Replacement energy costs for nuclear electricity-generating units in the United States: 1992--1996

Seasonal replacement energy costs are estimated for potential short-term shutdowns of 112 nuclear electricity-generating units. These estimates were developed to help the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) establish regulatory policies, particularly those requiring safety modifications that might necessitate temporary reactor shutdowns. Cost estimates were derived from probabilistic production-cost simulations of pooled utility-system operations. Factors affecting replacement energy costs, such as random unit failures, maintenance and refueling requirements, and load variations, are treated in the analysis. Seasonal costs are presented for the five-year period beginning with 1992 and ending with 1996. This information updates cost estimates that were developed previously for the NRC and published in NRC Report NUREG/CR-4012, Vols. 1 and 2. The updates were undertaken to extend the time frame of cost estimates and to account for recent changes in utility-system conditions, such as fluctuations in fuel prices, changes in construction and retirement schedules, and adjustments to system demand projections.