PREHEARING: The purpose of this prehearing conference is to: (1) simplify the issues; (2) identify the positions of the parties on the issues; (3) consider the possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and of documents which will avoid ...

 

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

The Florida Public Service Commission announces a prehearing conference and a hearing in the following docket to which all persons are invited.

DOCKET NO. AND TITLE: Docket No. 140110-EI – Petition For Determination of Need for Citrus County Combined Cycle Power Plant, by Duke Energy Florida, Inc. and Docket No. 140111-EI – Petition for Determination of Cost Effective Generation Alternative to Meet Need Prior to 2018, by Duke Energy Florida, Inc.

DATE AND TIME, PREHEARING CONFERENCE: Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 9:30 a.m.

PLACE: Room 148, Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE PREHEARING: The purpose of this prehearing conference is to: (1) simplify the issues; (2) identify the positions of the parties on the issues; (3) consider the possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and of documents which will avoid unnecessary proof; (4) identify exhibits; (5) establish an order of witnesses; and (6) consider such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the action.

DATES AND TIMES, HEARING: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 through Wednesday, August 27, 2014 and on Wednesday September 3, 2014. The starting times on August 27, 2013 and September 3, 2014, will be announced at the conclusion of the hearing on the previous day. The hearing may be adjourned early if all testimony is concluded.

PLACE: Room 148, Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE HEARING: The purpose of this hearing will be for the Commission to take final action to determine the need, pursuant to Section 403.519, Florida Statutes (F.S.), for DEF’s proposed Citrus County Combined Cycle Power Plant. DEF proposes to construct a natural gas-fired, combined cycle power plant with an expected summer rating of 1,640 megawatts (“MW”) and an expected winter rating of 1,820 MW when completed in December 2018. The proposed plant will be built adjacent to DEF’s Crystal River Energy Complex in Citrus County, Florida. According to DEF’s petition, the Citrus County combined cycle power plant will enable DEF to meet the reliability needs of its customers, expand the Company’s natural gas fuel supply diversity, and add flexibility to the energy production resources on the DEF system beginning in 2018. This hearing will also allow the Commission to take final action regarding DEF’s petition for a determination that DEF has a need for additional generation capacity prior to 2018. According to DEF’s petition it has a need for additional generating capacity and the proposed Suwannee Simple Cycle and Hines Chillers power uprate projects are the most cost-effective generation alternatives to meet that need. According to DEF, the Suwannee Simple Cycle project leverages use of existing land, gas, and transmission infrastructure at the Company’s existing Suwannee power plant site and will have low air emissions using proven combustion turbine technology. The Hines Chillers Power Uprate project meets the Company’s need for reliable peaking capacity through an increase in the efficient power output of the existing natural-gas fired, combined cycle power plants located at the Hines Energy Complex, providing customers the savings associated with achieving reliable summer peaking capacity at combined cycle generation efficiency without having to build additional peaking capacity at another site on DEF’s system. The Commission may rule on any such motions from the bench or may take the matters under advisement. This proceeding shall: (1) allow the utility to present evidence and testimony in support of their petition; (2) permit intervenors to present testimony and exhibits concerning the utility’s petition; and (3) allow for such other purposes as the Commission may deem appropriate. All witnesses shall be subject to cross-examination at the conclusion of their testimony on the issues identified by the parties at the prehearing conference held on August 13, 2014.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate at this proceeding should contact the Office of Commission Clerk no later than five days prior to the conference at 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850, via 1(800)955-8770 (Voice) or 1(800)955-8771 (TDD), Florida Relay Service.