By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton Public Service will have to wait a bit longer for city commission approval on their net metering tariff amendment and the Proration Agreement with Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company after the Raton City Commission tabled the resolutions until a September 15 special meeting.
General Manager Dan Dible explained to KRTN that RPS is a small company and that there are a couple of big solar users that are costing RPS money by the amount of electricity their solar systems are producing. The amendment to the metering tariff is an attempt to put a cap on the amount of electricity that RPS will purchase from the solar providers. Users who already have a solar system will be grandfathered in but new users will be subject to this tariff amendment making it less attractive to purchase solar for their house.
The cap that RPS is recommending is 10kw a year or about 833 watts a month, which Dible indicated, was above what most household consumers use each month. This tariff change is a result of declining revenues because of declining population. (Link to the full document Net Metering Tariff Resolution 2015-3)
The other resolution involves hiring an attorney and adopting a proration agreement with the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company as they pursue subrogation proceedings against Wartsila. This agreement will not cost the city any money and is in support of Hartford Steam Boiler. If Hartford is successful in getting Wartsila to pay for damages then anything over the $6.25 million will be split with the city after attorney fees are paid. (Link to the full document RPS Resolution 2015-8)
These resolutions will be taken up at a special city commission meeting on September 15 at 5:00 p.m.
