A state lawmaker is eyeing Duke Energy Florida and its "nuclear advance fee."
State Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, has announced an effort to end the controversial nuclear advance fees, which allows the utility giant to collect money from customers in the form of extra fees.
The fees, according to company officials, are collected to pay for new power plants in advance of them being built.
According to partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, Duke Energy has collected more than $3 billion. So far, Duke's 1.7 million Florida customers have paid for two failed nuclear projects.
On Thursday, the state's Public Service Commission will discuss Duke request to build a natural gas plant and consider a request to return funds back to customers.