News

Discount Rate Authorized for Returning Default Service Customers

New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission authorized Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) to institute two different default energy rate schedules, a standard rate for those customers who have never left the utility for a competitive energy supplier and a discounted, albeit “above market,” rate for customers who took service with an alternative provider and then return to the utility’s default service. According to the utility, such pricing flexibility is necessary in order for it to compete effectively against other suppliers.

Atlantic Power Sells Florida Facilities to Quantum

Atlantic Power closed on its previously announced sale of interests in three Florida projects—Auburndale, Lake Cogen, and Pasco Cogen—to Quantum Utility Generation, a Houston-based generation company owned by Quantum Energy Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The total sale price was approximately $140 million, with net proceeds of $117 million, after repayment of project-level debt at Auburndale and settlement of all outstanding natural gas swap agreements at Lake and Auburndale.

Siemens to Maintain Russian Combined Cycle Plant

Siemens entered a long-term service contract for the largest combined cycle power plant in Russia, the 800-MW Kirishi power plant, which was repowered in March 2012. Per the agreement, Siemens will provide maintenance of the gas turbines and generators for 12 years. Kirishi was the first combined-cycle repowering project in Russia, and it increased the unit’s capacity from 300 MW to 800 MW, and raised its efficiency from 38 percent to 55 percent.

ReneSola Signs 44 MW Solar Module Agreement with Enerparc

ReneSola Ltd agreed to provide Enerparc AG with 43.6 MW of solar modules, 35 MW of which will be delivered through original equipment manufacturers (OEM) in Poland and India. Under the terms of the agreement, ReneSola and its contracted OEMs will deliver 43.6 MW of solar modules to Enerparc between April and June of this year.

SunEdison, Petrobras to Build PV Project in Brazil

SunEdison signed an agreement with Petrobras to build one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Brazil. The plant will be located in Alto do Rodrigues, Rio Grande do Norte. Once completed, SunEdison will manage the plant from its central operations center. The energy generated will be fed into Brazil’s National Interconnected System. The plant will have an installed capacity of 1.1 MW DC and will be built on land adjacent to the Thermoeletric Plant Jesus Soares Pereira that belongs to Termoacu S.A.