As part of its effort to boost renewable electric generation, Xcel Energy wants to increase the amount it charges customers to 2 percent more than what they would pay for conventional energy.
Colorado’s largest utility asked regulators today to approve its request to increase the so-called Renewable Energy Standard Adjustment, which is used for the acquisition of more renewable resources to reduce carbon emissions, from 0.6 percent to 2 percent.
Two percent is the maximum allowable under state law.
If approved, a typical residential customer using 625 kilowatt hours a month would see an increase of 79 cents, to $57.83 each month, according to Xcel. That’s a net increase of 1.4 percent because Xcel is already charging customers a 0.6 percent RESA.
Xcel said this month that it hopes to double its renewable generation by 2015, mostly through increased wind and solar power.
That process will begin early next year, when the company solicits bids for wind and solar projects.
Xcel has put more focus on clean energy after legislative mandates and Gov. Bill Ritter’s recently announced climate action plan calling for utilities to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 20 percent by 2020.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
