Power quality, promises, and profits [ Colorado: Xcel Energy ]

Independence Institute ^ | January 3, 2018 | Amy Cooke

[george76]

Good power quality can be defined as a steady supply voltage that stays within the prescribed range, steady a.c. frequency close to the rated value, and smooth voltage curve waveform (resembles a sine wave).

In general, it is useful to consider power quality as the compatibility between what comes out of an electric outlet and the load that is plugged into it. The term is used to describe electric power that drives an electrical load and the load’s ability to function properly. Without the proper power, an electrical device (or load) may malfunction, fail prematurely or not operate at all.

Unfortunately for these small business owners, they don’t enjoy “good power quality” even though Xcel Energy, the state’s largest monopoly utility, has been promising to fix the problem within two years. But the promise was made four years ago.

Poor power quality costs these businesses money in lost time and damage to their equipment. They have no choice but to continue paying their monthly power bills because there is only one service provider – Xcel.

One business owner is so frustrated with Xcel’s poor power quality, inability to deliver sufficient power, and the monopoly’s lack of concern that he is seriously considering investing nearly $1 million in his own two megawatt generator.

Bills for “poor quality” on the rise.

...

Xcel provides “Daily Averages” of how much power is being used per day and the cost versus the previous year. Despite using nearly 5.4 percent less electricity in November 2017 versus November 2016, the cost per day is 13.2 percent higher – for insufficient and poor power quality. Xcel is charging them more but not providing them what they need.

[catnipman]

article asserts “poor power quality” from Xcel over and over again but sites zero metrics to support that assertion. Instead, we have one anecdotal account of one customer unhappy with the amount of his bill.

i’ve lived in Colorado almost 40 years and have yet to hear a single business or resident complain about “poor power quality” ...

OTOH, I’ve seen Xcel linemen breaking their butts in blizzards desperately trying to restore power as fast as humanly possible to tens of thousands of customers who’ve lost their “bad quality” power in same said blizzards.

[IronJack]

I worked for Xcel for some time, and I can say that while they are as bureaucratic as any large conglomerate, they are also so heavily regulated it took weeks to get the simplest change implemented.

[Ben Ficklin]

The article is from a front group for the fossil fuel energy and the fossil fuel energy is not pleased with Excel over renewables.

A very recent article was published that was especially disliked by fossil fuel. This recent article was published at E&E News but you have to register to read it. So I have linked to part 2 of the article at a free site. Its a good read.

Excel Learns to Forecast Wind, then Shuts Coal Plants

[IronJack]

Xcel, being heavily regulated by the federal and state governments, hews religiously to the PC line regarding “green” energy (as well as a host of other topics). Never mind that wind is a ridiculous and unpredictable source. They’re invested heavily in it because it curries favor with the regulators.

[catnipman]

“fossil fuel energy is not pleased with Excel over renewables. “

neither am I. “renewable” energy is a complete waste of money and results in higher electric rates to pay for inefficient, taxpayer subsidized windmills and solar all over the place, when Colorado and Wyoming have massive supplies of anthracite coal, and massive amounts of natural gas as a result of fracking.

“Renewable” energy is little more than a leftist scam to extract dollars out of taxpayer pockets and have the industry funnel them into the pockets of leftist politicians, all under the guise of “saving the planet” from nonexistent anthropological “global warming”/”climate change”