Hinkley Point C could save British households more than £1bn on energy bills this year alone if it was up and running, the company behind the plant has said. French energy giant EDF, which is constructing the power station near Bridgwater, has spoken out following comments made by the business secretary on Friday (May 13) over the cost of plans to build more nuclear plants in the UK. Kwasi Kwarteng told householders to prepare for a “small rise” in energy bills as part of the Government’s proposals to fund a new fleet of reactors around the country. But EDF said while there are upfront costs when building the stations, nuclear power could save consumers “much more” on energy bills over its lifetime. “Nuclear power is zero carbon and will play a vital role in preventing any future energy crisis,” a spokesperson for EDF said. “If Hinkley Point C were online today, it would have saved consumers more than £1bn on energy bills for 2022 alone.” The Government’s energy strategy was published in April and has a fleet of new nuclear power plants its heart, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggesting a new reactor could be built every year. Mr Johnson declared it was time for “nuclear to come home” when he and other cabinet ministers visited Hinkley Point last month.
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