Dolet Hills Power Station was a coal-fired power plant that was closed at the end of 2021.[1][2][3] The plant had previously been slated for a 2026 closure.[2] The plant was operated by SWEPCO, a division of AEP, and Cleco Power LLC and is located in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana.[2]
The closure of the plant was in part due to Sierra Club action that sought to prevent further mining of lignite coal as a fuel and a settlement agreement concluded in December 2019.[2][4]
The plant is the 300th coal plant to retire as part of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign.[3]
It was estimated that the closure would save customers 60 million dollars a year in electric costs in the region when replaced with renewables.[3]
However, the unfortunate truth is the overall electrical costs were INCREASED by $90.3 million total between the states of Arkansas and Texas. (see the 2 snippets below)
February 28, 2022
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved a base rate increase.
SWEPCO filed its request at the PUCT on Oct. 13, 2020. The PUCT decision authorized an annual increase of $41.6 million in its Nov. 18, 2021, order and Jan. 14, 2022, final order.
The bill for a Texas residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) will increase approximately $8.31 per month, or 8.48%. The increase began with bills issued March 1, 2022.
June 29, 2022
Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) has approved a base rate increase, as well as an interim fuel adjustment for the 2021 winter storm fuel recovery cost.
SWEPCO filed the base rate request with the APSC in July 2021. The APSC decision authorized an annual increase of $48.7 million on May 23, 2022, and issued a final order on June 29, 2022.
SWEPCO residential customers in Arkansas using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) will see a total increase of approximately $13.02 per month on their bill.[6]