Duke Energy awaits decision on repair costs for new plant

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Indiana’s utility customer advocate is reviewing whether Duke Energy should be allowed to pass along costs of repairing its new $3.5 billion coal-gasification plant to consumers.

Critics tell The Indianapolis Star they believe Duke Energy officials put the power plant near the southwestern Indiana town of Edwardsport in service before it was ready to run so it could get around a 2012 settlement limiting how much the company could charge ratepayers.

The settlement capped the amount Duke Energy could recover at $2.595 billion, plus millions of dollars in financing costs. The company agreed to take on about $900 million in construction costs. That settlement only capped construction costs until the plan was put into service.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor has until September to complete its review.