The City of Charlottesville and some citizens want electricity from renewable sources, but their options have dwindled. Pepco Energy Services, currently the lone provider of primarily renewable power in Virginia, is abandoning the market because of a law that goes into effect on January 1 to re-regulate the electrical industry. Dominion Virginia Power, meanwhile, is still waiting to fill the green void.
Ten years ago, the Commonwealth allowed electric utilities to compete with each other. Pepco lured 1,200 of Dominion’s 2.2 million customers by offering slightly pricier energy generated either predominantly or entirely from renewable sources. According to Pepco, about a dozen Charlottesvillians bought green power. That group made Charlottesville, per household, almost twice as green-energy-intense as the rest of the state.
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1.5% |
Hence, Joe Lawson, a Pepco customer since 2005, called it “very disappointing” and “frustrating to lose choice” when he and other locals learned this month that their renewable-energy contracts would not be renewed. The Re-Regulation Act of 2007 will end a customer’s choices unless Dominion fails to offer residences a 100 percent renewable energy option or a customer’s demand exceeds five megawatts (enough to power 1,250 homes or, at maximum electricity consumption, five Charlottesville High Schools.)
In written objections, Pepco Energy Services called Dominion’s proposed green offer “a pale imitation of green electricity choice” because Dominion consumers would essentially support all Dominion’s nonrenewable production even if they additionally bought green credits. Pepco’s Kim Price nonetheless believes the State Corporation Commission overseeing utilities will eventually back Dominion: If this first plan is rejected, Dominion will submit another.
“In light of the uncertainty,” she said, “we will not re-enter the Virginia residential market. It’s unfortunate.”
Dominion, according to spokesman David Botkins, has been “anxiously awaiting” since May the green light on its green plans. “We’ve been hearing from customers for a while that they wanted a green or renewable power option.” Dominion had capacity to produce 400 megawatts of power from sources like wood chips and wind at the end of 2007; it intends soon to have 1,300 megawatts green out of 27,000 megawatts total. Dominion’s green tariff means customers buy electricity from renewable producers elsewhere if they exceed Dominion’s capacity.
Oral arguments in the case ended November 12, and Lawson will try Dominion’s green option “as soon as it is available.” The city may, too. Mayor David Norris emphasized, “We certainly have every intention once it becomes available” of getting renewable electricity, and City Council went on record to support wind farms and “creation of aggregate consumer demand” for renewable energy.
Ironically, municipal buildings probably exceed the five megawatt threshold to shop for green power after re-regulation, and Pepco’s retreat further won’t affect the city because both Norris and city Facilities Maintenance Manager Lance Stewart say the city did not already have an option for green power.
Whatever happens, the city will consume less electricity, green or otherwise: Conservation has cut consumption at 31 buildings by 14 percent since last year.
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