Commonwealth Edison Co. was ordered to refund about $250 million to its current and former ratepayers for illegal rates collected for cost overruns on a nuclear power plant. The refund was about $55 million more than previously ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission and trade groups said it may be the largest ever required of a state or local utility. State court Judge Richard Curry ordered Edison to make average refunds of about $45 to $50 each to Edison customers who have received electric service since April 1986, including about two million customers who have moved during that period. Judge Curry ordered the refunds to begin Feb. 1 and said that he wouldn't entertain any appeals or other attempts to block his order by Commonwealth Edison. ``The refund pool...may not be held hostage through another round of appeals,'' Judge Curry said. Commonwealth Edison said it is already appealing the underlying commission order and is considering appealing Judge Curry's order. The exact amount of the refund will be determined next year based on actual collections made until Dec. 31 of this year. Commonwealth Edison said the ruling could force it to slash its 1989 earnings by $1.55 a share. For 1988, Commonwealth Edison reported earnings of $737.5 million, or $3.01 a share. A Commonwealth Edison spokesman said that tracking down the two million customers whose addresses have changed during the past 3 1/2 years would be ``an administrative nightmare.'' In New York Stock Exchange composite trading yesterday, Commonwealth Edison closed at $38.375, down 12.5 cents. The $2.5 billion Byron 1 plant near Rockford, Ill., was completed in 1985. In a disputed 1985 ruling, the Commerce Commission said Commonwealth Edison could raise its electricity rates by $49 million to pay for the plant. But state courts upheld a challenge by consumer groups to the commission's rate increase and found the rates illegal. The Illinois Supreme Court ordered the commission to audit Commonwealth Edison's construction expenses and refund any unreasonable expenses. The utility has been collecting for the plant's construction cost from its 3.1 million customers subject to a refund since 1986. In August, the commission ruled that between $190 million and $195 million of the plant's construction cost was unreasonable and should be refunded, plus interest. In his ruling, Judge Curry added an additional $55 million to the commission's calculations. Last month, Judge Curry set the interest rate on the refund at 9%. Commonwealth Edison now faces an additional court-ordered refund on its summer/winter rate differential collections that the Illinois Appellate Court has estimated at $140 million. And consumer groups hope that Judge Curry's Byron 1 order may set a precedent for a second nuclear rate case involving Commonwealth Edison's Braidwood 2 plant. Commonwealth Edison is seeking about $245 million in rate increases to pay for Braidwood 2. The commission is expected to rule on the Braidwood 2 case by year end. Last year Commonwealth Edison had to refund $72.7 million for poor performance of its LaSalle I nuclear plant. TEXT