nuclear-news

North Carolina voters don’t want to pay up in advance for nuclear construction

Poll: N.C. voters oppose utility law change – by John Downey, Charlotte Business Journal, February 24, 2011 A new poll says 70 percent of voters in North Carolina oppose a proposed change in state law that would make it easier for utility companies to charge customers for the cost of nuclear plant construction, says a coalition called Consumers Against Rate Hikes…….

Duke Energy and Progress Energy want the state to change the law on what is called “construction work in progress.”

Under the current law, utilities can start recovering costs for base load plant financing costs* before those plants are finished once state regulators approve construction. But in order to get any construction costs included in the rates, the utilities must ask for a full rate hearing.

South Carolina law

Utilities say the hearings are lengthy and difficult. They want the N.C. General Assembly to approve a law similar to one in South Carolina. That law allows companies to begin recovering the costs of nuclear plants after regulatory approval, but without a separate rate case………

Poll: N.C. voters oppose utility law change | The Business Journal

February 25, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | opposition to nuclear, USA