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Progress Energy Florida Delays Rate Increase In Pasco

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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: February 18, 2009

For fans of ironic juxtaposition, the Window on Pasco news wrap-up in our Feb. 14 edition provided a bit of fodder.

Exhibit A was the lead item. It reported that Progress Energy Florida is delaying an 11 percent rate increase that would cost the average customers an extra $15 a month. The rate hike is supposed to help the electric utility pay for construction of a nuclear power plant in Levy County. The delay came after Progress Energy had been criticized over the pre-construction rate increase by, among others, two members of the Pasco County Legislative Delegation, state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and state Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs.

Another Window item reported that on Feb. 6, as a mass of frigid air hovered over the area and heaters struggled to keep the chill at bay, Progress Energy recorded its all-time high for one-hour demand from its customers, 10.276 gigawatts. Progress Energy can only generate about 9.3 gigawatts on its own. So it was fortunate there was a spare 900 megawatts or so on the regional electric grid when it was needed Feb. 6. The twin reactors in Levy County would, if they're ever built, crank out a total of about 2.2 gigawatts of power.

As Progress Energy noted, this new demand peak was recorded as the state is in the midst of a major economic slowdown. Unless the Florida economy never recovers, the area's electricity supply margins will almost certainly get thinner. So it's hard to imagine how we're going to avoid forever paying for that extra capacity.

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