US nuclear O&M costs continued to decline in 2004
Washington (Platts)--8Jul2005
US nuclear plant operators continued to hold the line on costs in 2004, inching median spending slightly downward to 1.61 cts/kWh, with Southern Nuclear Operating Co's Vogtle--for the second year running--the only plant to report spending less than 1.2 cts/kWh on operations and maintenance, including fuel. The figures come from utility filings on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Form 1 and Dept of Energy's Energy Information Administration Form 412, filed for 2004 by utilities reporting costs for the 39 of 65 nuclear sites still subject to rate regulation. The available reports cover 60% of sites and 61.2% of 2004 generation. From those filed, the average 2004 US cost for a nuclear kilowatt-hour was 17.22 mils and the median, 16.11 mils. In 2003, with 42 stations reporting, the figures were 18.59 and 16.67 mils, respectively, and in 2002, with 45 stations, 22.37 and 16.02. Average spending per reporting station rose to $201.4-mil from the $199-mil average in 2003. Despite the increased outlays, the efficiency numbers improved in parallel with the US industry's record output in 2004, which meant increased profit potential at US spot power prices. Overall, 36% of plants generated power at a cost of below 1.5 cts/KWH in 2004, up from 29% in 2003, and 80% produced for under 2 cts, up from 71% in 2003. No plant reported spending more than 3 cts/kWh to produce power. For more information about nuclear plants, take a trial to Platts Nucleonics Week at http://nucweek.platts.com.
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