Public Hearing Schedule for Xcel Rate Case
May 9th, 2016
The Public Utilities Commission has approved the Public Hearing Notice for the Xcel Energy Rate Case to be included in bills and publicized where ever. We’ve got some notice to get prepared:
Lo and behold, there’s one scheduled for Red Wing!! Thanks for small favors…
What are the issues in the rate case? Check the docket by going HERE TO PUC SEARCH DOCUMENTS PAGE, and search for docket 15-826.
A couple of things you might find interesting, I did, are some of the Direct Testimony filings.
In addition to whining about the grid being only 55% utilized (ummm, yes, we knew it wasn’t needed, but you went ahead and built it and now want us to pay through the nose, or other orifices, for your transmission for market export? ppppppbbbbbbft!), here’s the issue — prices have fallen, the market is down, down, down, and we’re conserving, using less, and so now they want us to pay more to make up for it, oh. Recap: Xcel Energy wants us to pay for the transmission over our land for their private profit, they want us to pay more because we’re using less, and they want us to make up for their poor business decisions… yeah, great idea.
This rate case and rate increase request is in large part transmission driven. Xcel wants to move from cost based rates to formula rates, and they want to shift transmission costs from the Construction Work in Progress recovery that was part of the deal leading to the 2005 Ch 97 – Transmission Omnibus Bill from Hell, with transmission perks, CWIP and Transmission Only Companies.
And then there’s the e21 Initiative, Xcel Energy’s effort leading up to the 2015 legislative session, and it seems that with the exception of AARP, only those who signed on to the e21 “Consensus” are allowed to intervene.
Great…
Lo and behold, there’s a public hearing scheduled for Red Wing!! Thanks for small favors… Mark the hearings on your calendar and show up. Before hand, do a little reading!