Multi-billion dollar plans to refurbish two giant reactors at the Bruce Power nuclear plant have been delayed, CTV News learned on Thursday.

Ontario Energy Minister Brad Duguid said, however, there would be no cost increase for energy users coming from the delayed re-start of the two 750-megawatt units.

"The good news for ratepayers is that the agreement that we have with Bruce means that the expense of that delay does not go to ratepayers," Duguid told CTV News.

The refurbishment is estimated to cost more than $3.4 billion.

Bruce Power, the private consortium that operates the nuclear facility on Lake Huron, had originally said the re-construction would be finished by late 2009 or early 2010.

Reports now suggest the two units will not be back in service until 2012.

Duguid said Ontario's energy grid has the capacity to handle any shortfall coming from the delay.

"Thankfully we have made investments to the system to build 8,000 new megawatts of power into the system," he said.

Bruce Power's refurbishment plans hit a snag recently when a group of environmentalists opposed the transportation of old radioactive generators along the St. Lawrence River to be recycled overseas.

On Thursday, Bruce Power launched a website (www.rightthingtodo.ca) to help understand the importance of recycling the radioactive generators.

With files from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss