Hearings Begin on Nuclear Energy Projects

By: Andy Alcock - Email

Updated: Thu 6:50 AM, Sep 06, 2012

Tallahassee, Florida- September 5, 2012

Some Floridians may pay a little more money for their power bills in the short term to to pay less in the future.

Attorneys for two of the state's utilities are making that argument today in hopes of paying for their nuclear power projects.
Today marked the first day of a multi-day hearing at Florida's Public Service Commission.

Two companies, Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida want to collect money from customers to help pay for nuclear power projects.
In 2006, the state lawmakers approved a measure encouraging the development of nuclear energy in Florida.

Both companies petitioned the Public Service Commission in March for millions of dollars in cost recovery to complete the plants.
Several organizations are arguing against it.

While the attorneys for the companies are arguing for millions of dollars in costs being passed on to customers, they claim those same customers will save billions of dollars over the lifetime of those completed nuclear plants.

They say those savings would come from a decreasing reliance on oil and natural gas and also significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a type of air pollution.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the cost recovery amounts November 20th.

But first, there are four more days of hearings on it scheduled for next week beginning Monday at 9:30 in the morning.
If commissioners approve the cost recovery amounts, customers will see it reflected in their January, 2013 bills.

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