Edison Wants $2.4B From Ratepayers For Shuttered San Onofre Plant

SANTA ANA (CBS/AP) — Southern California Edison says it needs at least $2.4 billion from ratepayers over the next seven years for the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant.

KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports Edison outlined its proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission last month.

The utility says it needs the money to compensate shareholders.

Marc Toney, Executive Director of The Utility Reform Network, is among those who have publicly criticized the proposal.

"We think that Southern California customers should not have to pay for Edison's mistakes," Toney said. "We think, in fact, customers deserve a refund for hundreds of millions of dollars already spent on replacement power in the last two years of paying for an idle plant."

There was no immediate comment from Edison.

The case is expected to run at least into 2014.

The plant between San Diego and Los Angeles was shut down in January 2012 after a small radiation leak led to the discovery of heavily damaged tubing in steam generators.

Edison closed the plant for good after a long fight with environmentalists over safety issues.

Edison is also seeking damages from insurers and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which built the faulty generators.

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