MIAMI, FL. (AP) - The Latest on a lawsuit challenging Florida utilities' nuclear fees(all times local):
3:45 p.m.
Florida's two largest utilities are pushing back against a proposed class-action lawsuit challenging about $2 billion in fees they have collected for nuclear projects.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status to seek damages for 6.4 million customers of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Duke Energy and Juno Beach, Florida-based Florida Power & Light. The fees were imposed on ratepayers under a 2006 Florida law.
The utilities each issued statements Tuesday saying the issue has already been settled by previous state court lawsuits. Duke says the lawsuit should be dismissed and FPL calls it without merit.
The lawsuit filed Monday in South Florida federal court contends the law violates the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against other energy producers and that it is pre-empted by federal energy and nuclear laws. It also claims Florida customers are improperly charged for nuclear projects subject to huge cost overruns and some that are never built.
12:40 p.m.
A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging some $2 billion in fees charged by Florida's two largest electric utilities for nuclear plant projects.
The proposed class-action lawsuit seeks to stop the fees and recover damages for about 6.4 million customers of Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy. The fees were imposed on ratepayers under a law passed in 2006 law by the Legislature.
The lawsuit contends the law violates the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against other energy producers and that it is pre-empted by federal energy and nuclear laws. It also claims Florida customers are improperly charged for nuclear projects subject to huge cost overruns and some that are never built.
