Xcel: Wind Power Will Soon Be Cheaper

(AP) DENVER Customers who use Xcel Energy's Windsource wind-energy program will soon pay less in exchange for a greener energy source. Customers who use wind power have been paying more than regular electric customers.

Residential customers who buy all their power from the Windsource program will pay about $59 a month for electricity in November. But because of Xcel's rate increase, conventional customers will pay $53 to $69 a month.

The company said it needs to increase prices because of the soaring cost of natural gas and coal, the chief fuels used to generate power. Wind power, though, isn't affected by those costs.

Energy analysts said many of Xcel's 1.3 million other customers will want to switch to Windsource.

Xcel said the savings could decrease if natural gas and coal prices drop.