Commonwealth Edison Co. was ordered to refund about $ 250 million to its current and former ratepayers for illegal rates collected for cost overruns on a nuclear power plant . The refund was about $ 55 million more than previously ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission and trade groups said it may be the largest ever required of a state or local utility . State court Judge Richard Curry ordered Edison to make average refunds of about $ 45 to $ 50 each to Edison customers who have received electric service since April 1986 , including about two million customers who have moved during that period . Judge Curry ordered the refunds to begin Feb. 1 and said that he would n't entertain any appeals or other attempts to block his order by Commonwealth Edison . `` The refund pool ... may not be held hostage through another round of appeals , '' Judge Curry said . Commonwealth Edison said it is already appealing the underlying commission order and is considering appealing Judge Curry 's order . The exact amount of the refund will be determined next year based on actual collections made until Dec. 31 of this year . Commonwealth Edison said the ruling could force it to slash its 1989 earnings by $ 1.55 a share . For 1988 , Commonwealth Edison reported earnings of $ 737.5 million , or $ 3.01 a share . A Commonwealth Edison spokesman said that tracking down the two million customers whose addresses have changed during the past 3 1\/2 years would be `` an administrative nightmare . '' In New York Stock Exchange composite trading yesterday , Commonwealth Edison closed at $ 38.375 , down 12.5 cents . The $ 2.5 billion Byron 1 plant near Rockford , Ill. , was completed in 1985 . In a disputed 1985 ruling , the Commerce Commission said Commonwealth Edison could raise its electricity rates by $ 49 million to pay for the plant . But state courts upheld a challenge by consumer groups to the commission 's rate increase and found the rates illegal . The Illinois Supreme Court ordered the commission to audit Commonwealth Edison 's construction expenses and refund any unreasonable expenses . The utility has been collecting for the plant 's construction cost from its 3.1 million customers subject to a refund since 1986 . In August , the commission ruled that between $ 190 million and $ 195 million of the plant 's construction cost was unreasonable and should be refunded , plus interest . In his ruling , Judge Curry added an additional $ 55 million to the commission 's calculations . Last month , Judge Curry set the interest rate on the refund at 9 % . Commonwealth Edison now faces an additional court-ordered refund on its summer\/winter rate differential collections that the Illinois Appellate Court has estimated at $ 140 million . And consumer groups hope that Judge Curry 's Byron 1 order may set a precedent for a second nuclear rate case involving Commonwealth Edison 's Braidwood 2 plant . Commonwealth Edison is seeking about $ 245 million in rate increases to pay for Braidwood 2 . The commission is expected to rule on the Braidwood 2 case by year end . Last year Commonwealth Edison had to refund $ 72.7 million for poor performance of its LaSalle I nuclear plant . 