The Nuclear Regulatory Commission would wind up with close to a flat budget in 2024 if a request sent to Congress Monday becomes law.
The independent federal civilian nuclear power regulator seeks some $979.2 million for fiscal year 2024, about $52 million million more than the roughly $927 million Congress approved for fiscal year 2023 in a December omnibus spending bill.
A fee-collecting regulator, the commission expects to offset about $808 million of its fiscal-year 2024 request via charges to nuclear power-plant owners and operators with NRC licenses. That would leave a net appropriation of $156 million, or $19 million fewer than fiscal year 2023. Government spending years begin Oct. 1.
NRC’s projected fee take for fiscal year 2024 is about $30 million, or a little over 4.5%, more than expected fee offset for 2023. That growth is less than the 6.5% rate of consumer inflation for the 12 months ended January, as tracked by the Department of Labor.
