How-ever,that estimate could drop by as much as 3 billion ifBritish Energythe new companywere excused frompaying to reprocess its existing spent fuel. In that case, the researchers say, taxpayers will be stuck with the bill. But consumers, the report adds, have already paid for reprocessing. The government plans to lift this levy when its nuclear plants are privatized, which would amount to asavings of 25 in a household power bill of 300. The Sussex report comes as the government prepares itsnuclear industry privatization plan.
Some analysts say thevalue of the sale remains uncertain until the government releases more details.
Potential investors, too, are with-holding judgment until the government specifies which liabilities will be included in the sale. Reportedly, the government has directed Nuclear Electric to prepare an analysis of the report, and some comments will probably be released this week by the Department of Trade and Industry. Last spring, the government announced its plan to mergeand privatize Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear this year. Late last year, British Energy announced that, when it is privatized this summer,it will not proceed with construction of the Sizewell CPWR, and it will allow planning authority for a furtherPWR to lapse.