nuclear-news

Florida electricity customers pay up in advance for building nuclear reactors

in most states, North Carolina included, utilities can’t make customers pay preconstruction costs for proposed nuclear plants. In Florida, they can….they pay in advance for a nuclear plant Progress wants to build in Levy County. …

Electricity Costs Customers More in Florida , Sunshine State News

Nancy Smith’s blog January 17, Cutomers of Progress Energy Florida pay more than the customers of its new parent company, North Carolina-based Duke Energy — and the diference is sizable.

According to a story in the St. Petersburg Times, “Puzzled by the Price of Power?” — Progress Energy Florida customers pay $119.34 per 1,000 kilowatt hours of power, Progress Energy North Carolina customers pay $102.19 and Duke Energy North Carolina customers pay and $92.99.

Why are Floridians so cursed? Because they live in Florida, apparently. The fact that Duke and Progress Energy are merging doesn’t mean Progress Energy Florida customers will see their bills go down……The main reason customers won’t see a decrease in their bills after the merger of Duke and Progress is because the utility plans to apply for higher fees that would go into effect Jan. 1, 2013.

Times reporter Ivan Penn points out that in most states, North Carolina included, utilities can’t make customers pay preconstruction costs for proposed nuclear plants. In Florida, they can.

“Progress Energy Florida customers pay $5.53 per 1,000 kilowatt hours for nuclear cost recovery,” Penn says. “In other words, they pay in advance for a nuclear plant Progress wants to build in Levy County. …

“Bottom line, at least for now: For Progress Energy Florida customers to benefit from the reduced cost of nuclear fuel, they will have to pay for nuclear plants in advance.”

Electricity Costs Customers More in Florida | Sunshine State News

January 18, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA