Beware of global warming opportunists in conservative clothing
There is a new, Colorado-based, self-described “conservative” group The Western Way (TWW) with an enticing tag line “conservative stewards of the Western environment.” Sounds good, right? Until you try to find out who these “conservative stewards” really are. If you are attending the Western Conservative Summit (and you should), you will see these guys there. […]
Regulators expand their authority, play politics with carbon at ratepayer expense
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Brit Naas In a decision that evokes former President Obama’s environmental agenda, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on March 23, 2017, expanded its authority in a way that’s likely to drive up electricity rates. Every four years, Xcel Energy undergoes a resource planning process that outlines their ability to meet ratepayers’ electricity demand. […]
The real reason for special session may be blowing in the wind
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rumor has it that the real reason our banjo picking Governor wants a special session has more to do with industrial wind – meaning his favorite monopoly Xcel Energy – and less to do with fixing our damn roads! Governor John Hickenlooper publicly says he may call a special session “to deal with topics that […]
Xcel paying power producers to take excess electricity?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I’ve documented that Xcel Energy has excess electricity generation capacity. I just didn’t realize how much. According to a source close to an electricity wholesaler and generator, “Right now they can buy power cheaper than they can make it. A week or two ago Excel [sic] was paying us $18 a MW to buy power from […]
Scathing PUC Chair dissent blasted economics of Demand-Side Management
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Supporters of so-called Demand-Side Management (DSM) say it’s an economic development tool. That’s not true. DSM is a misguided, harmful transfer payment from low income ratepayers with no choice to a preferred group of ratepayers, often commercial and industrial. No one makes this argument better than former Colorado PUC Chairman Ray Gifford, now a partner at […]
The absurdity of Demand Side Management and social engineering electricity use
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“For every dollar spent, consumers save $1.77,” say supporters of so-called Demand Side Management (DSM) programs. Want to really save ratepayers money? How about not incentivizing utility monopolies to spend the dollar in the first place and just let ratepayers save 77 cents or more through lower electric rates? Here is the gist of DSM: […]
Irresponsible by ratepayers: bill looks to rein in Xcel’s abuse of power over developers
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Working with Xcel Energy, the state’s largest monopoly utility, is worse than working with the State of Colorado because at least there is way to hold the state accountable through elected officials. Since Xcel is a private monopoly and PUC puppet master, it’s the only game in town. Residential and business ratepayers have no choice […]
New draft bill to put nail in coffin of coal, make impacted communities dependent on state
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Warning to the rural Colorado, remember Ronald Reagan’s nine most terrifying words in the English language, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” According to sources, industrial wind supporters and Xcel Energy are floating another Colorado version of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) titled “Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Act.” A better working title […]
Legislative Update: hearing highlights, testimony, rent seeking, and reconsideration
SB17-188: “Repeal Income Tax Credit on Innovative Motor Vehicles,” or, as we like to call it the “repeal and repair” bill because money that would go to wealthy electric vehicle owners and corporations will instead be directed to roads and bridges. The bill passed out of Senate Finance on February 28 on a party line […]
Energy Policy Center testimony on HB17-1116
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Michael Sandoval. I am the senior energy policy analyst for the Independence Institute, a state-based, free market think tank, headquartered in Denver. The Independence Institute is opposed to HB17-1116 not in intent, but in process. We do think […]
Three bad House bills gives Senate GOP opportunity to stand up for ratepayers
For the better part of a decade, Colorado energy policy has been a textbook case of state government selected winners and losers. Ratepayers and working families, at the mercy of Democrat controlled legislature and executive branch, have held the losing hand. While special interest environmental left groups such as Conservation Colorado, the Sierra Club, WildEarth […]
Extending Demand Side Management is irresponsible by ratepayers
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Riddle me this. Based on the following clues, can you guess the product/service, the company, and the program? It’s an out-of-state private monopoly that enjoys most favored corporation status under the Gold Dome. The favored monopoly has more supply/capacity than its customers use and anticipates this to be the case in the near future. The […]
