Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr. praises Xcel Energy in the Denver Post for its decision earlier this week to withdraw the company’s plan for charging a solar panel fee.
The governor has been very vocal in his opposition to the proposed charge. Now that Excel has fortunately reneged its proposal, Gov Ritter suggests Xcel work in cooperation with his energy office and stakeholders to find a different resolution that doesn’t penalize those who invest in renewable energy.
Ritter says that the goal of utilities, government, and stakeholders is to develop a rate structure that recognizes the benefits of investment in solar energy, rather than deterring customers who want to invest in clean, renewable energy via solar panel fees. Such big utilities as Duke Energy, Florida Power and Light, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Arizona Public Service — are already showing leadership in this area. He states: “Utilities could own and finance distributed rooftop solar power. Utilities could partner with homeowners and businesses in the deployment of distributed generation.”
Today, “less than 1 percent of our energy is produced by distributed energy systems. But our children and grandchildren will produce and consume energy in vastly different ways than we do today.” Ritter’s vision is to prepare for this future with a comprehensive approach to how utilities design rates for electricity. This approach would “reward customers for their investments in renewable resources while simultaneously ensuring we maintain the transmission and distribution facilities required to provide reliable, affordable and clean energy for future generations.”
Ritter proposes to seize this opportunity and work together with Xcel to “develop a New Energy Economy for a new energy century.”
To see the full article: http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12993684
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