2~4~6 16~18~20~22 26 26~28~30~32~34 38~40 46~48~50~52~54~56~58 52~54~56~58 63~65 69~71~73~75~77~79~81~83~85~87~89~91~93 87~89~91~93 97~99 103 109~111~113~115~117~119~121~123~125~127 119~121~123~125~127 132~134 132~134~136~138~140 144 150~152~154~156~158~160~162~164~166~168 172 172~174~176~178~180~182~184~186~188~190~192~194~196~198~200~202~204~206~208~210~212~214 182~184 186~188~190 196~198~200~202~204~206~208~210~212~214 212~214 219~221 225~227 233~235 247 251~253 257~259~261~263~265~267 265 265~267 271~273 280~282~284 300~302~304~306 312~314 321~323 327 335~337~339~341 339 351~353 351~353~355~357 362~364~366~368~370~372 380~382 388~390 394~396~398~400~402~404 402~404 409~411 415~417 423 429 429~431~433 437~439~441~443 450 454~456 460~462~464~466~468~470~472~474~476~478~480 485~487~489~491 487~489 497~499~501~503~505~507~509~511~513~515~517~519~521~523~525~527 501~503~505~507~509~511~513~515~517~519~521~523~525~527 511 519~521~523~525~527 535~537~539 548~550~552~554 548~550~552~554~556~558 560 564~566 572~574~576~578~580~582 589~591~593~595~597~599~601~603~605~607 603~605~607 617 624~626~628~630 634~636~638 642~644 650 650~652~654 658~660~662 670~672 679~681 685~687 691~693 697~699~701~703~705 699 703 713 720~722~724~726 730~732 738~740 738~740~742~744~746 752~754~756 761~763 773~775 773~775~777~779~781 785 785~787~789~791~793~795~797~799 797~799 801~803 810 814~816 822~824~826~828~830~832~834~836~838~840~842~844~846~848 840~842 846~848 866 873 873~875 879~881 885~887~889~891~893 897~899~901~903 899 908~910 914~916 920~922~924~926~928~930 934~936 941~943 949~951~953~955 959 959~961~963~965~967 971~973~975~977 985~987~989 996~998 1004~1006 1004~1006~1008~1010~1012~1014 1010~1012 1022 1026~1028~1030~1032~1034 1038~1040 1038~1040~1042~1044~1046~1048 1053~1055 1061~1063~1065~1067 1071~1073 1081~1083 1088~1090 1102~1104~1106~1108 1104~1106 1112~1114 1119~1121 1123~1125 1133~1135~1137 1141~1143 1147 1147~1158~2000~2001~1155 Commonwealth Edison Co.|3525,3527,3541,3543,3557,3561,3562,3572,3574,3575,3579,3582,3591,3598,3599,3612,3615,3618,3638,3640,3650,3652,3661,3664 250 million|3526 current and former ratepayers|3528 illegal rates|3529 cost overruns on a nuclear power plant|3530 nuclear power plant|3531 refund|3532,3536,3537,3620 about $55 million more|3533,3631 Illinois Commerce Commission|3534,3564,3597,3607,3611,3623,3633,3656 trade groups|3535 a state or local utility|3538 State court|3539,3603 State court Judge Richard Curry|3540,3549,3552,3555,3560,3565,3628,3630,3635,3645 average refunds of about $45 to $50|3542,3550,3558 Edison customers|3544,3619 electric service|3545 since April 1986|3546,3548,3586,3621 Edison customers who have moved|3547,3584 Feb. 1|3551 appeals|3553,3559 other attempts|3554 Judge Curry's order|3556,3566,3573,3629,3646 the underlying commission order|3563 The exact amount of the refund|3567 next year|3568 actual collections|3569 until Dec. 31 of this year|3570 this year|3571 its 1989 earnings|3576 $1.55 a share|3577 1988|3578 earnings|3580 A Commonwealth Edison spokesman|3581 tracking down customers who've moved|3583,3587 addresses|3585 New York Stock Exchange|3588 New York Stock Exchange composite trading|3589 yesterday|3590 $38.375|3592 $2.5 billion Byron 1 plant|3593,3602,3616,3625,3647 Rockford, Ill.