State regulators have unanimously approved $448 million in expenditures Georgia Power says it incurred between July and December last year while constructing twin nuclear reactors in Burke County.
Georgia Power is required to go before the state Public Service Commission twice a year to report its spending on Plant Vogtle. The commission is responsible for ensuring that costs passed on to ratepayers are reasonable.
Tuesday, the commission also approved its staff recommendation that future reports by the utility include detailed information about project costs and risks.
Less than two weeks ago, Georgia Power surprised commissioners with its announcement that the project costs have increased by $2.3 billion.
The company said it will absorb a portion of the added costs with the rest, in contingency fees, likely to be handed down to customers.
The decision on Vogtle may be the last key decision the commissioners will make before the November election, where two sitting commissioners, Republicans Tricia Pridemore and Chuck Eaton will face challenges from Democrats Dawn Randolph and Lindy Miller and Libertarian candidates Ryan Graham and John Turpish.
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