Kleen Energy agrees to pay for plant delays

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Kleen Energy Systems has agreed to pay millions of dollars in damages for costs associated with delayed production at its Middletown power plant, seriously damaged in a deadly gas explosion in February.

The agreement means the company will avoid an inquiry before state utility regulators that could have forced Kleen to disclose privately held information on subjects such as the plant's financing, its construction schedule, its contractor's safety practices, and data on the cause of the explosion that killed six.

The Hartford Courant reports that financial damages, estimated at $8.4 million, will help reduce the electric bills of Connecticut Light & Power ratepayers.

Kleen's $1 billion natural gas-to-electricity plant was scheduled to become operational Nov. 30, but the explosion has pushed that to April.

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Information from: The Hartford Courant