Montana's Public Service Commission (PSC), with a 4-to-1 vote, has determined that Northwestern Energy (NWE) can charge the Montana wind project Two Dot Wind (TDW) up to $5.65 per MWh for integrating wind-generated power into the company's system. The integration rate is then subtracted from the amount NWE would otherwise pay TDW for power, making NWE's final costs for the wind-generated energy as low as $44.25 per MWh.
The figures were determined using a formula based on three factors including the wind project's nameplate capacity and TDW's percentage variability.
‘Unlike other sources, wind is intermittent,’ says PSC Chair Greg Jergeson. ‘Using it in a power grid requires the addition of other sources. How much does this additional step cost – and who should pay for it – are the questions the PSC answered today for Northwestern Energy and Two Dot Wind.’
