The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today approved a settlement that will restart Xcel Energy’s solar incentive program next week, while reducing the amount of subsidies that will be paid up front for solar installations at residences and businesses.
The broadly-supported settlement is seen as a short-term bridge to restore the solar incentive program until it is fully reviewed by the PUC within the next 12-14 months. Xcel Energy had filed an application with the PUC last month seeking to reduce its solar rebate from $2 per watt to $1.25 per watt, and suspended the program the following day.
The approved settlement allows Xcel Energy to accept up to an additional 60 megawatts (MW) of solar installation applications, while capping 2011 expenditures at $97.3 million. The agreement establishes a series of step-downs to reduce the up-front solar rebate for small customer-owned systems from $1.75 a watt to zero as more solar installations are added.
Production-based incentives, spread out over 10 years, will increase from 4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh) to 14 cents per kwh for small customer-owned systems as the rebates are phased out.
As part of Colorado’s 30 percent renewable energy standard, consumers pay a 2 percent surcharge on their monthly electric bills to support solar incentives and other renewable energy development.
Prairie Gateway re-branded to Victory Crossing {Commerce City}
Commerce City "We need to be sure that we are not left behind in ED..."
Will we ever see Development @ the Prairie Gateway site in Commerce City, CO??? It has been years since the Commerce City Civic Center and Rapids stadium have been built and still no economic development. I guess patience is really a virtue.
