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PSC begins to debate nuclear energy rate hikes

By Regan McCarthy

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-981553.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – The public service commission is holding a series of hearings on the state's nuclear cost recovery program. Regan McCarthy reports the commission is looking into whether Florida's two largest power companies have been spending customer's money "prudently."

Florida Power and Light and Progress energy Florida are asking the state's public service commission to let them pass the cost of continued nuclear power projects on to their customers.Public Service Commissioner Eduardo Balbis says first the commission has to decide whether the companies' projected costs are reasonable.

"Our job isn't to give a blank check and I don't believe the legislature intended for us to give a blank check. So one of the things that we do every year is to determine the costs and whether they were prudent or not."

Florida Power and Light wants to charge customers $196 million next year for upgrading two reactors and building two new ones. Progress is asking for $135 million for a new plant in Levy County. The state's customer advocates have raised concerns about the increases.