Green Power Program
What is Green Power? Green power refers to electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and biomass.
How Does the Green Power Program Work? GCEA purchases green power at a premium from Tri-State under its Voluntary Renewable Resource Program and then passes the cost of green power on to participating GCEA members. The cost of green power has decreased steadily since the program first started. Initially, it was $2.50 per 100 kWh block. Over the past few years it has been 50 cents a block. Once again, Tri-State is passing along the reduction in the cost of green power to GCEA. Now, the premium is just 25 cents per block. This means that the average household purchasing seven blocks of green power can contribute to renewable energy for just $1.75 extra a month.
How Will the Premium Affect My Monthly Electric Bill? Here is an example of how the premium will affect an average member's bill. A member whose current electric consumption is 700 kWh, pays the minimum monthly facility charge of $25.00 plus 700 kWh times the residential rate of $0.11851, or $82.96, for a total bill of $107.96 without tax. If this member wanted to purchase the entire 700 kWh as green power, he would need to sign up for seven blocks of green power at an additional cost of $0.25 per 100 kWh block. The member's bill under the Green Power Program would be calculated by multiplying $0.25 times 7 blocks, equaling $1.75. This amount would be added to the member's monthly bill of $107.96 for a total of $109.71.
How Can I Sign Up? Members can sign up to buy as many blocks of green power as they want, and may discontinue participation in the program at any time by contacting GCEA one month in advance. Call GCEA at 970-641-3520 or click here to sign up. The additional cost to participate in the Green Power Program will appear as a line item on participating members' monthly electric bills.
Non-participating members can rest assured that the Green Power Program has no impact on the price they pay for electricity; their power is produced by the most cost-effective and efficient means possible.
What Businesses Support the Green Power Program? More than fifty local businesses currently participate in the Green Power Program.
How Successful is the Green Power Program? GCEA's share of green power has grown to make us one of the larger green power distributors on the Tri-State Generation and Transmission System.
As of June 2008, nearly five percent of GCEA members (both residential and commercial) were participating in the Green Power Program. Even though we are one of the smallest electric cooperatives in Colorado, GCEA is the seventh largest contributor to green power in the state.
GCEA also participates by purchasing green power blocks for its own energy use. A total of 3,600 blocks is purchased and distributed each month, as shown in the table below:
Voluntary Renewable Resource Purchases
July 2012
Class |
GCEA Accounts |
Blocks |
| Residential |
315 |
2,011 |
| Commercial |
63 |
967 |
| GCEA |
11 |
622 |
| Total |
389 |
3,600 |
How Will My Participation in the Green Power Program Contribute to A More Sustainable Economy? GCEA purchases power from its supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, which purchases its energy from a variety of sources. The current mix, as reported by Tri-State Generation and Transmission, is as follows:
Tri-State Generation and Transmission is committed to increasing the amount of renewable energy in its portfolio and assures us that there is plenty of wind power and bio-mass power for members who wish to participate in the Green Power Program.
As more people participate in green power programs like ours, more generation and transmission companies will be willing to support the development of renewable energy sources.
