Georgia’s Public Service Commission, which regulates the state’s utilities, has voted unanimously to let Georgia Power pass on to customers $2.1bn of the costs of completing the first of two new nuclear reactors at the Vogtle nuclear power station in Georgia.

The figure, which will increase average residential customer bills by $3.78 a month, was set in an agreement the Atlanta-based utility and the PSC reached last month.

Under the agreement, Georgia Power will not be allowed to start recovering the $2.1bn until one month after the first plant at Vogtle unit goes into commercial operation.