I know, you’re shocked
A new report [PDF] from a ratepayers advocacy group found that the price of electricity in 59 percent of renewable energy contracts signed by the state’s three big utilities exceeded the market price referent, or MPR for all you utility junkies. (snip)
According to the report, 77 percent of the contracts signed by Pacific Gas & Electric were above the MPR, as were 41 percent of those inked by Southern California Edison and 47 percent of deals with San Diego Gas & Electric.
Regulators keep the terms of those contracts in a black box, so it’s impossible to know just how much more utilities are paying for renewable energy. Most contracts are for solar power.
California requires that 20% of all energy come from alternative sources (not nuclear, of course), and, it looks like Big Energy has worked with Big California Government to fleece the citizens.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for alternative energy sources, as I have have written time and time again. It’s funny, though, how we have been told time and time again that these “renewable energy sources” will be cheaper and greener, yet, seem to be more expensive.
