Xcel: New Monthly Fee Structure for Solar Customers
Solar customers in Colorado have received a letter from Xcel Energy announcing a new monthly fee structure to help continue solar rebates moving forward. The RESA fund adjustment is designed to charge customers who already have solar a monthly fee to keep their rebate structure sustained.
Solar electric install by High Noon Solar
Between mid February and mid March 2011, Xcel Energy negotiated with Colorado solar representatives to create a solar rebate structure that could more easily be sustained in the years ahead. This consisted of moving rebates from a strict up-front payout to a production based rebate, making the amount easier for Xcel to handle each year. These negotiations, combined with the state legislature's increase in Colorado's renewable energy standard to 30% by 2020 last year, have led to a slightly increased monthly line item on solar customer's bills.
The RESA fund is the pool of money collected for solar rebate incentives for residential and commercial solar installations on Xcel Energy's grid. This Renewable Energy Standard Adjustment (RESA) is a 2% charge applied to all customers' electricity bills. Because solar customers have a very small or nonexistant bill after installing solar, the RESA fee was being reduced proportionately. Through House Bill 1001, lawmakers have attempted to adjust this amount to be more in line with what customers should be contributing to see that rebates can be offered to customers moving forward. Just as solar customers got rebates in past years, they are contributing to the fund to make these rebates available to those people wanting solar in the years ahead.
The monthly RESA fee for solar customers is as follows. Customers with .5KW- 5KW arrays will pay $1.03/ month, 5- 10KW will pay $2.05/ month, and over 10KW will pay $4.11/ month. This amount will be on top of the 2% fee paid on any electricity usage from the grid.
This new fee will be effective as a line item entitled 'RESA', beginning with June 1, 2011 bills. Any questions about the new RESA fee structure can be directed to Xcel Solar Rewards Program at solarprogram@xcelenergy.com or 1-800-895-4999.
