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Xcel Energy has proposed a settlement with staff of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and others that would restructure its Windsource program to enable it to grow in Colorado and meet its program obligations. Windsource is the utility’s voluntary renewable energy program through which customers can opt to pay a premium above standard electricity rates to purchase wind energy equivalent to a portion or all of their electricity needs. If the settlement is approved by the Commission, the utility would provide a credit to Windsource customers in the form of lower Windsource rates in 2009 and purchase additional wind energy to meet past program obligations. If the proposal is approved, the Windsource premium would be $1.59 per 100-kilowatt-hours, or 1.59¢/kWh starting in February 2009, and then adjusted annually based on the cost of adding new supplies.
The proposed settlement would also allow Xcel to use its entire portfolio of renewable energy resources, including biomass and solar, to serve its Windsource customers and expand the program beyond its current capacity. To date, the program has been sourced from two relatively small wind farms in Colorado. All Windsource energy would continue to be Green-e certified, or receive an equivalent independent verification, and be acquired in addition to the renewable energy needed to satisfy the state’s renewable energy standard.
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