“This is not the place the government should be. But this is, in my opinion, something that the touchy-feely-feel-goods are requiring to make themselves feel better,” said Rep. Ray Rose, R-Montrose.
“It’s a bill to make those people look good by allowing them to say, ‘See, I passed legislation that will require green energy and require the industry to clean up their act.’”
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The Delta-Montrose Electric Association board endorses the bill. Board member Nancy Hovde said it would create an investment that saves money and reduces the need for additional power generation.
“What it does is it actually cuts wholesale power costs,” she said. “It ultimately is good for all our members.”
She said the association and its members can save considerably through reducing demand during peak usage hours.
DMEA spokesman Tom Polikalas said the association devoted from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of revenues toward efficiency programs over the past few years. He said these include programs for public education, high-efficiency lighting, heating and cooling efficiency in homes and geothermal systems.
“Really the key part of the decision is that if more electric co-ops support efficiency programs, it reduces the need to build more power plants,” Polikalas said.
He said rate hikes can be avoided by eliminating the need for plants in the future.
When asked whether the additional amount of DMEA revenues spent on such programs would lead to increased rates, Polikalas said the efficiency measures can reduce the overall cost of electric bills.
Rose said the bill establishes a government mandate that provides “no benefit to the consumer whatsoever.”
“Keep in mind that co-ops belong to the people. So this is taking 2 percent out of the consumer’s profit to disseminate information to the consumer to say, ‘Save electricity,’” he said.
“Our members have faced rising electric rates for five of the last six years,” DMEA general manager Dan McClendon said in a press release. “Widespread adoption of energy efficiency programs across the state will help reduce upward pressure on all our rates.”
The bill states a utility may only be exempted in a year following one in which electricity sales fall at least 3 percent. It would require periodic reports to the state energy office. Program planning, administration, marketing and rebates are among the costs allowed under the requirement, according to the bill.
If approved, the bill would become effective July 1.
Contact Robert Allen via e-mail at roberta@montrosepress.com
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