The DPost is reporting that after push back by Gov. Ritter, Senator Morgan Carroll, Rep. Kerr, solar cell companies, and the public, Xcel is dropping it's idea of charging customers with solar cells extra.
Xcel Energy today withdrew a plan to charge homes and small businesses with solar panels a "minimum charge" to cover transmission line costs.
The proposal, which Xcel said would add $23 a year to the bill for an average home in Boulder with a 4.5 kilowatt solar array, sparked a storm of protest.
The public hearing is set for tomorrow. So that's it? Game Over? We won?
Not quite. See, the proposal for rate changes sent to the Public Utilities Commission is 122 pages long. A surcharge to customers with solar cells was just one small portion. That proposal was summarily rejected by the PUC and this hearing was setup to discuss all portions. Here's the Dear John letter (word doc) by the PUC, and the very long proposal by Xcel. (pdf)
It seems like a really slick red herring strategy. Maybe now while the few with skin in the game (customers with solar cells and the industry selling and installing those cells) have turned off the juice, Xcel can squeeze through their 2nd rate increase this year.
The hearing is still on at 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, Commission Hearing Room, Second Floor, Suite 250, 1560 Broadway.
I'll be on the Mario Solis-Marich show to talk about the hearing at 6:20pm
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