USA; Supreme Court bars recovery of costs from abandoned nuclear power plants

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry

OSTI ID:104803

In an 8 to 1 decision, the Supreme Court upheld a Pennsylvania law barring utilities from recovering expenses associated with abandoned nuclear power plants. Consequently, the January 11 decision means that utility shareholders, rather than ratepayers, will shoulder the cost. The decision will have a major impact on the nuclear power industry, primarily concerning construction of future nuclear plants. Fearing disallowance of costs, utilities and most certainly their stockholders will be increasingly wary of investing in any risky projects. The high capital costs of building nuclear plants make these projects appear particularly risky, and the decision is likely to provide further disincentive to the nuclear option in the USA.

• OSTI ID: 104803
• Journal Information: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry, Journal Name: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry Journal Issue: 246; ISSN 0742-4582; ISSN NUEXD3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ABANDONED SITES
COST RECOVERY
DECOMMISSIONING
LEGAL ASPECTS
LEGISLATION
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPERATION
SHUTDOWN