Southland

Nuclear Family: The ultimate cost that ratepayers may bear for building and operating the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is scheduled to be taken up--after several postponements--by the California Public Utilities Commission when it convenes in San Francisco on Wednesday. At issue is a settlement among the two utilities that built the plant near San Clemente--Southern California Edison Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric Co.--and the PUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates as to the amount of return the utilities can expect on their investments in the plant, estimated at $2.7 billion. The original settlement was rejected by a judge, and the PUC is scheduled to consider an alternative proposed by PUC President Daniel Fessler. The ultimate decision will affect the additional fees to be paid by electricity consumers into the next century under the state’s electricity deregulation plan.