|3594 1985|3595 a disputed 1985 ruling|3596 electricity rates|3600,3608,3609 $49 million|3601 a challenge|3604 consumer groups|3605,3644 commission's rate increase|3606 The Illinois Supreme Court|3610 construction expenses|3613,3617,3626 any unreasonable expenses|3614 August|3622 between $190 million and $195 million of the plant's construction cost|3624 interest|3627 the commission's calculations|3632 Last month|3634 interest rate on the refund|3636 9%|3637 an additional court-ordered refund|3639 summer\/winter rate differential collections|3641,3643 the Illinois Appellate Court|3642 precedent|3648 second nuclear rate case|3649,3657 Braidwood 2 plant|3651,3655,3658 rate increases|3653,3654 year end|3659 Last year|3660 $72.7 million|3662 poor performance|3663 its LaSalle I nuclear plant|3665 3525|NUC:DIST:2~4~6 3526|MOD:DIST:16|NUC:DIST:18~20~22 3527|NUC:DIST:26 3528|MOD:DIST:26|MOD:DIST:28~30~32|NUC:DIST:34 3529|MOD:DIST:38|NUC:DIST:40 3530|MOD:DIST:46|NUC:DIST:48|MOD:DIST:50~52~54~56~58 3531|MOD:DIST:52|MOD:DIST:54|MOD:DIST:56|NUC:DIST:58 3532|MOD:DIST:63|NUC:DIST:65 3533|MOD:DIST:69|NUC:DIST:71~73~75|MOD:DIST:77~79~81~83~85~87~89~91~93 3534|MOD:DIST:87|NUC:DIST:89~91~93 3535|MOD:DIST:97|NUC:DIST:99 3536|NUC:DIST:103 3537|MOD:DIST:109|NUC:DIST:111|MOD:DESC:113|MOD:DIST:115~117~119~121~123~125~127 3538|MOD:DIST:119|MOD:DIST:121~123~125|NUC:DIST:127 3539|MOD:DIST:132|NUC:DIST:134 3540|MOD:DIST:132~134~136|NUC:DIST:138~140 3541|NUC:DIST:144 3542|MOD:DIST:150|NUC:DIST:152|MOD:DIST:154~156~158~160~162~164~166~168 3543|NUC:DIST:172 3544|MOD:DIST:172|NUC:DIST:174|MOD:DIST:176~178~180~182~184~186~188~190~192~194~196~198~200~202~204~206~208~210~212~214 3545|MOD:DIST:182|NUC:DIST:184 3546|MOD:DIST:186|NUC:DIST:188|MOD:DIST:190 3547|MOD:DIST:196~198~200|NUC:DIST:202|MOD:DIST:204~206~208~210~212~214 3548|MOD:DIST:212|NUC:DIST:214 3549|MOD:DIST:219|NUC:DIST:221 3550|MOD:DIST:225|NUC:DIST:227 3551|NUC:DIST:233~235 3552|NUC:DIST:247 3553|MOD:DIST:251|NUC:DIST:253 3554|MOD:DIST:257|NUC:DIST:259|MOD:DIST:261~263~265~267 3555|NUC:DIST:265 3556|MOD:DIST:265|NUC:DIST:267 3557|NUC:DIST:271~273 3558|MOD:DIST:280|MOD:DIST:282|NUC:DIST:284 3559|MOD:DIST:300|NUC:DIST:302|MOD:DIST:304~306 3560|MOD:DIST:312|NUC:DIST:314 3561|NUC:DIST:321~323 3562|NUC:DIST:327 3563|MOD:DIST:335|MOD:DESC:337|MOD:DIST:339|NUC:DIST:341 3564|NUC:DIST:339 3565|MOD:DIST:351|NUC:DIST:353 3566|MOD:DIST:351~353~355|NUC:DIST:357 3567|MOD:DIST:362|MOD:DIST:364|NUC:DIST:366|MOD:DIST:368~370~372 3568|MOD:DIST:380|NUC:DIST:382 3569|MOD:DESC:388|NUC:DIST:390 3570|MOD:DIST:394|NUC:DIST:396~398|MOD:DESC:400~402~404 3571|MOD:DIST:402|NUC:DIST:404 3572|NUC:DIST:409~411 3573|MOD:DIST:415|NUC:DIST:417 3574|NUC:DIST:423 3575|NUC:DIST:429 3576|MOD:DIST:429|MOD:DIST:431|NUC:DIST:433 3577|NUC:DIST:437~439|MOD:DIST:441~443 3578|NUC:DIST:450 3579|NUC:DIST:454~456 3580|NUC:DIST:460|MOD:DIST:462~464~466~468|MOD:DESC:472~474~476~478~480 