Easing energy prices should ease Pennsylvania bills
PENNSYLVANIA - Easing energy prices mean Pennsylvanians' electricity bills won't spike quite as high as projected last year if decade-old rate caps expired now.
New figures released by the state Public Utility Commission show the difference between current market prices for electricity and the capped rates paid by millions of Pennsylvanians.
Rate caps expire in 2010 for PPL customers and in 2011 for customers of four other major utilities.
If the caps had expired the week of July 6, Peco Energy's residential customers actually would have seen their bill drop by almost 5 percent on average. Metropolitan Edison customers would have seen a 26 percent jump and Pennsylvania Electric customers a 22 percent increase.
PPL and Allegheny Power already purchased power for use after caps expire, ensuring average increases of 30 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
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Germany launches second wind-solar tender
BERLIN - Germany's Federal Network Agency (BNA) has launched its second joint onshore wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) tender, with a total capacity of 200 MW.
A maximum guaranteed subsidy payment has been set at 87.50 per MWh for both energy sources, which BNA says will have to compete against each other for the lowest price of electricity. According to auction rules, all projects must have a minimum of 750 kW.
The auction is due to be completed on 2 November.
The network regulator has capped solar projects at 10 MW, though this has been extended to 20 MW in some districts. Onshore wind…
