Florida Public Service Commission approves letting customers pay US$140M to cover costs of Progress Energy's nuclear plant shutdown; cracks in reactor containment walls not expected to be repaired until 2014

Tracy McDonald

TALLAHASSEE, Florida , November 22, 2011 (Associated Press) – Customers next year will pay $140 million so Progress Energy Florida can purchase electricity from other sources while a nuclear plant is shut down for repairs.

The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday let the company pass on those costs.

Consumer advocates oppose the power replacement charge.

They say it's premature to pass that cost on to customers before the commission determines if the company's decisions related to the repairs were prudent.

That won't happen until after the panel holds hearings next June. Cracks that occurred in the reactor containment walls during the repairs at the Crystal River plant have delayed the work.

It initially had been expected to be done in April of this year. Now, the company doesn't expect the reactor to be fixed until 2014.

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