SDG&E to refund customers over San Onofre shutdown?

San Diego Gas & Electric customers are due a refund as a result of the premature failure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, says an administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission.

The refunds demanded are a result of the reduced cost of operating San Onofre after it went into emergency shutdown mode following a radiation leak due to failed steam generators in January 2012. If the proposed decision is upheld, it could mean a $19.3 million windfall for SDG&E customers.

"The proposed decision determines that Edison’s continuing to spend money on a restart plan for San Onofre after May 2012 was the result of an unsound decision-making process," says a commission statement, "primarily because Edison did not consider alternatives or rate impact, or realistically assess the regulatory hurdles blocking a reasonably foreseeable restart."

A final decision is expected following a scheduled December 19 Commission meeting.