Sponsor
Alderman Kaplan
Title
Changes in Electric Rates Proposed by WE Energies
This resolution expresses the City’s concern that WE Energies’ 2015/16 rate proposal will cause significant environmental and economic damage to the state by discouraging the development of alternative, renewable sources of electricity generation and perpetuating Wisconsin’s unhealthy dependence on fossil fuels.
WHEREAS, solar-powered energy generation shows signs of renewed vitality as evidenced by the fact that a new solar power facility was installed every 4 minutes in the United States during 2013; and
WHEREAS, the number of solar power projects is expected to increase 30-fold between 2010 and 2016 as a result of falling prices and improved technology to the point that by 2016 roof-top solar panels may provide 1/3 of the electricity generated by today’s nuclear power plants; and
WHEREAS, other states have reduced the barriers of entry and made it easier for customers to supplement their electrical power needs with solar-power by allowing customers to lease solar panels rather than buying them outright, and WE Energies should support a bill allowing such lease programs if introduced as expected during the 2015 session of the Wisconsin legislature; and
WHEREAS, WE Energies’ 2015/16 rate proposal to specifically bar customers from leasing solar power systems will hamper and slow the development of solar-power electricity generation; and
WHEREAS, WE Energies’ 2015/16 rate proposal may be an effort to better align rates with actual electricity transmission costs, the effect of increasing the flat rate 74% from $9.20 per month to $16.00 while reducing per kilowatt use rates will be to lengthen the payback customers can expect from investments in solar or other alternative, renewable electricity generation sources which will likely discourage customers from making such investments; and
WHEREAS, WE Energies’ 2015/16 rate proposed reduction in payback rates for electricity purch...
Click here for full text