nuclear-news

Among the projects up for discussion is Duke Energy Florida’s now-defunct Crystal River nuclear power plant — which ratepayers are still paying for. Duke said in May that it is attempting to recover $50 million in costs related to decommissioning the Crystal River facility.

The plant was closed in 2013, a year after Duke acquired the plant’s operator, Progress Energy. A DIY steam generator replacement that Progress Energy attempted in 2009 went awry, eventually rendering the plant unusable. Customers are paying for the decomissioning — a process that takes decades.

Because utilities are allowed to keep a portion of the funds spent on a nuclear project, Duke walked away with about $100 million following upgrades to the Crystal River plant.

What will not be discussed at this meeting is cost recovery for another nuclear power project Duke had proposed in Levy County.

When Duke bought Progress Energy, it also took over the construction of two nuclear reactors slated to be built in Levy. Duke ended up shutting down the $25-billion project because of high costs, which left Duke customers on the hook for a $1 billion bill.

Associated costs for the Levy project will be addressed on Oct. 25…. http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/florida-psc-looks-at-paying-for-nuclear-projects-today/2333822