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RE: Bill Richardson and California Electricity Problems.
As long as Nuclear Power Plants keep the cost of electricity production
below that of coal, then there is a viable economic need for NPPs. As a 20
year veteran in the "trenches" as a Utility HP, I am amused at the
anti-nuclear opinions and threads that criss-cross this fine list (lighten
up people, go hassle some steelworkers - breathing that heat will shorten
your life and kill you sooner). While many that are reading this are in
Acadaemia and Laboratory settings, there are those that not only establish
radiological controls for workers in the plants, but actually help the
workers actively take more of an interest in reducing the time spent for
certain activities. Example: The Health Physics Program at my particular
plant has all the HP Technicians involved in looking at jobs they are
covering from a standpoint of making recommendations to the workers and
their Engineering teams/Supervision as to methods and tools that could
reduce time spent at a particular valve, component, etc. in order to
minimize exposure. Time, Distance, Shielding - Sometimes distance and
shielding are not feasible based on what is being worked on. This leaves
time as the gremlin that needs to be attacked.
The point is, what Glen says below is very true regarding "working a little
bit smarter and quicker each day." There are still a lot of "old dogs" in
the industry that are resistant to change, but there are also a lot of
people just getting into the industry that have learned that there are
opportunities out there. Utility Outages are going to become shorter as a
matter of economic concern. Continual learning curves are going to be
established and raised as problems become fewer and hence, more complex.
Health Physics personnel in this industry are valued by other groups in the
plants as being people with solid common sense, and recommendations and
input are highly regarded when it comes to reducing time and dose. Thinking
on one's feet but not "MacGyvering" a solution is part of the nature of
Operational Health Physics.
Would a physician tell the radiology Technician, "we'll keep shooting him up
with Tl-201 until we get a good picture on the screen"? Of course not!
Advance planning based on the type of testing and size/weight of the patient
is required to determine the proper amount of the radionuclide. Anything
dealing with radioactive material requires advance planning. Operational
HPs do it every day in almost everything they do. It doesn't matter what
branch of Health Physics one is in, if a plan is not established ahead of
time, how can one say they are operating their program ALARA?
Bottom Line: Want to operate a Nuclear Plant more efficiently, have shorter
Outages, and with lower dose? Look to your resident Health Physics People
for better, smarter, common sense solutions.
My opinions only.
With Deepest Respect,
Paul B. Pollan, RRPT
Farley Nuclear Plant
Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
pbpollan@southernco.com
"Problems are nothing more than an opportunity for a solution"
- anonymous
> -----Original Message-----
> From: glen.vickers@exeloncorp.com [SMTP:glen.vickers@exeloncorp.com]
> Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 7:45 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: RE: Bill Richardson and California Electricity Problems.
>
> I think this issue is of some interest to Radsafe
>
> Utilities are starting to venture into a new world. Relatively speaking,
> they will no longer be protected by and in other ways not limited by state
> utility commissions. Some utilities have opted to get out of the
> generation
> business either because they were afraid they could not meet the challenge
> or they mayh have been forced by their dereg committments. Those who are
> staring competition in the face know about staff reductions, reduced
> outage
> durations, and other cost cutting measures, all while improving the
> quality
> of the site HP program.
>
> When it is all said and done, the increase in capacity factor (reduced
> outage duration) in US nuclear power plants is primarily driven by the
> desire to survive economically. Power plants only make money when the
> turbine is spinning... Some utility outages have reduced their duration
> as
> much as 50% in the last two years. Outages of reduced duration and
> staffing
> mean the HP program must exercise better planning, have contingency plans
> in
> place, and exercise near-perfect decision making. There is no longer any
> time to "MacGyver" a plan when something goes wrong, the action levels and
> contingency plans have to already be there. Rework costs too much money
> and
> there is very little tolerance of error in the nuclear power community.
>
> In the last couple of years, a couple of plants were sold for pennies on
> the
> dollar. It seems clear that there is money to be made by taking an
> under-performing plant and bringing it up to where it was designed to be,
> so
> used plant prices are on the increase. I believe there is a plant now
> where
> the state decided not to accept the original offer on the plant, and now
> wants to auction it off among several utilities now that they see they can
> make some money.
