The Department has not made a specific assessment of the effects of drought conditions on energy production costs.However, we have considered the impact of drought conditions on electricity generation and last year the Association of Electricity Producers (AEP) conducted a review that looked at the impact of a nationwide drought.In March this year the Environment Agency (EA) published a report: ““Drought prospects for spring and summer 2012””. The EA supports the AEP's assessment, stating"““..individual electricity generators may be impacted where they rely on abstracting cooling water in affected areas however this is unlikely to affect electricity supply as this may be met by an alternative supplier and balanced nationally””."