I saw an op-ed piece in this morning’s Virginian Pilot regarding how the purchase of power from renewable sources, as currently structured, will just cost consumers more money while the utility companies – Dominion Virginia Power and Appalachin Power – increase their profits.
These two utilities, which together serve the majority of the state’s electricity customers, have recently announced that they will allow consumers to buy power from renewable sources. While each company is pricing this “green power” option differently, choosing the renewable option will mean a bigger electric bill – and more profits for the utilities.
As now structured, the renewable options will not generate a single watt of new green energy. Utility companies are suckering environmentally conscious customers into paying more for what the companies are already selling. And when a utility offers it own renewable option, it can shut out all other sources of renewable energy from its service area. You will pay more for the same product that you’re already getting, and at the same time give up choice. That sounds like a pretty rotten deal.
The article urges consumers to contact the SCC with comments about this proposal and offers suggestions on what the comments should include.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 