Ratepayer vulnerability eyed as VY uprate review drags on

By Kathryn Casa | Vermont Guardian

posted November 25, 2005

BRATTLEBORO — The clock is running on a $4.5 million deal aimed at shielding Vermont ratepayers from higher electricity prices that could result from outages related to a 20 percent power increase at Vermont Yankee.

Half of the term of the three-year ratapayer protection plan has already lapsed, and Entergy may still be more than six months away from implementing its proposed uprate at the 530-megawatt Vernon reactor, leaving just a year of indemnity remaining once the power boost takes effect. The plant produces about one-third of Vermont’s total electricity supply.

State officials say they are confident the deal will still offer adequate protection to ratepayers during the crucial year after the plant increases power, if the uprate is approved in the next six months.

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