the pricing models that have emerged as new and
existing players in the Colorado market fight for new customers.
The author of the piece, Joe Beach, states that at a conference
in Boulder recently he talked with well informed solar experts
that had this to say:
“People who are well informed about solar electric
system pricing around the United States observe the prices
that are being quoted in the Denver-Boulder market and have
serious doubts whether we will be able to survive. “
He goes on to say that as a solar business owner himself,
“I would have to agree with outside assessments. It
would not surprise me at all if we see a number of solar business
failures over the next year as people make mis-steps and don’t
have any financial cushion to absorb the fall. I’d like
to encourage other business owners and managers out there
to resist the temptation to “race to the bottom”
on pricing when it means compromising on quality and business
stability.”
So what does this mean for you the consumer? Well, it means
that the environment in Colorado is even better than you it
could be elsewhere. It means that bid prices for solar will
be among the lowest in the entire country and that you are
poised to get an amazing deal on your energy system. It also
means that you have some homework to do. Simply taking a pile
of bids and choosing the lowest bottom line might not be the
best way to go. Considering that these systems will be producing
power on your home for the next 40 years, your decision also
needs to factor in the longevity of the company, its ability
to service warranty work and maintenance, and the quality
grade of the overall process given the money you are investing.
In this disposable world, it is often tempting to simply say
yep, I like saving money. However, in a decision such as a
solar power system it would serve you well to look at the
big picture when considering the installation costs of your
system. Choose wisely and you will have a strong partner for
year and years to come as you enjoy your power plant.
Choose based solely on price alone and you could find yourself
living a repeat of the 1970s where the salesmen takes your
check, slaps a system up on your house, and drives off into
the night never to be seen again. Something every consumer
should be contemplating as you shop for solar.
Thank you
again for your interest in Astralux Power Systems!
Most Sincerely,
The Astralux Power Systems Staff
AstraluxSolar.com
(303) 995-0891 |
