December 2006
MVEA Considering PURPA Standards
In the next few months, the MVEA board of directors will be considering whether to implement the five new PURPA standards as defined by Energy Policy Act of 2005. I will give you a short history of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 that leads up to the public hearing next spring.
President Jimmy Carter moved into the White House in 1977 and vowed to make energy matters a top priority. The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) was enacted as part of the National Energy Act. The federal law addressed questions about the stability of the nation's electricity supply in response to national security concerns. Conservation was the cornerstone of his new policy and Carter pointed out that conservation was the “quickest, cheapest, most practical source of energy.”
Carter also sought development and exploitation of other resources and sought greater production of coal and oil and further use of nuclear power plants. He also hoped that alternative energy devices, such as solar cells, geothermal energy and wind turbines would become more popular.
Creation of equitable rates for electric consumers was another reason for PURPA. Typically, utilities offered customers a rate structure that encouraged them to use increasing amounts of electricity – a promotional rate. PURPA focused on eliminating the promotional rate structures except when they could be justified by the cost structure of utility companies. Standards included in the bill: Cost of service, declining block rates, time-of-day rates, seasonal rates, interruptible rates and load management techniques
Although PURPA was a federal law, the responsibility to implement the Act was left to the States and a variety of regulatory regimes developed.
In 1992, Congress amended the 1978 bill to include integrated resource planning, investments in conservation and demand management, energy efficiency investments in power generation and supply and effects of wholesale power purchases on utility cost of capital.
PURPA was heading towards extinction with the open access to electricity transportation by utilities, which created a vast market for the purchase of energy. State regulatory agencies had stopped forcing utilities to give contracts to developers of non-utility power projects. In February 2005, Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont introduced an amendment to PURPA calling for a Renewable Portfolio Standard. The statute passed Congress on July 29, 2005 and President Bush signed it into law on August 8. The five new EPAct05 PURPA Standards are Net Metering, Fuel Sources, Fossil Fuel Generation Efficiency, Time-Based Metering and Communications and Interconnection.
Consideration and determination of a PURPA standard IS mandatory. Adoption and implementation of the standard is NOT mandatory. MVEA must follow the procedures for consideration and determination set forth in PURPA. Included in these procedures is a public hearing with advance public notice to consider the standards. MVEA's hearing is scheduled on May 3, 2007, commencing at 9 a.m. at the Limon Community Center , 477 D Street , Limon.
The MVEA Board of Directors will fully consider the views of participants and the welfare of the cooperative regarding the standards to determine whether it is appropriate to implement such standards. Please direct comments and questions to Darryl Edwards in the Falcon Operations Center at 719-495-2283 or 800-388-9881 extension 2654 at both numbers.
Time For Photo Contest Again!
Our 2007 calendar was absolutely great with some wonderful photos from our members. So for the fourth year, we are inviting you to send in your photos taken within MVEA's territory and reflecting the seasons and the people, lifestyle or landscape of our area. The winners will be included in our 2008 calendar. The deadline for entry is July 1, 2007. If you have questions, please call Deborah Skillicorn or Patsy Tompkins at either MVEA office.
Entry Forms & rules.
Time Is Running Out For Scholarship Applications
Don't miss out on the 15-college scholarships available through MVEA.
10 - $1,000 MVEA Scholarships
1 - $1,000 MVEA Vocational/Technical Scholarship
2 - $500 Tri-State Generation & Transmission Scholarships
1 - $1,000 Basin Electric Scholarship
1 - $1,000 E.A. “Mick” Geesen Memorial Scholarship
To qualify for these scholarships
- Your parents or guardians must receive electric service from MVEA
- You must be a graduating high school senior
- You must meet ACT or SAT and GPA requirements (these vary according to which scholarship you apply for).
- Applications must be received by January 15, 2007
MVEA Scholarship Application
MVEA Vo/Tech Scholarship Application
Geesen Scholarship Application
Don't miss out on the cash!
Recycle your Christmas trees
Don't waste that Christmas tree—mulch it. Take off the decorations and bring your tree to MVEA's Falcon Operations Center at 11140 E. Woodmen Road in Falcon. We'll take that tree off your hands and mulch it up. Mulch is also free to anyone who needs it. This is a free service to our members.
Need Help Paying Your Utility Bill?
The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is designed to help low-income households with winter home heating costs. It is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating . Following are phone numbers for your county LEAP offices. Applications will be accepted from November 1 through April 30.
El Paso – 719-442-0007 Elbert – 719-541-2369
Douglas – 303-688-4825 Lincoln – 719-7432404
Washington – 970-345-2238 Pueblo – 719-583-6356
Crowley – 719-267-3546 Arapahoe – 303-636-1100
or, go to the LEAP website at www.stateboard.cdhs.state.co.us/oss/FAP/LEAP/default.html
Other agencies in the area to assist with emergency situations:
Health & Human Service Information & Referral – 211, 719-955-0742, 866-488-9742 www.ppunitedway.org
Pikes Peak Community Action Agency:
Administration office - 719-471-7870 Eastern El Paso County – 719-347-2976
Eastern Colorado Springs – 719-385-7930 Fountain Area – 719-382-8515
Northern Churches Cares - 719-277-7470
Tri-Lakes Cares – 719-481-4864
Salvation Army – 719-636-3891
Silver Key (60 and over) – 719-632-1521
Army Emergency Relief (military personnel and retirees) – 719-526-4783
The Home Front Cares (active military, reservists and National Guard) – Military Service Center
Give The Gift of Light
The holiday season is sneaking up on us and it's time to start thinking about gifts. MVEA can help you give a gift guaranteed to be used and appreciated and you don't have to fight the holiday shopping crowds to buy it! Give the gift of light!
MVEA's gift certificate program makes it easy for you to provide a credit on a friend or relative's MVEA electric account. Simply fill out the following form and return it, along with your check, to either MVEA office or in an MVEA dropbox. To simplify things even more, instead of filling out the form, you can call us with the information and we'll charge your credit card. How easy is that for holiday shopping!
- The recipient's electric account will be credited in the amount of your gift;
- You will receive confirmation of the gift, and
- The recipient will receive a certificate listing your name and the amount of credit they receive (you can remain anonymous if you wish).
Give us a call for more information or click here to download an application. An MVEA gift certificate can be given anytime throughout the year.
Mail completed applications to: MVEA, P.O. Box 1600, Limon, CO 80828.
DCP Utility Consulting
DCP Utility Consulting will be conducting an attachment audit of MVEA's overhead electric distribution system for approximately ten months (until summer 2007). The purpose of the audit is to insure that all joint use attachments to our poles are in compliance with applicable safety codes and that appropriate joint use agreements are in place for all attachments. DCP employees may require access to your property in order to complete their work on our system. They are only gathering data and should be able to complete their tasks at any given location very quickly. Please extend them the same cooperation you would extend to an MVEA employee. If you have questions please call Mike Garland at 719-495-2283 or 800-388-9881.
