Power plant construction is over: What do I do now

During the last 20 years, a massive power plant construction program was undertaken in the United States. During the second decade of this construction program, the cost and schedule of many power plants exceeded initial estimates by orders of magnitude. The prudence of utility management came under heavy fire from regulatory bodies, urged on by consumer advocates, pro-environment groups, and anti-nuclear forces. Utilities seeking to recover the cost of construction from state and federal commissions suffered major and sometimes disastrous disallowances. The long-standing compact between regulators and utilities was broken. Plans to build additional power plants were scrapped, and the demand for power plant cost engineers evaporated. Power plant cost engineers are faced with a career crisis: where do they go from here The authors suggest that power plant cost engineers who find themselves displaced as the result of the construction heaters make themselves and their capabilities known to utilities so that their plant maintenance can be enhanced. 2 refs.