Georgia residents worried about potential rate hike due to Plant Vogtle costs - wgxa.tv
Georgia residents worried about potential rate hike due to Plant Vogtle costs | WGXA
GEORGIA (WGXA) -- Plant Vogtle's two nuclear reactors were center of attention during a Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing that was held to determine how the project's expenses should be split between Georgia Power shareholders and customers.
If the stipulated agreement is approved by the PSC Georgia Power’s typical residential customer would begin paying an estimated additional $9 in utility bills the month following the completion of unit 4.
And this has Georgia citizens and shareholders voicing their concerns on their bill increasing.
Robert Searfoss is a stockholder with Georgia Power and southern company says the amount of money for the amount of power the plant will give off is inadequate
"A lot of people here seem to support this vocal venture, but not so many have any good ideas of who’s supposed to pay for the staggering, staggering cost overruns of this massive, massive project that will actually for the money that’s been spent on it produces a relatively small amount of power," said Searfoss.
The Vogtle expansion is the first new nuclear reactor to be built in the united states in more than 30 years.
Kimberly Scott, a Georgia Power customer, says they have been experiencing multiple rate increase already.
"We the rate payers have experienced 3 rate increases just this year alone from your vote of the 2022 ria plan, increase in fuel cost, and Vogtle's 3 rate increase. This will be the largest cumulative rate increase in Georgia PSC's history," said. Scott.
The commission is set to have the final say at a December 19 meeting on whether to approve a stipulated agreement reached in august among Georgia power, PSC's staff, and several advocacy groups that would see the utility company cover $2.6 billion of an expected $10 billion in construction costs for the Vogtle project.
Georgia conservation voters education fund organizing director Michael Hawthorne told the commission to deeply consider Georgia families.
"Think about the mother who’s raising her kids by herself. Think about our teachers who are severely underpaid, who have to deal with so much and go home and still pay more for energy bills," said Hawthorne.
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