ST. PETERSBURG — State Rep. Dwight Dudley continued his campaign Thursday to repeal a state law that allows utilities to charge customers for new nuclear power plants before they are built.

Backed by a handful of supporters, Dudley, D-St. Petersburg, urged state leaders to stop the "utility tax" that has allowed Duke Energy to collect money from its 1.7 million customers for new nuclear power they will never receive.

Duke used the fee to increase power at the Crystal River nuclear plant, which it permanently closed because of damage during a botched upgrade. And the utility canceled the proposed Levy County nuclear project that is costing customers as much as $1.5 billion.

"It's an outrage," Dudley said during the gathering outside Duke's St. Petersburg headquarters. "I hear from hundreds of consumers. They are sick and tired of being taken advantage of."

He has filed legislation to repeal the nuclear advance fee and a measure to increase use of renewable energy, such as solar power.