>
> If you're looking for a challenging environment, now is the time to get
> into
> nuclear power. Who knows, I may or may not have a job in the future due
> to
> some consolidation or lay off, but my daily list of things to do on my
> Franklin planner runneth over and gives some twisted sort of meaning to my
> existence. I'm sure many of you could say the same thing. We're asked to
> be a little smarter and quicker each day.
>
> Glen Vickers
> glen.vickers@exeloncorp.com
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pmeyer@BHZ.ch [SMTP:pmeyer@BHZ.ch]
> > Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 6:47 AM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > Subject: AW: Bill Richardson and California Electricity Problems.
> >
> > Dear Radsafers
> >
> > I am looking for a recent publications (preferably newspaper- or journal
> > articles) dealing with the consequences of the electricity deregulation
> in
> > the US, in particular for nuclear power utilities.
> >
> > I realize that this is not a true Radsafe issue, but since it came up in
> > this newsgroup...
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any hints,
> >
> > Patrick.
> >
> > Patrick Meyer
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > Basler&Hofmann
> > Consulting Engineers
> > Forchstrasse 395
> > CH-8029 Zürich
> > Switzerland
> >
> > email pmeyer@bhz.ch
> > phone 01-387 11 22
> > direct 01-387 13 63
> > fax 01-387 11 00
> >
> > homepage http://www.bhz.ch
> >
> >
> >
> > > ----------
> > > Von: Sewell, Linda
> > > Antwort an: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> > > Gesendet: Donnerstag, 14. Dezember 2000 17:55 Uhr
> > > An: Multiple recipients of list
> > > Betreff: RE: Bill Richardson and California Electricity Problems.
> > >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > I realize we are getting a bit off topic, but I thought I'd put my two
> > > cents
> > > worth in here. I work for Pacific Gas and Electric at Diablo Canyon
> > Power
> > > Plant. The magnitude of the problem, for PG&E at least, isn't really
> > > spelled out in Richardson's remarks. PG&E has borrowed over 4 BILLION
> > > dollars in the past few months to enable us to provide power to our
> > > customers. We are borrowing at the rate of approximately 1 MILLION
> > > dollars
> > > per day right now. As part of deregulation, both SCE and PG&E were
> > > required
> > > to sell at least 50% of our generating capacity. For PG&E, we sold
> > > everything except Diablo Canyon....there are some hydro exceptions
> > there,
> > > but that gets complicated. Therefore, we must buy electricity for our
> > > customers. As part of the settlements to deal with stranded costs (I
> > > don't
> > > want to get into that argument) we have a fixed price reimbursement
> rate
> > > that extends through 2001. We are getting paid about 4 cents/KWhr,
> but
> > we
> > > are buying power at rates as high at 60 - 70 cents/KWhr. The math
> > doesn't
> > > work here at all, at least not for PG&E. Based on information we are
> > > receiving, our biggest immediate concern is that we are getting close
> to
> > > our
> > > credit limit, so to speak. When and if we can't borrow any more money
> > to
> > > buy power, I assume there will be sort of state or federal
> intervention.
> > > There are already ballot propositions being proposed by various
> consumer
> > > groups to essentially dismantle the deregulation process, so I'm sure
> > > we'll
> > > be debating this stuff in the courts and legislatures for years to
> come.
> > >
> > > One thing of concern to me regarding this great experiment (in
> addition
> > to
> > > the health of my employer, PG&E) is if we were truly in a deregulated
> > > market
> > > as forecast for 2002, 60 cents/KWhr is an awful lot of money for the
> > > consumer to pay for electricity. With my very limited understanding
> of
> > > all
> > > this, one key part of fixing this "broken" system and still
> > transitioning
> > > to
> > > a fully deregulated market, is more generation...and that won't happen
> > in
> > > two years. It's sad during times like this to think about Rancho Seco
> > > with
> > > it's 800 MWatts of fully functional electricity in a partially
> > dismantled
> > > condition. We sure like our power here in California, we just don't
> > want
> > > it
> > > generated in our backyards.
