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Company officials filed comments with the PSC Friday asserting that Con Edison and the New York Power Authority “lacked sufficient information” when drafting the Reliability Contingency Plan that would be enacted if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission declines to issue renewed licenses for Indian Point.
The RCP, filed by Con Edison and NYPA at the direction of the PSC, includes a proposal that would cost New York electric customers roughly $800 million for electric transmission projects and other programs that would be needed to make up for the power lost if the plants close down.
Mike Twomey, vice president of external affairs for Entergy Wholesale Commodities, said the comments addressed points the subsidiaries felt were lacking in the RCP.
“The RCP fails to acknowledge the substantial likelihood that Indian Point will continue to operate, it lacks sufficient information for a meaningful review of the proposed projects or other alternatives, and it fails to demonstrate that – with a price tag of at least $800 million – it is the most cost-effective solution for New York electric customers,” Twomey said in a news release.
“The projects have been labeled as alternatives to Indian Point, but they are not replacements for the facility -- they would not replace the substantial economic and air quality benefits that Indian Point provides," Twomey said. "At best, these projects might alleviate some of the reliability consequences of losing Indian Point, but only at a significant cost.”
Joy Faber, Con Edison spokeswoman, said Friday that the company disagreed with the assertion that customers would be immediately billed for the $800 million in transmission projects as was stated in the Entergy news release.
“The plan does not propose to ‘immediately begin billing New York electric customers at least $800 million for electric transmission projects,’” Faber said, referring to a line from the Entergy news release. “The plan identifies projects that could be implemented in time for the summer of 2016. The costs of the projects would be incurred over the time they are constructed.”
Faber also disagreed with the notion that Con Edison should have included the likelihood of Indian Point receiving licensing renewals.
“The PSC order required us to develop a plan if Indian Point is forced to close – not to assess its likelihood,” Faber said in an emailed response. “We responded to the order.”
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