Xcel offers Rollover Credit for Excess Energy
The good news from Xcel’s meeting with COSEIA last week is the announcement of a rollover option for Solar electric customers. Customers can sign up for this plan in September, and roll over any excess energy generated by the end of the year (December 31) into 2010. This means instead of selling the excess to Xcel a the end of the year for about 4.8 cents/kwh, customers can use this excess energy in January and February when solar generation does not meet usage. Using energy at 9.7 cents per kwh instead of selling at 4.8 cents per kwh makes financial sense to customers keen on system payback.
Xcel offers rollover option for PV owners
October 2nd, 2009Solar*Rewards Program update
January 12th, 2009Xcel Energy has determined the Average Hourly Incremental Cost of Electricity for 2008 is 4.842¢ per kilowatt hour. This factor will be applied to excess energy generated by photovoltaic electric systems installed in the Solar*Rewards program. This factor is also sometimes called the “avoided cost” rate. The retail cost for electric energy is about 9.7 cents per kwh (summer) and 9.4 cents per kwh (winter). see www.sunnysidesolarcolorado.com and click on “electric energy rates”.
SmartGrid update
January 12th, 2009Xcel Energy has installed most of the infrastructure for the SmartGrid system in Boulder, CO. The $100M proposed investment includes 15,000 two-way meters and a fiber optic link between SmartGrid homes and Xcel’s system control center. The new meters are manufactured by Landis and Gyr, a long-time provider of electric utility control and metering equipment. If you have this type of meter at your service entrance now, you are probably one of the new Boulder SmartGrid customers.
SmartGrid will save the utility call-outs when the problem can be located on the customer side of the meter. Presently, customers must call in to report a problem. The new meters will let operators know of an outage and where the problem may be.
SmartGrid can also reduce peak loading by integrating load shedding programs and using 2 way thermostats.
The system looks promising, however, many links are not identified or resolved. Energy sensors and control points do not exist in most homes and will need to be installed by companies like Sunnyside Solar, that specialize in energy monitoring systems. Also, owners of rental property are not able to monitor the meter of a tenant for security reasons. However, Sunnyside Solar systems can be monitored by property owners and managers with an internet-based monitoring system. Password security is provided.
Windsource Windfall
January 12th, 2009The Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently reported an excess of $1.6 million in Xcel’s WindSource coffers. Xcel apparently sold more wind energy than it generated. Caught with the hand in the cookie jar, Xcel has proposed a settlement of $2.6M to WindSource customers. Xcel proposes to refund the excess to the 47,000 WindSource customers in 2009. They estimate that will reduce the average WindSource customer’s extra cost of $35/month to $23/month in 2009. Xcel also plans to increase the WindSource portfolio with the remaining $1M. This information was recently published in the Daily Camera and Denver Post. Settlement results have not been posted.
Energy monitor review – TED
December 17th, 2008The Energy Detective (TED) is an energy monitoring device by Energy Inc. which I have recently inspected and tested. (visit www.theenergydetective.com) It is a useful device that can be used to monitor a single load or your total household electrical energy usage. It includes a small display that sits conveniently on your kitchen counter. A sensor and wireless transmitter (MTU) is installed in your main electrical service panel. The MTU sends wireless data to the display unit.
The TED can be installed easily by an electrician or homeowner if you are comfortable connecting wires and current transformers to a circuit in your electrical service panel. The unit includes two clamp-on current transformers that go around the circuit wires you wish to monitor (up to 1 inch wire cables and 200 amps). A spare circuit breaker is also needed to monitor voltage.
I found the monitor to be quite useful if you want to monitor a specific load (e.g. a hot tub or heating system). It also would be useful to monitor your total household use.
There are some limitations to the TED. You can only monitor 1 load. The watt measurement is not very accurate because it connects to only one phase of your service (most larger loads are two phase). Although the manufacturer specifies accuracy within 1 percent, voltage could be unbalanced, and a 10% error is possible.
If you have a PV system that may generate more energy than you use, the unit will not record negative power.
Overall, I think the TED provides an inexpensive (less than $200) energy monitor for limited applications.
Xcel increases electric rates by $174M
December 9th, 2008Xcel recently announced it would increase the Renewable Energy Standard Adjustement (RESA) component of the electric bill to fund the renewable energy program. Xcel also filed a rate case increase for GRSA – the general rate schedule adjustment component of your electric bill. GRSA is the component of Xcel’s revenue that applies to Service and Facility – money used for capital and O&M costs. The increase is substantial – from 12.7% to 32.5%. They call this a 19.8% increase! Would someone enlighten me on that calculation?
For the average customer with monthly usage of 625 kWh, they project the increase will be $5.13 per month or 8.39%.
On the bright side, this increase adds value to those of us with solar electric systems, and provides more incentive for residential and commercial customers to install solar electric systems.
Clean Energy Loans in Boulder County
December 3rd, 2008Boulder County voters approved issue IA by a healthy margin, and now county officials are beginning to plan the program roll-out. A public open house was held on Tuesday (Dec 2) to solicit public input on how to implement the loan program. The new loan program is called “ClimateSmart”, and is headed by Ann Livingston. I am looking forward to details on the program.
Contact information: climatesmart@bouldercounty.org or 303 441 4565
Xcel increases RESA (renewable energy standard adjustment)
December 3rd, 2008 A few weeks ago Xcel decreased the renewable energy rebate from $4.50 per watt to $3.50 per watt. That adjustment was based on the increase of the ITC (federal investment tax credit).
Yesterday, Xcel announced it will increase RESA – the electric bill component used to fund their renewable energy program. They did not provide a specific reason for this increase. Xcel did estimate the increase will amount to about 33 cents on the average residential bill.
Presently RESA is six tenths of one percent (0.6 %) of the total electric bill before taxes. A $100 electric utility bill includes about 60 cents for RESA.
I would like to hear more about Xcel’s plan for the increased revenue!
Conoco Phillips hedges on renewable energy plans
November 14th, 2008I have to admit I was a skeptic when Conoco Phillips purchased the old Storage Tech campus and touted renewable energy research as a main component of business at the site. However, now they are using the economy as an excuse to scuttle those plans for renewables. I have to admit it was a good strategy. When people mentioned the Conoco Phillips move to Louisville, they always included the renewable energy boon to the area. It made the move a good sell. Big oil sometimes dredges up thoughts of neighborhood gas refineries similar to the Commerce City site. I hope that Conoco Phillips proves me wrong and gets back to the renewable energy plan.
Boulder County passes Clean Energy Issue 1A
November 10th, 2008 County Issue 1A was adopted in Boulder County at the polls. This measure is a great opportunity for homeowners who would like to install renewable energy, but do not have the capital reserves. Homeowners will be able to obtain low interest, no-money-down financing for renewable energy, energy efficiency improvements, including solar photovoltaic systems.
The Boulder County Energy Options Local Improvement District (LID) will authorize Boulder County to increase debt by $40 million to be used for energy-efficiency projects. The loans will be repaid by the homeowner through a voluntary special assessment on the property. The plan allows for little up-front costs to the homeowner, and if the property is sold prior to the end of the 20-year repayment period, the new owner takes over repayment as part of the property tax bill.
Many details of the program must be ironed out, and other counties will be monitoring the program closely before adopting similar measures. Let’s hope Boulder County becomes the model to follow.
