BKW : No additional provisions as a result of the review of Cost Study 16

The cost calculations performed by Swissnuclear in line with the strict guidelines specified by STENFO and in conjunction with the nuclear plant operators are built on solid foundations and as such are still correct. This was the conclusion reached by the experts who reviewed Cost Study 16. However, the experts did make changes to a few individual points - with particular reference to safety margins. STENFO has defined adjusted provisional contributions to reflect the increased cost estimate.

According to these changes, BKW's contribution to the Waste Disposal Fund would rise by CHF 1.1 million to CHF 18.3 million each year. STENFO has assessed BKW's new contribution to the Decommissioning Fund as a provisional sum of CHF 12.1 million per year instead of the current figure of CHF 0 (see box for explanation). This increase in contributions will have a neutral effect on net income. STENFO will only decide on definitive contributions once the revised Ordinance on the Decommissioning Fund and the Waste Disposal Fund for Nuclear Facilities (SEFV) comes into force for the period between 2017 and 2021.

KKM will go offline on 20 December 2019 - almost exactly two years from now. Preparations for the first decommissioning of a Swiss power reactor are now in full swing. Following the positive verdict from the supervisory authority, the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI, in September, BKW is still working on the assumption that the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) will issue the decommissioning order towards the middle of next year so that the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant can stop generating electricity as planned on 20 December 2019.

Increased contributions to the Decommissioning Fund, but no impact on the profit and loss account

Although BKW's provisional contributions to the Decommissioning Fund are set to rise to CHF 12.1 million, decommissioning costs remain the same. The higher contributions have come about because the legislator assumes that decommissioning planning commences once the power plant has gone offline. However, BKW started planning back in 2013 and covered the occurring costs ever since directly. Nevertheless, they now need to pay the project planning costs into the Decommissioning Fund; these include the payments already made to date. BKW will be able to claim the money back from the Fund with effect from 2020.

BKW assumes that the option for 'Decommissioning planning alongside power operation' will be taken into account when the SEFV is revised and that it will no longer be necessary to have this double financing system.