Levy Nuke Costs at Issue in PSC Hearing

By the News Service of Florida

Progress Energy Florida told state regulators Monday morning that a controversial proposal to build two nuclear reactors in Levy County remains "feasible," though the utility says the project could not start generating electricity until 2024. The long-discussed Levy County reactors dominated discussion as the Florida Public Service Commission began its first full day of hearings about nuclear-project costs that Progress and Florida Power & Light want to collect from customers in 2013. James Whitlock, an attorney for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said Progress has not made a commitment to build the Levy project, though it wants customers to pay upfront costs, such as the cost of obtaining crucial licenses. "It's a lot of money for speculation and a risk the company certainly would not take" if it had to put up the money itself, Whitlock said. Progress is asking to collect about $145 million in nuclear-related costs next year, with $105 million going to the Levy project and $40 million toward an upgrade at an existing plant at Crystal River, company spokeswoman Suzanne Grant said in an email last week. The Public Service Commission has to approve such costs each year, and held an abbreviated session Thursday to begin taking testimony. FPL is seeking $151.5 million from its customers. Regulators have scheduled four days of detailed testimony this week and will make decisions about the company requests this fall.