Florida News Straight From the Source
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved Duke Energy Florida, LLC’s (DEF) agreement to apply federal tax savings to offset storm restoration costs for Hurricane Michael, thereby avoiding a surcharge to DEF customers. [Read more…] about PSC Votes to Offset Storm Costs for Duke Energy Florida
With the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) vote today, Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF) customers will save $150.9 million from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. [Read more…] about Florida PSC Ensures Duke Customers Realize Tax Benefits
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved Duke Energy Florida, LLC’s (DEF) termination agreement with Ridge Generating Station, L.P. (Ridge) that is expected to save DEF customers between $30 and $35 million. [Read more…] about PSC’s Action Saves Duke Energy Customers Millions of Dollars
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved extending Duke Energy Florida, LLC’s (DEF) budget billing program to commercial customers. Currently available to residential customers, DEF’s commercial customers will now have the option of a predictable monthly bill payment. [Read more…] about PSC Increases Billing Options for Duke’s Commercial Customers
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved cost recovery for Duke Energy Florida, LLC’s (DEF) new Citrus County power plant, one of the largest industry projects of its kind. The 1,640-megawatt (MW) natural gas facility will provide enough energy to power approximately 110,000 residential homes. [Read more…] about PSC Allows Duke’s New Citrus County Plant to Begin Service
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced yesterday the termination of the Combined Licenses (COL) of the proposed Duke Energy Florida (DEF) Levy nuclear reactors. The Levy project, which consisted of two Toshiba-Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, was plagued by schedule delays and skyrocketing costs before being cancelled by DEF in 2013. Yet there were significant costs borne by customers in subsequent years.
The 2017 rate case settlement agreement between DEF and other parties, including Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, effectively ended any possibility that reactors would ever be built at the Levy site. Given the 2017 bankruptcy of Westinghouse, due to the massive financial losses caused by the AP1000 projects in Georgia, which has doubled in cost to nearly $28 billion, and South Carolina, which has since been cancelled, any likelihood of the Levy project reemerging was squelched. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, DEF filed a letter with the NRC on January 25, 2018 requesting that the Levy COL be terminated. The NRC granted that request yesterday.
“Southern Alliance for Clean Energy applauds Duke Energy Florida for formally terminating the licenses for the Levy site,” said Sara Barczak, Regional Advocacy Director with Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “This move marks the continued meltdown of the nuclear construction industry after the Westinghouse bankruptcy and the abandonment of the V.C. Summer nuclear reactors in South Carolina last year. It’s time for FPL to follow suit and stop wasting customers’ money by officially cancelling the proposed reactors at their Turkey Point plant near Miami.”
Earlier today, Duke Energy Florida (DEF) filed a rate settlement agreement with the Florida Public Service Commission resolving a number of outstanding issues and setting rates for DEF for the next four years beginning on January 1, 2018.
In addition to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a number of other parties have signed on to the agreement, including the Office of Public Counsel, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Industrial Power Users Group, and PCS Phosphate.
“We applaud Duke Energy Florida for working proactively with stakeholders to embrace smart technologies that are both good for consumers and the environment,” said Dr. Stephen A. Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “Large scale solar, electric vehicles and battery storage demonstrate that Duke is embracing technologies for the 21st century. We welcome Duke’s willingness to work with stakeholders on data collection and any rate design changes impacting customer-owned demand side solar.”
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is pleased with the overall direction of this agreement as it will ensure:
As a party to this settlement, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy will be able to enforce many of the provisions of the agreement. A petition was filed today at the Florida Public Service Commission, along with the settlement agreement, requesting approval of the agreement by the end of this year.
