(CA) Nuke settlement to cost customers $3.3B

[unhappycamper]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/apr/18/33b-fair-or-foul/



Richard Johnson of Hunting Beach spends his Friday afternoon fishing off the beach near the San Onofre Power Plant. The San Onofre Power Plant near Camp Pendleton announced that it will close the power plant down.

Nuke settlement to cost customers $3.3B
By Morgan Lee
2:55 p.m.April 18, 2014

A nuclear-plant settlement would saddle Southern California utility customers with $3.3 billion in charges over the objections of several consumer groups who were left out of negotiations.

In the wake of the breakdown and early retirement of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, the proposed settlement was initially promoted as a chance for utility customers to save $1.4 billion.

The complex deal is under the microscope as utilities, state regulators and a prominent consumer advocacy group push for a quick resolution that might shortcut years of litigation.

At issue is whether it is fair to charge customers for both replacement power and plant operation expenses over the months that operator Southern California Edison struggled to repair and restart the facility.Customers also are being asked to pay off the remaining investment in the moribund plant, although at a lower rate of return for investors.

[djean111]

1. Ah, yes, nuclear power - the epitome of privatizing gains and socializing losses.

And leaving a shit pile of pollution in its wake.

[madokie]

3. I don't know much about the gains

but I can see that the losses are immense. If nuclear had to play on a level playing field we'd never had any, other that the ones the MIC needed for procuring the fuel for their build out of nuclear weapons. Folks we were sold a bill of goods that didn't live up to its hype is all I can say. By pushing nuclear as the only hope we wasted many years of research and development, years that we'll not get back I might add.

[oldhippie]

2. We shouldn't build any more fossil fuel plants ...

... or nuc plants. People will just learn to conserve if they have to.

[Nihil]

4. Good luck.

You are exactly right and that is the right thing to do but actually getting it done?

I'm not holding my breath in anticipation of the overwhelming wave of support that
you'll get for such a sensible plan.