Colorado Solar Advocates Protest Utility Rate Proposal

On Thursday, dozens of Colorado solar energy workers, customers and advocates gathered on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol to show support for solar energy in the state. According to a press release from The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC), the event took place before the first Public Utilities Commission (PUC) hearing on utility Xcel Energy’s proposal to restructure electricity rates, which some solar stakeholders claim will reduce consumer energy choice and put local jobs at risk. “Right now, Colorado is a top ten state for solar jobs, and people are moving here specifically to work in the solar industry,” says Lauren Randall, senior manager of public policy for Sunrun. “Xcel’s confusing proposal would stifle that momentum.” According to the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA), Xcel Energy has proposed increasing fixed charges for all customers while reducing charges on energy used. The group claims that by reducing the portion of the electric bill consumers and small businesses can control through investments in renewable energy and conservation, Xcel is cutting financial incentives to invest. Xcel also plans to introduce demand charges for residential customers, which up until now have only applied to large commercial and industrial customers, COSEIA adds. “We believe public policies should encourage more distributed solar energy in order to provide customer choice, reduced air pollution and a more resilient electric grid,” comments Rebecca Cantwell, executive director of COSEIA. “We hope the PUC will decide Xcel’s proposals are moving us away from those goals and instead support innovative rate policies.” TASC says that Colorado has positioned itself as a clean energy leader and innovation powerhouse in recent years. For example, in last August, after nearly two years of discussions, the PUC decided to maintain the state’s solar net-metering policy. The group says solar supporters worry that Xcel is now looking for “a second bite at the apple” to eliminate rooftop solar competition. An Xcel spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.