The future of the Middletown Kleen Energy power plant, ravaged by an explosion on Sunday, is now on the shelf, and with it a promise of reduced energy costs in Connecticut. A criminal investigation into the accident is under way, and a safety review and hearings by state officials and Congress are being sought. As those probes begin, prospects for Kleen Energy Systems LLC and its largest investor, Energy Investors Funds of Boston and San Francisco, to rebuild the plant remain unclear.

A criminal investigation into the accident is under way, and a safety review and hearings by state officials and Congress are being sought. As those probes begin, prospects for Kleen Energy Systems LLC and its largest investor, Energy Investors Funds of Boston and San Francisco, to rebuild the plant remain unclear.Consumers will not feel any impact from the devastating loss associated with Sunday's explosion because the plant had not yet begun to generate electricity. Moreover, the supply it is intended to provide would be largely surplus power, aimed at a market that is already projected to handle the load through mid-2011, at least.

Consumers will not feel any impact from the devastating loss associated with Sunday's explosion because the plant had not yet begun to generate electricity. Moreover, the supply it is intended to provide would be largely surplus power, aimed at a market that is already projected to handle the load through mid-2011, at least.The largest and only power plant of its type being built in Connecticut today, the 620-megawatt gas-and-oil fired generator of electricity is designed to run around the clock or when needed, said Erin O'Brien, a spokeswoman with ISO New England. It was on track to operate as soon as May, according to the Connecticut Siting Council.

The largest and only power plant of its type being built in Connecticut today, the 620-megawatt gas-and-oil fired generator of electricity is designed to run around the clock or when needed, said Erin O'Brien, a spokeswoman with ISO New England. It was on track to operate as soon as May, according to the Connecticut Siting Council. As such, the plant was expected to help alleviate a longstanding energy bottleneck caused by high demand in southwestern Connecticut and even may have led to cheaper prices in Connecticut and New England, energy experts said Monday.

As such, the plant was expected to help alleviate a longstanding energy bottleneck caused by high demand in southwestern Connecticut and even may have led to cheaper prices in Connecticut and New England, energy experts said Monday.A megawatt produces enough electricity to power about 500 homes, said Derek Phelps, executive director of the Siting Council, which granted the plant a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need. That would mean the plant could have generated enough electricity to power about 310,000 homes.

A megawatt produces enough electricity to power about 500 homes, said Derek Phelps, executive director of the Siting Council, which granted the plant a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need. That would mean the plant could have generated enough electricity to power about 310,000 homes.Connecticut Light & Power had a contract with Kleen Energy to buy its electricity. The plant, which had been under construction since 2007 by O&G Industries of Torrington, was more than 95 percent complete when the explosion occurred Sunday.

Connecticut Light & Power had a contract with Kleen Energy to buy its electricity. The plant, which had been under construction since 2007 by O&G Industries of Torrington, was more than 95 percent complete when the explosion occurred Sunday."The loss or delay of this facility will have no impact on supply or the price of power for CL&P customers," which number about 1.2 million, said CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross. "We've already bought all of our power for 2010 and purchased most of our power for 2011. We've also gone out looking for 2012 (supplies) already."

"The loss or delay of this facility will have no impact on supply or the price of power for CL&P customers," which number about 1.2 million, said CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross. "We've already bought all of our power for 2010 and purchased most of our power for 2011. We've also gone out looking for 2012 (supplies) already."The electricity the Kleen Energy plant would have provided and may yet provide would have been in excess of what is currently needed daily to power Connecticut, O'Brien said.

The electricity the Kleen Energy plant would have provided and may yet provide would have been in excess of what is currently needed daily to power Connecticut, O'Brien said.ISO New England is the regional manager of New England's bulk-power generation and transmission system, overseeing planning and fair administration of wholesale electricity markets to ensure reliability.

ISO New England is the regional manager of New England's bulk-power generation and transmission system, overseeing planning and fair administration of wholesale electricity markets to ensure reliability."Our projections at this time show we have some surplus (electricity) that's anticipated to be available in the mid-2011 time frame," said O'Brien. "We're assessing the long-term impact more fully."

"Our projections at this time show we have some surplus (electricity) that's anticipated to be available in the mid-2011 time frame," said O'Brien. "We're assessing the long-term impact more fully."Nonetheless, state Sen. John Fonfara, co-chair of the legislature's Energy Committee, said the plant is "very much needed" and was counted on to boost capacity on the power grid and help keep down energy prices.

Nonetheless, state Sen. John Fonfara, co-chair of the legislature's Energy Committee, said the plant is "very much needed" and was counted on to boost capacity on the power grid and help keep down energy prices.Energy efficiency programs and improvements to transmission services have already helped alleviate congestion and lower consumer costs, O'Brien said, but she acknowledged that ample supplies would generally tend to reduce demand and lower prices further.

Energy efficiency programs and improvements to transmission services have already helped alleviate congestion and lower consumer costs, O'Brien said, but she acknowledged that ample supplies would generally tend to reduce demand and lower prices further. The Kleen Energy power plant was the largest of a variety of projects approved by the state Department of Public Utility Control to add capacity in the state, said DPUC spokesman Phil Dukes.

The Kleen Energy power plant was the largest of a variety of projects approved by the state Department of Public Utility Control to add capacity in the state, said DPUC spokesman Phil Dukes.Connecticut has more than 7,900 megawatts of electricity at its disposal and about 25 percent of total capacity in all of New England, O'Brien said. To date, 30 percent is supplied by natural gas, 33 percent by oil, 26 percent by nuclear reactors, 7 percent with coal and 1 percent with hydro-electric power, she said.

Connecticut has more than 7,900 megawatts of electricity at its disposal and about 25 percent of total capacity in all of New England, O'Brien said. To date, 30 percent is supplied by natural gas, 33 percent by oil, 26 percent by nuclear reactors, 7 percent with coal and 1 percent with hydro-electric power, she said.The power plant was not required to be operational until November, with supplies of electricity not expected to be handled by ISO New England until June of 2011, O'Brien said.

The power plant was not required to be operational until November, with supplies of electricity not expected to be handled by ISO New England until June of 2011, O'Brien said.Late Monday, the Fitch ratings service placed the loan terms for Kleen Energy Systems LLC on a negative ratings watch. "Fitch believes the accident may prevent Kleen from achieving the sponsor's originally projected completion date, and the length of the delay cannot be estimated at this time," the ratings agency said.

Late Monday, the Fitch ratings service placed the loan terms for Kleen Energy Systems LLC on a negative ratings watch. "Fitch believes the accident may prevent Kleen from achieving the sponsor's originally projected completion date, and the length of the delay cannot be estimated at this time," the ratings agency said.Energy Investors Funds said in a statement it is cooperating with authorities. EIF is the private equity fund manager that raised $985 million in financing to build the facility.

Energy Investors Funds said in a statement it is cooperating with authorities. EIF is the private equity fund manager that raised $985 million in financing to build the facility. "Energy Investors Funds wishes to express our enormous sympathy and concern for the workers at the Kleen Energy plant and their families. We strongly value their contributions, efforts and dedication," the private equity group said.

"Energy Investors Funds wishes to express our enormous sympathy and concern for the workers at the Kleen Energy plant and their families. We strongly value their contributions, efforts and dedication," the private equity group said.

An Associated Press report was used in this story.