"Georgia Regulators Question Economics Of Completing Nuclear Plant"

"A new staff analysis by Georgia's Public Service Commission suggests construction of America's first totally new nuclear power reactor of the 21st century should be scrapped unless Georgia Power agrees to absorb a bigger share of the project's cost overruns.

The state regulatory staff said in a report last week that finishing the two new reactors being built at the Plant Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant near Waynesboro, Ga., will cost customers $1.6 billion more than other energy sources, "meaning that the project is uneconomic" and should be halted.

"Staff concludes that completion of the project is no longer economic on a to-go (forward looking) basis given the additional costs and schedule delays, even without considering the conditions requested by the company," the PSC's Public Interest Advocacy staff said in a report given to the PSC last Friday. "Staff opposes several of the conditions requested by the company, which would effectively shift most of the financial risk of the project to customers.""

Dave Flessner reports for the Chattanooga Times Free Press December 7, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Nuclear: Vogtle Costs Too Much For Customers To Bear, PSC Staff Says" (EnergyWire)

Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press, 12/07/2017