I think most larget thermal plants have an achilles heel when it comes to the adequacy of their heat sinks, be it run of river (temps or flows) or lake (temps and level). The nukes aren’t in a different boat.
Now when you are having to shutter a unit that dispatches at sub $10/MWh and have to replace that capacity with gas/oil combined or simple cycle turbines dispatching at $56-$200/MWh you might see it in your bill...
If the nukes are forced off in the Carolinas, undoubtedly coal stations may be susceptible to derates and shuttering as well because of thermal limits, pond levels, or low river flows— now you are talking a real capacity crisis.
Look to Georgia to get the “capacity crisis” kicked off this year; a lot of people may find themselves short in a lean market.
What’s overlooked here is there are loads on the rivers/lakes in the Carolinas and Georgia that will probably be lost as their suctions are uncovered. That should help cover a capacity shortfall at the cost of salaries, jobs and produced goods and services...
Carolyn