A new system being considered by the government to guarantee a certain price for electricity generated by nuclear power — even after the retail sale of power is deregulated — would amount to the subsidization of nuclear energy by consumers.
It contradicts not only what the government has long touted as the cost advantage of nuclear power over other energy sources but also the government's pledge in the basic energy plan to reduce as much as possible the nation's dependence on nuclear power to meet its energy needs.
During a meeting of experts to discuss nuclear energy issues last month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry proposed creating a new system in which the government and power companies set a standard price on electricity produced by nuclear power plants that reflects the total expenses of power generation, including the costs of future decommissionings of plants and the disposal of spent nuclear fuel.