Regulators Sign Off on Duke Power Solar Projects

By The News Service of Florida

State regulators Tuesday approved a plan by Duke Energy Florida to recoup money from customers for two solar power plants in Columbia and Hamilton counties. Duke sought approval from the state Public Service Commission to collect about $29.2 million a year for the 74.9-megawatt facilities in the North Florida counties.

The commission signed off on the plan, which the utility and regulators say will save money for customers in the long term because Duke will not have to generate as much power with natural gas.

“Duke’s solar projects are forward-thinking, cost effective, and benefit customers, while producing emissions-free energy,” commission Chairman Art Graham said in a prepared statement Tuesday. “They are a win-win for the company and for its customers, and the solar projects also defer the need for future gas-fired generation.”

Under terms of a base-rate settlement approved by the commission in 2017, Duke is allowed to seek recovery of solar-project costs, though it also has to show that the projects are reasonable and cost-effective. The Hamilton County plant began operating in December, while the Columbia County plant is scheduled to start operating in early 2020, according to the commission.