Comment Residents of Batavia, IL, were told yesterday that electric utility customers would see a rate increase of 8.9 percent in January, 2007 . . . and another 8.9 percent in January, 2008.
But the nearly 18 percent total increase may be just the tip of the iceberg for consumers in this small city of about 25,000.
While Eldon Frydendall, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, said they didn’t anticipate another increase, the rate increase ordinance passed last week did include a purchase power adjustment clause.
This allows the city to pass additional costs on to the consumer in case its own expenses for energy rise more than officials expect.
The volatility of the energy market is real, folks. These guys know it, and this is how they intend to protect themselves from it.
But you can’t blame them for looking out for their best interests.
Just like no one can blame us for profiting from these municipalities that have recently begun ramping up their efforts to find new energy sources
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This Legislation Could Make You Wealthy!
While the small city of Batavia has partnered with other municipalities and investors in a new coal-fired plant currently under construction, larger, sunnier cities to the west are embracing solar at an unprecedented rate.
Whether by choice or by mandate, utilities in California continue to add more and more solar generated electricity to their energy portfolios.
Last May, Roseville Electric (a municipal utility northeast of Sacramento) signed a partnership with Lennar Homes to build 450 energy-efficient and solar-integrated homes.
In August, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) signed plans to purchase 500 MW of concentrating solar thermal electricity. This is in addition to the 98 MW of customer-owned solar that’s already connected to PG&E’s grid right now.
And just last month, San Diego Gas and Electric contracted to purchase 300 MW of concentrating dish solar thermal capacity, with an option to purchase an additional 600 MW.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that California’s SB1 legislation (just recently passed) requires municipal utilities to establish solar energy programs in support of 3,000 MW. These programs must be established by January 2008 and are expected to pump an additional $784 million into the nation’s largest solar economy.
And California isn’t the only state moving towards a stronger solar energy infrastructure.
Earlier this year, Xcel Energy announced plans for an 8 MW solar power plant in south central Colorado, and in Austin, TX, Austin Energy announced a request for proposals for between 15 and 50 MW of solar electricity.
And tomorrow, the Arizona Corporation Commission will vote on a proposed rule that would require 15% of electricity sold by utilities to come from renewable resources.
If this happens, there are specific provisions for distributed generation—which could result in up to 2,000 MW of solar on Arizona roofs.
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