The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a pair of meetings next month to collect public input on whether utility companies with ownership stakes in the idle San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station can continue billing customers for the plant's operating costs.
The meetings will be held Feb. 21 at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. Meetings will be held at 2 and 6 p.m. San Diego meetings are also expected, but the date and location have not been determined.
Southern California Edison operates the nuclear power plant in northern San Diego County and is the majority owner. San Diego Gas & Electric owns a 20-percent share and receives one-fifth of the energy it produces.
The plant hasn't operated for about a year, since a small leak was discovered in one of its two reactors. The other unit was shut down at the time for scheduled maintenance, and neither has been restarted.
Consumer advocates contend that utility customers should not have to pay
for expenses related to the facility when it is not producing electricity.
The commission decided to investigate the matter at its Irvine meeting in fall of last year.
According to the CPUC, no official action will be taken at the meetings.
Written comments can be submitted to the CPUC Public Advisor's Office,
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102 or via email to
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
All correspondence should refer to proceeding number I.12-10-013.
The CPUC said the comments will be provided to the commissioners and the
administrative law judge assigned to the issue.
—City News Service