3581|MOD:DIST:485|MOD:DIST:487~489|NUC:DIST:491 3582|NUC:DIST:487~489 3583|NUC:DIST:497|MOD:DIST:499|MOD:DIST:501~503~505~507~509~511~513~515~517~519~521~523~525~527 3584|MOD:DIST:501|MOD:DIST:503~505|NUC:DIST:507|MOD:DIST:509~511~513~515~517~519~521~523~525~527 3585|NUC:DIST:511 3586|MOD:DIST:519|MOD:DIST:521|MOD:DIST:523~525|NUC:DIST:527 3587|MOD:DIST:535|MOD:DIST:537|NUC:DESC:539 3588|NUC:DIST:548~550~552~554 3589|MOD:DIST:548~550~552~554|MOD:DIST:556|NUC:DIST:558 3590|NUC:DIST:560 3591|NUC:DIST:564~566 3592|NUC:DIST:572~574|MOD:DESC:578~580~582 3593|MOD:DIST:589~591~593|MOD:DIST:595~597|NUC:DIST:599|MOD:DESC:601~603~605~607 3594|NUC:DIST:603|MOD:DIST:607 3595|NUC:DIST:617 3596|MOD:DIST:624|MOD:DESC:626|MOD:DIST:628|NUC:DIST:630 3597|MOD:DIST:634|NUC:DIST:636~638 3598|NUC:DIST:642~644 3599|NUC:DIST:650 3600|MOD:DIST:650|MOD:DIST:652|NUC:DIST:654 3601|NUC:DIST:658~660~662 3602|MOD:DIST:670|NUC:DIST:672 3603|MOD:DIST:679|NUC:DIST:681 3604|MOD:DIST:685|NUC:DIST:687 3605|MOD:DIST:691|NUC:DIST:693 3606|MOD:DIST:697|MOD:DESC:699~701|MOD:DESC:703|NUC:DIST:705 3607|NUC:DIST:699 3608|NUC:DIST:703 3609|NUC:DIST:713 3610|MOD:DIST:720|NUC:DIST:722~724~726 3611|MOD:DIST:730|NUC:DIST:732 3612|NUC:DIST:738~740 3613|MOD:DIST:738~740~742|MOD:DIST:744|NUC:DIST:746 3614|MOD:DIST:752|MOD:DIST:754|NUC:DIST:756 3615|MOD:DIST:761|NUC:DIST:763 3616|MOD:DIST:773|NUC:DIST:775 3617|MOD:DIST:773~775~777|MOD:DIST:779|NUC:DIST:781 3618|NUC:DIST:785 3619|MOD:DIST:785|MOD:DIST:787~789|NUC:DIST:791|MOD:DIST:793~795~797~799 3620|MOD:DIST:797|NUC:DIST:799 3621|MOD:DIST:801|NUC:DIST:803 3622|NUC:DIST:810 3623|MOD:DIST:814|NUC:DIST:816 3624|MOD:DIST:822|NUC:DIST:824~826~828~830~832~834~836|MOD:DIST:838~840~842~844~846~848 3625|MOD:DIST:840|NUC:DIST:842 3626|MOD:DIST:846|NUC:DIST:848 3627|NUC:DIST:866 3628|NUC:DIST:873 3629|MOD:DIST:873|NUC:DIST:875 3630|MOD:DIST:879|NUC:DIST:881 3631|MOD:DIST:885|MOD:DIST:887|NUC:DIST:889~891~893 3632|MOD:DIST:897|MOD:DIST:899~901|NUC:DIST:903 3633|NUC:DIST:899 3634|MOD:DIST:908|NUC:DIST:910 3635|MOD:DIST:914|NUC:DIST:916 3636|MOD:DIST:920|MOD:DIST:922|NUC:DIST:924|MOD:DIST:926~928~930 3637|NUC:DIST:934~936 3638|NUC:DIST:941~943 3639|MOD:DIST:949|MOD:DIST:951|MOD:DESC:953|NUC:DIST:955 3640|NUC:DIST:959 3641|MOD:DIST:959|MOD:DIST:961|MOD:DIST:963|MOD:DIST:965|NUC:DIST:967 3642|MOD:DIST:971|NUC:DIST:973~975~977 3643|NUC:DIST:985~987~989 3644|MOD:DIST:996|NUC:DIST:998 3645|MOD:DIST:1004|NUC:DIST:1006 3646|MOD:DIST:1004~1006~1008|MOD:DIST:1010~1012|NUC:DIST:1014 3647|NUC:DIST:1010~1012 3648|NUC:DIST:1022 3649|MOD:DIST:1026|MOD:DIST:1028|MOD:DIST:1030|MOD:DIST:1032|NUC:DIST:1034 3650|NUC:DIST:1038~1040 3651|MOD:DIST:1038~1040~1042|MOD:DIST:1044~1046|NUC:DIST:1048 3652|NUC:DIST:1053~1055 3653|MOD:DIST:1061|NUC:DIST:1063~1065~1067 3654|MOD:DIST:1071|NUC:DIST:1073 3655|NUC:DIST:1081~1083 3656|MOD:DIST:1088|NUC:DIST:1090 3657|MOD:DIST:1102|MOD:DIST:1104~1106|NUC:DIST:1108 3658|NUC:DIST:1104~1106 3659|NUC:DIST:1112~1114 3660|MOD:DIST:1119|NUC:DIST:1121 3661|NUC:DIST:1123~1125 3662|NUC:DIST:1133~1135~1137 3663|MOD:DIST:1141|NUC:DIST:1143 3664|NUC:DIST:1147 3665|MOD:DIST:1147|MOD:DIST:1158~2000|MOD:DIST:2001|NUC:DIST:1155