More Information:
Charlie Higley, (608) 251-3322 x. 14
Cell phone:
(608) 843-6996
MADISON – Today the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) filed a lawsuit against the
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to stop the sale of a nuclear
power plant to an out-of-state, unregulated energy company.
“In approving the sale, the PSC sold out Wisconsin ratepayers and accepted
meaningless promises from an out-of-state company that aren’t worth the
paper they’re printed on,” said Charlie Higley, executive director. “CUB is
suing the PSC to ensure that the Wisconsin public maintains control and
oversight over this nuclear power plant located in Wisconsin.”
The PSC approved the sale of the 540-megawatt Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant
on March 17 to a subsidiary of Dominion Resources, an energy company
headquartered in Virginia. The plant is currently owned by Wisconsin Public
Service Corporation (WPS) and Wisconsin Power & Light Company (WPL).
This sale would be the first time a major power plant, owned by a regulated
Wisconsin utility and paid for by Wisconsin ratepayers, is sold to an
out-of-state company. Allowing the sale would threaten the health, safety,
and pocketbooks of Wisconsin ratepayers. The sale would also be another step
toward utility deregulation, which has caused higher rates in other states.
The lawsuit was filed in Dane County. Others joining CUB on the lawsuit
include the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, Local 2150 of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Municipal Electric
Utilities of Wisconsin.
In approving the sale, the PSC accepted agreements that they hope Dominion
will heed regarding the dismantling of the plant, the treatment of ratepayer
funds to be used to dismantle the plant, and the storage of nuclear waste,
among others. The lawsuit argues that these agreements are worthless,
which means that Dominion can snub its promises without fear of retribution
by the PSC. CUB is also concerned that, after 2013, ratepayers would lose
financial benefits that would accrue if the plant was still owned by
Wisconsin-based regulated utilities.
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The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin is a member-supported nonprofit
organization that advocates for reliable and affordable utility service and
that represents the interests of residential, farm, and small business
customers of electric, natural gas, and telecommunication utilities before
regulatory agencies, the legislature, and the courts.
