An analysis of nuclear power plant operating costs

Technical Report · Wed Mar 16 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5197811

This report presents the results of a statistical analysis of nonfuel operating costs for nuclear power plants. Most studies of the economic costs of nuclear power have focused on the rapid escalation in the cost of constructing a nuclear power plant. The present analysis found that there has also been substantial escalation in real (inflation-adjusted) nonfuel operating costs. It is important to determine the factors contributing to the escalation in operating costs, not only to understand what has occurred but also to gain insights about future trends in operating costs. There are two types of nonfuel operating costs. The first is routine operating and maintenance expenditures (O and M costs), and the second is large postoperational capital expenditures, or what is typically called ''capital additions.'' O and M costs consist mainly of expenditures on labor, and according to one recently completed study, the majoriy of employees at a nuclear power plant perform maintenance activities. It is generally thought that capital additions costs consist of large maintenance expenditures needed to keep the plants operational, and to make plant modifications (backfits) required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Many discussions of nuclear power plant operating costs have not considered these capital additions costs, and a major finding of the present study is that these costs are substantial. The objective of this study was to determine why nonfuel operating costs have increased over the past decade. The statistical analysis examined a number of factors that have influenced the escalation in real nonfuel operating costs and these are discussed in this report. 4 figs, 19 tabs.

• Research Organization: USDOE Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC. Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels
• OSTI ID: 5197811
• Report Number(s): DOE/EIA-0511; ON: DE88008011
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
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ACCIDENTS
AGING
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CAPITALIZED COST
COST
DATA ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
MAINTENANCE
MODIFICATIONS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPERATING COST
POWER DEMAND
POWER PLANTS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
REGULATIONS
SAFETY
SECURITY
STATE GOVERNMENT
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS