I forwarded your question to another individual who does good research and also is employed by a nuclear power plant. I also have been employed in the nuclear industry.
The reply I got back from him indicates that
currently(1995-2005) coal and nuclear generation costs are each running about $17/MWHr. This number is Operation & Maintenance plus fuel costs.
The long term disposal fund has collected approximately $29 Billion and has spent approximately $9 Billion to date.
Estimated cost of decommissioning:
Per plant $300-500 million—includes estimated radiological, used fuel and site restoration costs—about $300 million, $100-150 million and $50 million, respectively.
Industry $31.9 billion—about $300 million per reactor. Decommissioning costs are not included in production costs.
Of the total $31.9 billion estimated to decommission all eligible nuclear plants at an average cost of $300 million, $22.5 billion or about two-thirds have already been funded. The remaining $9.4 billion will be funded over the next 20 years (the average nuclear plant is licensed for 40 years).
Links for more information:
http://www.nei.org/index.asp?catnum=2&catid=351http://www.nei.org/documents/U.S._Electricity_Production_Costs.pdfLarry C
