From STP
STP’s Unit 1 commenced its 24th scheduled refueling and maintenance outage on Friday, March 17, when it was safely taken offline to begin work.
Plant operators, maintenance and support personnel will be supplemented by several hundred industry craftsmen and specialists from across the country to refuel the reactor and to conduct necessary reliability maintenance for our next operating cycle.
“Safety and reliability are at the forefront of everything we do at STP,” said Kym Harshaw, STP’s executive vice president and chief nuclear officer.
“Refueling outages offer a focused opportunity to prepare the unit for continued safe and reliable generation for another operating cycle.
“This dedicated work makes Unit 1 ready to provide power to the Texas homes that depend on us,” Harshaw said.
This is STP’s 46th refueling outage since beginning commercial operation in 1988.
STP’s two units are on an 18-month refueling cycle.
During the Unit 1 outage, about one-third of the reactor’s fuel assemblies will be replaced with new ones.
In addition, thousands of maintenance activities are scheduled to enhance equipment reliability and numerous plant systems and components will be tested and inspected.
“Our team has completed significant planning and preparation to ensure that we thoroughly inspect, test and complete a large scope of work during this outage,” said Harshaw.
“This work will be done while maintaining the safest possible environment for all personnel and will prepare Unit 1 for safe, reliable operations until its next scheduled refueling outage.” In addition to its history of safe and reliable operations, STP is a strong contributor to the local economy, she noted.
The broad economic impact that results from the influx of visiting workers during refueling outages benefits the community at large, Harshaw pointed out.
The temporary addition of skilled craft persons to our area brings additional business to all types of establishments, from restaurants to retail.
STP schedules refueling outages in the spring and fall when the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) electrical demand is lowest. The plant is managed by the STP Nuclear Operating Company and owned by NRG Energy, CPS Energy and Austin Energy.
To learn more about STP, visit stpnoc.com.