New Haven Independent

Posted by: Bruce | January 26, 2007 9:25 AM

I hate to break the news, but focusing on "renewable energies" is certain to raise electricity rates. What form will this take? Right now, wind is the only cost-competitive renewable power source (except maybe some hydro, but I think CT is already maxed out on that front).

I'm curious to see the strategy that "Fight The Hike" has put together for lowering our energy costs. Re-regulating the electric industry is not going to address skyrocketing fuel prices or lower the climbing demand that is forcing us to build new capacity.

Actually, these high rates will likely spur more development in alternatives as technologies that were too expensive yesterday become competitive today.

Posted by: B | January 27, 2007 12:43 PM

I'm naive in matters of electricity generation so I would appreciate some enlightenment.
Right now we have the opportunity to elect wind-powered generation on our utility bill for a slightly increased price.
Why wouldn't everyone elect wind-power if the regular generation rates are going to double, far surpassing the rates of windpower now?
This rate increase is at the generation level, not the provider level, correct?
How much of CT can be powered by wind currently?
-I hear there's a great debate on this site about alternate forms of energy, but I can't find it. It would be great if this post could be added to that section.

Posted by: Ned | January 28, 2007 10:59 AM

Higher prices encourage conservation and promote efficiency - which are good. The best way to reduce one's electric bill is to use less electricity. What is a "reasonable rate" for polluting the planet?

Posted by: Bruce | January 29, 2007 10:24 AM

B: The "Green Option" that residential customers can sign up for does not mean that their power comes from wind turbines. These customers (including myself) are paying for credits that go to "renewable" power generators to allow them to lower the cost of the electricity they sell to distributors (UI & CL&P).

If you sign up for the green option now and use 1500KWh of electricity over the next month, it does not necessarily mean that some wind generator is going to sell 1500 more KWh of electricity to your distributor. Utilities purchase electricity on a trading market (similar to Wall Street) so your power still typically comes from the standard sources, but as more people who sign up for the green options the renewables become more and more competitive. For the Sterling Planet option, 1/3 of the money goes to wind, 1/3 to small hydro and 1/3 to landfill gas. Wind is currently competitive with oil and coal, but not cheap nuke power. Also, there is limited capacity of each of these sources in this region.

The decisions to actually switch on and off different power plants is also regulated by an independent body (ISO-NE) and this is where things get rather complicated.

Here is a link to a CT Legislative Research Report that probably does a much better job of explaining the issue that I have: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0056.htm

It's worth repeating again and again -- use less power! Everyone will have to sooner or later, by choice or by necessity. And while I'm on my soapbox: buy Compact Flourescent Lights (CFLs)!! They cost $.75 more at the store, but they will save you about $75 over the lifetime of each bulb and reduced waste heat will lower your cooling bill in the summer significantly. It is a no-branier.