I believe that the increased load, decreased availability of the natural gas changed the required reserve requirements which lead to the expensive natural gas issue. Since no one could advise when the load would drop and the Texas Gas Supply would be back to normal, well rules and laws are a bit$h...... maybe ask the State and Federal Regulators fo pay the $6.5 million..
Closing well- performing, environmentally superior units - already paid for - existing power plants that run 24 / 7 will hurt rate payers..
20 years ago Xcel said spending $190 million by ratepayers to upgrade existing power plants was in the ratepayers best interest to keep the units running through 2035.. now wants to close them..
As a regulated monopoly, Xcel is guaranteed huge profits if they build new stuff... Xcel and politicians do not care about the rate payers.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3676530/posts