Progress Energy expects to review repair proposals for nuclear plant by March

Progress Energy expects to complete its review of proposals to repair the broken Crystal River nuclear plant by March, the utility told the state Public Service Commission this week.

In a status update on the out-of-service power plant, Progress said it continues to "analyze and refine information related to the engineering, costs and schedule" to bring the reactor back online. That analysis will continue through the first quarter of this year.

Progress plans to repair the plant at a cost of at least $2.5 billion. The utility wants its 1.6 million Florida customers to pay for at least a quarter of those expenses, if insurance covers the rest.

The nuclear plant broke during a project to replace old steam generators in fall 2009. The plant's 42-inch-thick concrete containment building that houses the nuclear reactor cracked during the project. After Progress repaired that crack, the building cracked two more times.

In its status update this week, Progress said it has taken actions to keep the containment building in a safe condition. The physical condition of the building has not changed over the past few months, it said.

Progress is planning to bring the reactor back online by 2014.

Ivan Penn can be reached at ipenn@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2332. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Consumers_Edge.