Ratepayer risk? State law forces Xcel into costly ‘Markets+’ grid deal
By Mark Jaffe | Colorado Sun
Xcel Energy must join wholesale electric market to meet Colorado law. Execs say big upfront cost is best economic and operational choice.
Xcel Energy’s plan to join a short-term, wholesale electric market is drawing fire from critics who, in hearings before state regulators this week, said that the price tag is too high and the benefits are minimal.
The market for purchasing day-ahead power Xcel Energy wants to join, Markets+, is run by the Southwest Power Pool, or SPP, whose grid stretches across all or parts of 14 states from Texas to North Dakota.
In hearings before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, business and consumer groups are challenging the $30 million in upfront costs to join Markets+ and Xcel Energy executives are defen...