Xcel seeks increase in renewable-energy fee

COLORADO - Xcel Energy has asked regulators to increase the amount it can charge consumers to help recover the cost of renewable-energy generation.

The utility is seeking to raise the "Renewable Energy Standard Adjustment," a fee added to electric bills, to 2 percent of what consumers would pay for conventional energy, the maximum allowed under Colorado law. The current standard adjustment is 1.46 percent.

If approved, the increase would take effect January 1 and increase typical residential bills by 33 cents a month. Typical small-business bills would increase by 52 cents a month.

Colorado voters passed a measure in 2004 that required some utilities to generate 10 percent of their power through renewable sources such as wind and solar. The state Legislature later raised the requirement to 20 percent by 2020.