Information on nuclear costs

In 1990 the Energy Committee recommended that, in order to make full information available about the costs and prices of nuclear power, the Department ensure that annual reports on nuclear generation costs for Magnoxes, AGRs and (eventually) Sizewell B are published. There are three reasons why the Energy Committee regarded information concerning nuclear costs to be vitally important. First, nuclear power is heavily subsidised. Secondly, Nuclear Electric can have a significant impact on the electricity market in England and Wales, especially the contract market, influencing the prices paid by industrial and other consumers. Thirdly, nuclear power needs to regain public confidence if it is to continue to play a significant part in meeting the UK's energy needs, and the greatest possible openness about its costs is a precondition for this. A series of Appendices show how the information has been collected from Nuclear Electric, Scottish Nuclear, the Department of Energy, National Power and Gordon Mackenon of the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex. Some of the figures were available from Annual Reports but some, relating to different reactor types, had to be sought from the sources by direct enquiry. (author)