放棄核能發電需要加電費兩成以上

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
経済産業省所管の日本エネルギー経済研究所は１３日、すべての原子力発電所が運転停止し、火力発電所で発電を代行した場合、液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）や石炭など燃料調達費が増えるため、２０１２年度の毎月の標準家庭の電気料金が平均で１０４９円上昇し、６８１２円になるとの試算を発表した。
　試算は、燃料の単価や為替の変動に応じて電気料金を上下する燃料費調整制度を考慮せず、電力会社が料金の抜本改定を実施しないことを前提としている。世界的に燃料の需給が逼迫(ひっぱく)したりすれば、電気料金が更に上昇する可能性もある。
　今年４月のＬＮＧの輸入価格などを基にすると、１２年度の火力発電の燃料調達費は１０年度より３兆４７３０億円増加するという。電気料金に転嫁すると、１キロ・ワット時あたり３・７円の値上げになる。
(試譯文)
On the 13th, the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan, working under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced their trial calculation on the electric cost for an average home in one month in the fiscal year 2012. It would rise by 1049 yen to become 6812 yen on the average because the increases in fuel procurement expense such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal, if all nuclear plants to generate power came to a stop as a substitute for the thermal power plants.
As for this trial calculation, the electric power company had neither taken into account the fuel expenses adjustment system in that unit price of electricity would move up and down according to changes in the unit consumed, nor the cost to execute the drastic measures needed to be taken for this revision. The supply and demand of the fuel was stringent worldwide, and there was a possibility that the electricity rate might rise further, too.
Based on the importing price of LNG etc. this April, it was said that the fuel procurement expense of thermal power generation in the fiscal year 12 would be more than that of fiscal year 10 by 3 trillion 473 billion yen. Spreading it out, electric rate on average was equal to a price hike of 3.7 yen at one kilowatt.


While nuclear energy has its own risks, thermal power generation, to say the least, would cost more per unit in money terms. For thermal power generation, the cost to the environment is another factor that needs to be considered. It is a tough choice for many governments.