Power utility, San Diego Gas & Electric Co. has asked the California Public Utilities Commission for permission to recover $808 million that it invested in replacing steam generators for the now-mothballed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, from the customers.

SDG&E, owns about 20 per cent of the shuttered nuclear plant and has received 20 per cent of the electricity generated at the plant. The CPUC will now consider if the customers should be asked to pay $808 million for replacing steam generators for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

One of the San Onofre's reactors was shut down after a leak was discovered at the site. The other plant was undergoing planned maintenance at the time and two reactors were not reopened after that. It was found that the leak were due to vibrations that caused steam pressure tubes to wear prematurely.

SDG&E spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan said that the decommissioning funds can be sued to avoid future rate increases. Southern California Edison, which owns 78.2 per cent of the plant is planning to cover more than $2 billion from its customers but officials have indicated that rates will not be changed.