TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Progress Energy is still undecided on whether to repair or shut down its crippled nuclear power plant in Crystal River.
That means that the state’s second-largest power company could have to refund customers $100 million under a prior settlement between the utility and consumer advocates.
That settlement calls for the refund if repairs had not begun by the end of 2012.
A lawyer for the utility company told state regulators Monday that Progress expects to have a decision about the plant by this coming summer – although he didn’t rule out an announcement before then.
The reactor has been down since late 2009 when its concrete containment building cracked during a maintenance and upgrade project.
Officials say fixing the plant would likely take several years and cost billions.
