The PSC recently approved a plan for the two utilities to recoup $13.8 million in development costs with slight increases in customers’ electric bills. The utilities calculated the sum as the share North Dakota customers should pay for the Big Stone II project.
The plan says an average North Dakota residential electric customer of Otter Tail will pay about 62 cents extra each month for three years. A typical MDU customer will pay $1.51.
Otter Tail, based in Fergus Falls, Minn., and Bismarck-based MDU were part of a group of utilities that proposed building Big Stone II next to an existing power plant near Milbank, S.D.
The project, which was five years in the making, was abandoned last November. Its supporters cited uncertain financing, weaker demand for electricity and uncertainty about federal regulation of coal-fired power plants as reasons for its demise.No comment required; the story speaks for itself.
Oh, I can't resist. The big story here is how inexpensive coal energy is -- the plant, on average, cost each ND consumer less than $1.51/month for three years.
I guess the "weaker demand for electricity" means electric vehicles don't figure into Minnesota's future. Or larger television screens. Or more computers. Or more Fortune 500 companies. For some, the phrase "weaker demand for electricity" equates with "slower growth."
August 17, 2010: MDU asks for 13 percent rate increase in Montana to cover costs of wind energy.
August 16, 2010: The story keeps getting better. I hope the Minnesota folks don't mind higher utility bill; it looks like Xcel will be asking for a rate increase. Xcel recently announced they will be shutting down/retrofitting a coal-powered utility plant to comply with Colorado's greenhouse gas emissions laws. Wanna bet Big Stone II is eventually opened up for Minnesota customers. I can't make this stuff up.
August 1, 2010: This is priceless. One of Minnesota's largest utilty, Xcel, has a "Saver Switch" power management system which allows it to remotely control residential use of electricity. For the first time in three years Xcel had to "flip" that switch due to heavy electrical demand on their system because of the heat wave and the heavy use of residential air conditioners. And just a few days ago, Minnesota reports that there is "weaker demand for electricity." Remember all the flower children of the '60s in Berkeley? They now run the show when it comes to making strategic decisions in certain states.
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UPDATE
August 17, 2010: MDU asks for 13 percent rate increase in Montana to cover costs of wind energy.
August 16, 2010: The story keeps getting better. I hope the Minnesota folks don't mind higher utility bill; it looks like Xcel will be asking for a rate increase. Xcel recently announced they will be shutting down/retrofitting a coal-powered utility plant to comply with Colorado's greenhouse gas emissions laws. Wanna bet Big Stone II is eventually opened up for Minnesota customers. I can't make this stuff up.
August 1, 2010: This is priceless. One of Minnesota's largest utilty, Xcel, has a "Saver Switch" power management system which allows it to remotely control residential use of electricity. For the first time in three years Xcel had to "flip" that switch due to heavy electrical demand on their system because of the heat wave and the heavy use of residential air conditioners. And just a few days ago, Minnesota reports that there is "weaker demand for electricity." Remember all the flower children of the '60s in Berkeley? They now run the show when it comes to making strategic decisions in certain states.
