Regulators give Duke partial assurance on nuclear costs

[jpak]

http://washington.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/03/19/daily19.html

The N.C. Utilities Commission has issued an order that seeks to assure Duke Energy Corp. it can recover its planning costs for a proposed nuclear plant through future rate cases, whether or not the plant is built.

The order appears to give less than the full approval the utility had sought. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan says the company welcomes the ruling as a positive assertion of the need to keep nuclear energy an option in North Carolina. But lawyers for Duke are reviewing the order to see if the company will still need to ask the N.C. General Assembly for legislation to clarify the issue.

Duke plans to spend about $125 million this year on planning for the proposed William S. Lee plant in South Carolina. Duke sought specific assurances on whether the North Carolina share of those costs would be recovered in a timely manner.

Opponents objected, contending the company already could recover such costs under proper conditions. They said Duke was seeking broad approval of its planning costs before the commission could review them.

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Hold on to your wallet, the nukes may (or may not) be coming your way...

:evilgrin:

[Dead_Parrot]

1. Good think you're not anti-nuclear

Otherwise I'd have to ask you about subsidies for PV installations. Again.

But not the one for your home, obviously.

[Name removed]

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