WAPA to raise rates
WAPA delivers power mostly from hydroelectric dams in the region.
Agency spokesman Randy Wilkerson says WAPA will increase rates by nearly 23 percent on Jan. 1.
He attributes the increase to several years of drought, which resulted in reduced power production from Missouri River dams and forced WAPA to buy more expensive power elsewhere. While the drought has eased, moisture in the region has not been excessive.
"Even though we seem to have had a little bit of recovery this past year, those reservoirs aren't full yet," Wilkerson said. "And when the reservoirs aren't full, that reduces the generation, so we've got less electricity to provide, and when that happens we've got to go out on the open market and purchase that power to make up what we've contracted with."
WAPA has raised rates by nearly 18 percent in the past two years.
"Our rates, by legislation, are cost-based, and so ultimately the consumers end up paying for that down the road," Wilkerson said.
WAPA has begun a regional environmental impact study on wind power, he said. The agency hopes wind-generated electricity can provide a portion of its power in the future, Wilkerson said.
"When hydropower is short, maybe it could be supplemented with wind," he said.
Related News
Scottish Wind Delivers Equivalent Of 98% Of Country’s October Electricity Demand
LONDON - New figures publicized by WWF Scotland have revealed that wind energy generated the equivalent of 98% of the country’s electricity demand in October, or enough electricity to power nearly 5 million homes across the country.
Scotland has regularly been highlighted as a global wind energy leader, and over the last few years has repeatedly reported record-breaking months for wind generation. Now, it’s all very well and good to say that Scottish wind delivered 98% of the country’s electricity demand, but the specifics are a little different — hence why WWF Scotland always refers to it as wind providing “the equivalent…
