HIGHER RATEPAYER BILLS FOR NUCLEAR

FPL bills will rise to pay for nuclear projects; State utility regulators agreed to allow utility companies to charge customers so they can invest in plans for nuclear power.
Mary Ellen Klas, October 24, 2011 (Miami Herald)

"Florida Power & Light…[will] increase the charge on consumers’ household electric bills that will go towards investing in nuclear energy — even if the utility never ends up building any new nuclear power plants.

"The charge, which will amount to $2.20 every month for a household using the average 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, was approved unanimously by the Public Service Commission, which regulates state utilities…Under a state law approved by the Legislature in 2006, the company can collect the money for new nuclear plants without having to commit to building the plants…"

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"The average FPL household already pays 33 cents per month for investments in nuclear energy. The new $2.20 charge would replace the current amount...The change will be reflected on customer bills beginning in January, when FPL is expected to seek a larger rate increase for all electricity production to collect up to an additional $1 billion a year…[ FPL] asked for $196 million in 2012 for cost recovery — $171 million for upgrading existing nuclear plants and the rest for planning two new reactors at Turkey Point...

"…FPL says its customers will benefit from the improvements because expanded nuclear power will offset the need to buy natural gas and other fuels…[Opponents] argued that the money is a bad deal for consumers because there is no guarantee that FPL will build the new plants…Green energy advocates also warn that the process locks customers into paying for expensive nuclear plants for decades when other, more efficient energy options may become available…"