The Department emphasised that it was applying significant learning from the experience of decommissioning the Magnox and AGR stations. For new nuclear stations a funded decommissioning plan has to be in place before construction begins. The Department told us that it was “building from the start with decommissioning in mind” and that this should mean that when the new nuclear stations cease operation there will be sufficient funds in place to carry out decommissioning.28 It also explained th...

The Department emphasised that it was applying significant learning from the experience of decommissioning the Magnox and AGR stations. For new nuclear stations a funded decommissioning plan has to be in place before construction begins. The Department told us that it was “building from the start with decommissioning in mind” and that this should mean that when the new nuclear stations cease operation there will be sufficient funds in place to carry out decommissioning.28 It also explained that new legislation also included provisions to enable provider contributions to be adjusted during the life of assets. The Department also expected that Type: conclusion | Number: 17 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 3: PAC conclusion: The terms of the 2009 sale of the nuclear stations agreed by the Department with EDFE placed a disproportionate amount of risk for meeting future decommissioning costs on the taxpayer. 3: PAC recommendation: As proposals for building new nuclear