By CEN Staff

DENVER - The Colorado Public Utilities Commission staff has recommended that Xcel Energy refund nearly $1.6 million in overcollected fees to subscribers of the utility’s wind power program.

Xcel contends no refund is needed.

PUC staff say Xcel has overcollected more than $1.5 million from Windsource customers who voluntarily pay about $10 extra per month for wind-generated electricity. From 2005 to 2007, Xcel sold credits for more green power than it generated at wind farms in the program.

Xcel, the state’s largest utility, contends it should not have to refund money because it has generated more than enough wind power to meet the credits it sold. However, some of that wind power is not part of the Windsource portfolio of resources.

PUC rate and financial analyst Harry Di Domenico said that when regulators approved the launch of Windsource in 1997, Xcel agreed to keep the program separate from its other business operations.

Terry Bote, spokesman for the PUC, said a settlement is
expected to be filed by mid-January. He didn’t disclose details.

Xcel produced the extra wind power to meet a Colorado law
requiring regulated utilities to generate 20 percent of their
power from renewable energy sources by 2020.

According to Xcel, Windsource has roughly 46,800 subscribers.