> > >
> > > I am now stepping off my soapbox and returning to Dosimetry duties.
> > >
> > > Needless to say, my employer hasn't reviewed any of this stuff....and
> > all
> > > the usual disclaimers apply.
> > >
> > > Happy Holidays everyone!!
> > >
> > > Linda
> > >
> > > Linda M. Sewell, CHP
> > > Diablo Canyon Power Plant
> > > MS 119/1/122
> > > PO Box 56
> > > Avila Beach, CA 93424
> > > 805.545.4315 (voice)
> > > 805.545.2618 (fax)
> > > mailto:lms1@pge.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: glen.vickers@exeloncorp.com [mailto:glen.vickers@exeloncorp.com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2000 6:46 AM
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list
> > > Subject: Bill Richardson and California Electriciy Problems.
> > >
> > >
> > > [Vickers, Glen] Read the article behind my shallow comments...
> > >
> > >
> > > > Energy Secretary Richardson is causing others to subsidize energy
> > prices
> > > > in
> > > > California, when the rest of the country must pay their fair share.
> > The
> > >
> > > > utilities in the region got the short end of the deal when they were
> > > > limited
> > > > to what they could charge the customer, but were denied the ability
> to
> >
> > > > recover costs due to increases in wholesale prices.
> > > >
> > > > Is California the only state in which such ridiculous utility
> > > legislation
> > > > be
> > > > passed?
> > > >
> > > > Should state legislated stupidity on such a grand scale be a good
> case
> > > for
> > > >
> > > > the federal courts?
> > > >
> > > > Will they meltdown the Northwest transmission lines like they did
> > > before?
> > > >
> > > > Where was the guiding wisdom of the Clinton administration during
> the
> > > > dereg
> > > > process?
> > > >
> > > > There are enough problems in the world, it's just really
> disappointing
> > > > when
> > > > the state of California thought long and hard and made a concious
> > > decision
> > > > to
> > > > create a new one. How many of us spend time at work fixing problems
> > > > created
> > > > by others?
> > > >
> > > > I really feel for those who work for the struggling utilities in
> > > > California.
> > > > Hopefully they'll survive and I'm not just talking about their 4th
> qtr
> >
> > > > earnings projections.
> > > >
> > > > Glen Vickers
> > > > Nuclear Power HP
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > [Vickers, Glen]
> > >
> > > > California Warns of Power Outages
> > > >
> > > > By STEVE LAWRENCE
> > > > .c The Associated Press
> > > >
> > > > SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Energy Secretary Bill Richardson ordered
> > > > Northwest
> > > > power suppliers to sell electricity to power-strapped California
> > > utilities
> > > >
> > > > Wednesday, a move that appeared to avert the immediate threat of
> > rolling
> > >
> > > > blackouts.
> > > >
> > > > The announcement came as state regulators warned rolling blackouts
> > were
> > > > imminent due to power shortages within the state and an inability to
> > buy
> > > > more
> > > > electricity from the Northwest.
> > > >
> > > > The warning came from the Independent System Operator, keeper of
> > > > California's
> > > > power grid. It said that electricity supplies were so perilously low
> > > that
> > > > it
> > > > might declare a Stage 3 power emergency for only the second time
> ever.
> > > At
> > > > Stage 3, the grid can impose blackouts.
> > > >
> > > > Richardson said at a Washington, D.C., news conference he was using
> > > > emergency
> > > > powers to force wholesalers to sell power to California at a price
> he
> > > > deemed
> > > > fair. He said he would also request that two large Pacific Northwest
> > > power
> > > >
> > > > generating associations send more power to California.
> > > >
> > > > ``Our objective is to keep the lights on in California through this
> > > > emergency
> > > > situation,'' he said. ``We're dealing with a potentially very
> serious
> > > > situation here.''
> > > >
> > > > California has been caught in a power crunch over the past several
> > days,
> > > > in
> > > > part because of cold weather in the Northwest - where California
> buys
> > > much
> > > > of
> > > > its power - and the shutdown of some generating plants for
> > maintenance.
