Xcel Energy has determined the Average Hourly Incremental Cost of Electricity for 2008 is 4.842ยข 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”.
Archive for January, 2009
Solar*Rewards Program update
Monday, January 12th, 2009SmartGrid update
Monday, 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
Monday, 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.
