By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners met in a special meeting Tuesday evening to approve or disprove a change in the net metering tariff for Raton Public Service Company and an agreement to join with Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance to seek damages from Wartsila Finland OY.
Commissioners heard from RPS President Kathy McQueary indicating RPS will hire attorneys Dunn and Clouse Dunn LLP specifically Rogge Dunn to handle the case. Attorneys will prosecute its claims for damages against the parties responsible for the power generating equipment manufactured by Wartsila Finland YO.
The city will not have any cost in the case unless there are damages awarded. Raton agrees to pay 33 1/3% of the Total Recovery to attorneys should there be any excess. If there is no recovery Raton is not liable for any attorney fees that will become the responsibility of Hartford Steamboiler. (Link to the full Agreement to Hire Attorney for Claim against Wartsila Finland)
The three commissioners present for the meeting approved the agreement. Mayor Mantz is till in the hospital and Commissioner Schuster had not arrived yet.
Dan Dible, RPS General Manager, explained the Net Metering Tariff change for the Commissioners. He explained that there are currently two solar users that are generating over 10kw a year, one well over that figure. What Dible wants to control is how much RPS has to pay a solar user up to a point.
Due to contract issues with the wholesale electric provider RPS is required to purchase all its power from them. Therefore it makes it difficult to purchase power from a solar provider and still meet the contractual agreement.
David Wentling also spoke telling commissioners that by approving this they could be stifling economic growth and that by federal law utilities will be required to have 4% of their renewable power provided by photovoltaic. The question is how will local solar users be considered to be a part of that plan and how will they be compensated.
Another part of the issue is that solar users are putting power on the grid but not really paying for administrative, personnel or distribution costs. Dible feels that those who don’t have solar are subsidizing those solar users in that case. (Link to the full RPS Resolution Net Metering Tariff and Raton City Commission Resolution Net Metering Tariff)
Commissioners approved the Net Metering Tariff changes on a three to none vote with Commissioner Schuster abstaining.
