FORM 6-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Report of Foreign Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 April 02, 2004 BRITISH ENERGY PLC (Registrant's name) 3 Redwood Crescent Peel Park East Kilbride G74 5PR Scotland (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F..... Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ..... No ..X.. If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): Exhibit Index The following document (bearing the exhibit number listed below) is furnished herewith and is made a part of this Report pursuant to the General Instructions for Form 6-K: Exhibit Description No. 1 RNS Announcement, re: March Output Statement dated 02 April 2004. 2 April 2004 BRITISH ENERGY plc - OUTPUT STATEMENT A summary of net output from British Energy's power stations in March 2004 is given in the table below, together with comparative data for the previous financial year:- 2002/03 2003/04 March Year to Date March Year to Date Output Load Output Load Output Load Output Load (TWh) Factor (%) (TWh) Factor (%) (TWh) Factor (TWh) Factor (%) (%) UK Nuclear 5.59 79 63.76 76 5.91 83 64.96 77 UK Other 0.45 31 5.67 33 0.67 47 7.62 45 OVERVIEW The UK nuclear plants annual output was 64.96TWh for the financial year ended 31 March 2004 as compared with 63.76TWh the previous year. This level of output was below the revised target of around 65.5TWh, announced previously, as a result of unplanned outages at several stations (referred to below) which resulted in losses in excess of the remaining allowance. As announced on 12 March 2004, our indicative target for nuclear output for 2004/05 is 64.5 TWh after factoring in the need to replace the cast iron pipework at several stations following the review of the implications of the recent unplanned outage at Heysham 1. Planned Outages for March - A refuelling outage was commenced on one reactor each at Dungeness B and Hartlepool. - Low load refuelling was carried out on both reactors at Heysham 2 and on one reactor at Hunterston B. Unplanned Outages for March - At Hinkley Point, several problems were encountered including a generator transformer which required shutdown for inspection and repair, the combination of which resulted in a total loss of 0.5TWh. Hinkley Point has since returned to service. - At Dungeness, the internal failure of a feed heater caused damage to pumps which had to be taken out of service for repair resulting in a loss of 0.2TWh. The Dungeness reactor is expected to return to service shortly pending completion of the repairs and refuelling. - At Torness, a series of minor problems were encountered resulting in a combined loss of 0.2TWh. Torness has since returned to service. - There were several other, less material, unplanned outages aggregating to 0.1TWh. Contact: Andrew Dowler 020 7831 3113 (Media Enquiries) Alastair Russell 013552 62100 (Investor Relations) Find this News Release on our web-site: www.british-energy.com SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Date: April 02, 2004 BRITISH ENERGY PLC By:____Paul Heward____ Name: Paul Heward Title: Director - Investor Relations