Duke Should Refund $54M for Failed Nuclear Power Plant, Representative Says

State Rep. Kathleen Peters has added her voice to the chorus of those asking the Florida Public Service Commission to order Duke Energy to refund $54 million customers fronted for the purchase of components for the once proposed Levy County nuclear power plant.

The Pinellas County Republican wrote a letter to the service commission’s chairman Art Graham on Sept. 30. Her request for the refund joins many others, including the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, the Florida Retail Federation and the Office of Public Council, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Duke Energy has even said it wants to give the money back, the Times reported, but not until a lawsuit against the contractor, Westinghouse Electric, is settled. Duke is currently suing the company in federal court to get the money back because Westinghouse never provided the equipment. The company, however, is countersuing Duke for $512 million since its contract was canceled along with the Levy County project, the Times said.

The Florida Public Service Commission is expected to vote on refund request Oct. 2. It also will address a proposal by Duke to build a natural gas plant. Staff has recommended the service commission hold off on ordering the refund to customers pending the lawsuit’s outcome.

Here’s what Peters wrote in her letter to Graham:

“I write this letter today urging the Public Service Commission to refund the $54 million collected by Duke Energy from the Nuclear Cost Recovery Fee for the Levy County nuclear power plant. This issue is of great importance to the residents of Pinellas County, and the Public Service Commission should strongly support the desires of those residents.

The constituents in my district feel that they have been treated unjustly by Duke Energy, and also by the Public Service Commission. This questions the integrity of our framework because Florida residents feel that their interests are not being represented.

I have announced that I plan to file legislation for the 2015 session that will require regulations on utility providers, as well as create accountability for their actions. I feel that the residents of our community have been mistreated, and want to prevent future occurrences such as this.

This is an opportunity for the Public Service Commission to demonstrate that it operates on behalf of the residents of Pinellas County, as well as the entire State of Florida. I urge the Commission to review all pertinent information related to this specific affair, and to make a decision based upon the best interests of the consumer and not the utility providers.”

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