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Thursday, August 28, 2008

PRC Approves Electric Co-op's Variance

By Laura Nesbitt
Mountain View Telegraph
          Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative got a green light from the state Public Regulation Commission last week to adjust some costs to consumers on a yearly basis.
        "The variance will allow CNME to calculate its (fuel and purchase power cost adjustment factor) on an annual rather than a monthly basis," a PRC news release said.
        Cooperatives are allowed to adjust this calculation to account for either over- or under-estimation of market fluctuations, said Paul Carbajal, PRC public information officer.
        The variance will also allow the cooperative to control irregularities in customer billing, said CEO and General Manager John Wheeler.
        "When we used to (calculate) on a monthly basis, we had such wild swings due to various load factor conditions, that it was nuts," Wheeler said.
        The variance will allow the cooperative to either "pass on costs" from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association of Colorado, the company the co-op buys power from, or "refund money back to consumers," Wheeler said.
        CNME also published a new commercial time-of-use rate, Rate 30, to replace Rate 29, which was recently canceled by the cooperative.
        Rate 30 has not yet been filed with the PRC and is dependent upon its approval.
        Wheeler said publishing Rate 30 will "eventually" stop the investigation by the commission of Rate 29.
        The main difference between the two rates is a demand change on the new rate.
        "Rate 29 was just an energy charge, and you didn't have to do anything to take advantage of it," Wheeler said.
        For Rate 30:
        • The demand charge for on-peak electricity during winter and summer months will be $17.50.
        • The demand charge for off-peak electricity during winter and summer months will be $4.75.
        This will include customers with or without an electric thermal storage unit. Electric thermal storage units heat insulated bricks during off-peak hours and release that stored heat as needed during peak hours.
        Brent Perkins, co-owner of the Furniture Connection with locations in Edgewood and Albuquerque, is not ready to say if he's completely happy with the change.
        "At least it's a step in the right direction," Perkins said.