Senator Mike Fasano Reacts to Progress Energy’s Nuclear Cost Recovery Filing & Announcement
Progress Energy has released a statement regarding its collection of advance nuclear cost recovery dollars as well as its long-term plans regarding the future construction of the Levy County nuclear power plant. Progress Energy has asked for an overall advance nuclear cost recovery increase to $5.09 per 1,000 kilowatt-hour up from its current $2.86 per 1,000 kilowatt hour for the construction of a yet-to-be-built nuclear plant in Levy County and the repair of the long-broken Crystal River power plant.
“Progress Energy wants to nearly double its collection of advance nuclear cost recovery dollars for two plants that are not even online,” Senator Fasano states. “Crystal River has been down since Progress Energy bungled its repair in 2009. Levy County is not even built and, according to the statement, the plant won’t be online for at least another dozen years at the earliest.”
In its statement Progress Energy details that it is pushing back Levy County’s first unit going online to 2024. Additionally, Progress Energy estimates that the cost to complete the Levy plant will range between $19 and $24 billion dollars.
“Since the nuclear cost recovery concept was sold to the Florida legislature, the cost for Levy has increased fivefold,” Senator Fasano states. “If lawmakers knew then what they know now I doubt very many would have supported the creation of the fee, which is passed on to customers as approved by the Florida Public Service Commission.”
“As a member of the Senate Communications, Energy & Public Utilities Committee I asked for the committee to call Progress Energy to testify about the advance nuclear cost recovery but leadership demurred,” Senator Fasano states. “If the legislature is not going to take the lead, I call upon the members of the Public Service Commission to step up to the plate and put an end to this blatant legalized robbery of Progress Energy customers. Unless and until Crystal River is back online, and Levy County has been built, there should be no further collections of nuclear cost recovery charges.”
