nuclear-news

Florida consumers being hit with costs for imaginary nuclear power plants

consumers are getting hit with costs for “imaginary nuclear plants” and that the Public Service Commission is not properly carrying out a 2006 law.”It’s a scam,’’ ….. “It’s an absolute scam of monumental proportions.’’

attorneys for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, consumers and major power users questioned whether the utilities will ever build the multibillion-dollar nuclear plants.

Clean energy group to challenge PSC decision on nuke funding, Miami Herald,  By Jim Saunders, 29 Dec 11   An advocacy grouup notified the state Public Service Commission that it is taking the unusual step of appealing an order that allows utilities to collect money for work on future or existing nuclear plants. By Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE —

An advocacy group will ask the state Supreme Court to reject a regulatory decision that would allow Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida to collect about $282 million from
customers next year for nuclear-power projects.The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy notified the state Public Service Commission last week that it is taking the unusual step of appealing an order that allows the utilities to collect money for work on future or existing
nuclear plants.

The dispute centers on FPL and Progress billing
customers for upfront costs on four planned nuclear reactors that
would not start producing electricity for at least another decade —
and, critics say, might never produce electricity. Stephen A. Smith,
executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said
consumers are getting hit with costs for “imaginary nuclear plants”
and that the Public Service Commission is not properly carrying out a
2006 law.”It’s a scam,’’ Smith said Tuesday. “It’s an absolute scam of
monumental proportions.’’
The 2006 law, which was designed to encourage development of more
nuclear power, has long been controversial because it allows utilities
to collect money far in advance of plants being completed. FPL has
proposed building two nuclear reactors at its Turkey Point complex in
Miami-Dade County, while Progress plans to build two reactors in Levy
County…..
During this fall’s hearings, attorneys for the Southern Alliance for
Clean Energy, consumers and major power users questioned whether the
utilities will ever build the multibillion-dollar nuclear plants.Smith
said a key issue in the appeal will center on whether the utilities
want to collect the money next year to maintain the “option” of
building the nuclear reactors.He said the Public Service Commission
didn’t properly apply the 2006 law and that utilities should be
required to show they intend to build the plants. He said the
commission “appears to be making up the rules as they go on how to
interpret the law.’’

Read more here:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/27/2563312/clean-energy-group-to-challenge.html#storylink=cpy

December 29, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA