After the California Public Utilities Commission approved $16.7 million last year to use 3-D graphics to study earthquake faults near the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant for Pacific Gas & Electric, the utility returned Sept. 23 asking for another $47.5 million to complete the task. The scope of the study should be expanded, noted the PG&E filing. The utility added that the cost of environmental permitting and mitigation has risen. The geographic area the utility wants to study has more than doubled. If the cost escalates beyond $64 million, PG&E requests the excess be paid with no hearing--but through the “advice letter” process. Southern California Edison filed Sept. 30 with the commission to allow up to $10 million in seismic-related expenses for its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station to be authorized without a hearing. The application is to “ensure that [Edison] can continue its study activities without delay” while its general rate case is pending.
