New solar power farms could be coming to Louisa, Powhatan and Isle of Wight counties, Dominion Virginia Power announced Thursday.
Source: Dominion plans three new solar farms – Richmond Times-Dispatch: Business
Note the relatively small investment compared to the ACP, also the interesting aside that they plan to raise rates on what was supposed to be a frozen rate–only frozen when it comes to reimbursements to rate payers, not when it comes to making Dominion richer. The cost of these projects is just about 1/2 the estimated overpayment that customers sacrificed with the rate freeze legislation.
Why would this cost rate payers more?
According to this article they are estimating at this time an average of 7 cents per person–i don’t know if that is per kwh, per month, they weren’t specific. Reading the post carefully you will see they plan to go to the general assembly to try and get the rate hike to cover the new infrastructure.
I don’t think anyone would begrudge them 7 cents, in fact, if I was on their grid and they were honestly asking for rate increases to subsidize abandoning gas fired plants for solar, wind, etc., I would gladly pay that if I could. The problem I see is that there was an estimated 300+ million in estimated overcharges that will not be repaid to the consumers, so in a sense they have already paid for the solar upgrade but Dominion still wants more for their investors.
I would say this grand experiment is state sponsored monopolies has failed, Dominion gets both state protections and access and capitalist perks, and doesn’t have to worry about pesky things like full public dislosure, state audits, or actually serving the public fairly.