By Mark Jaffe | The Colorado Sun
Xcel Energy has until April 15 to present a plan for dealing with the projected electricity shortfall during the hottest days of summer.
elays in getting Xcel Energy’s damaged Comanche 3 coal-fired power plant back online may create a shortfall in electricity this summer, requiring customers to cut back on use during heat waves and other peak periods.
Concerned about the potential gap between electricity generation and demand, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission this week ordered Xcel Energy to file a plan by April 15 to deal with the looming deficit.
Xcel Energy had projected a manageable 77-megawatt deficit in capacity for this summer, but when Comanche 3’s return to operation was pushed from June to August, it widened the gap to 492 MW, according to the PUC.
The company’s next update on Comanche 3 and capacity issues is slated for June, but the PUC commissioners, at their meeting Wednesday, said addressing summer shortages can’t wait until then.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE COLORADO SUN
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