> > > >
> > > > Stephanie McCorkle, an ISO spokeswoman, said the threat of blackouts
> > was
> > >
> > > > delayed at least two hours Wednesday afternoon after the Bonneville
> > > Power
> > > > Administration diverted 1,500 megawatts to California.
> > > >
> > > > But she said there was no guarantee that flow of electricity would
> > > > continue
> > > > past mid-afternoon ``because the power is needed up there in the
> > > > Northwest.''
> > > >
> > > > ``We are literally on the phone hunting for megawatts,'' she said.
> > > >
> > > > California's two largest utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric and
> > > Southern
> > > > California Edison, are near bankruptcy due to skyrocketing wholesale
> > > power
> > > >
> > > > costs, Gov. Gray Davis and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said at
> a
> > > > Washington, D.C., news conference with Richardson.
> > > >
> > > > Davis and Feinstein asked federal regulators to set a regional price
> > cap
> > > > on
> > > > wholesale electricity to prevent the high prices that have plagued
> > > > California. On Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
> lifted
> > > > price
> > > > caps in California.
> > > >
> > > > Record wholesale power prices followed, and PG&E warned it was in
> > > > financial
> > > > danger.
> > > >
> > > > The problem became especially acute when about a dozen suppliers
> began
> >
> > > > demanding cash before selling power to California, Kellan Fluckiger,
> > the
> > >
> > > > ISO's chief operating officer, said Wednesday.
> > > >
> > > > ``The credit limits of utilities and what markets are willing to
> sell
> > us
> > > > have
> > > > been reached and surpassed in many cases,'' Fluckiger said. ``There
> > are
> > > > questions about utility solvency. That has come to a head today.''
> > > >
> > > > He said officials may have to interrupt power to as many as 4
> million
> > > > customers Wednesday afternoon and early evening, when people come
> home
> > > > from
> > > > work and power demand hits a peak.
> > > >
> > > > An unprecedented Stage 3 emergency was issued last Thursday, meaning
> > > > reserves
> > > > had fallen below 1.5 percent. But the state fended off rolling
> outages
> > > by
> > > > turning off two power-sucking water pumps.
> > > >
> > > > This time, Fluckiger said any blackouts would probably last about an
> > > hour
> > > > to
> > > > 90 minutes and occur mostly in Northern California.
> > > >
> > > > ``It's a fairly bleak picture,'' he said. ``This thing will not
> change
> > > > unless
> > > > something is done to alleviate the credit situation.''
> > > >
> > > > A Stage 2 alert was declared Wednesday afternoon, meaning power
> > reserves
> > > > fell
> > > > below 5 percent and large commercial customers could be asked to
> > reduce
> > > > power
> > > > consumption. A Stage 1 alert was declared Wednesday morning, meaning
> > > power
> > > >
> > > > reserves were below 7 percent and all power users are asked to
> > conserve.
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Stage 1 and Stage 2 emergencies have become routine this month, but
> > last
> > >
> > > > Thursday's Stage 3 was the only time the threat of blackouts loomed.
>
> > > >
> > > > Contributing to the problem is a shortage of water to power
> > > hydroelectric
> > > > generators in the Northwest and California, Fluckiger said.
> > > >
> > > > ``We have reservoirs so low that we have people standing by them
> > > watching
> > > > the
> > > > situation to make sure it does not go below safe limits,'' he said.
> > > >
> > > > The power crunch over the past few months has been blamed in part on
>
> > > > electricity deregulation. California approved a phased-in
> deregulation
> > > of
> > > > the
> > > > electricity market in 1996 to try to lower prices for consumers
> > through
> > > > competition, but so far it has led to higher energy prices.
> > > >
> > > > At the same time, wholesale power costs have been soaring, in large
> > part
> > >
> > > > because of skyrocketing prices for natural gas. Wall Street is
> worried
> > > > about
> > > > utilities' financial health, and on Tuesday, a consumer group urged
> > the
> > > > state
> > > > to seize and run the strapped $20 billion electricity system.
> > > >
> > > > AP-NY-12-13-00 1906EST
> > > >
> > > > Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. The information contained in
> the
> > AP
> > > > news
> > > > report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
> > > distributed
> > > >
> > > > without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All
> > active
> > >
> > > > hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
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