Conn Yankee shuts down

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

Below is an article that discusses the closure of the Conn. Yankee 
Nuclear Plant. Some of the interesting points the utility used in 
closing the plant included that it was more economical to shut the 
unit down, since replacement power was low cost. Then they go on to 
state that they hope to be able to provide enough power to their 
customers needs through the winter. This is especially interesting 
when one considers that the NE is currently experiencing a major snow 
storm. And, when there is a major storm, or cold or heat spell, the 
neighboring utilities are usually experiencing load management issues 
within their own load distribution centers.

The NE board didn't mention much about their recent management 
problems, which when one evaluates their current situation, "that" 
has to be considered one of their root causes. I also noticed that 
the remaining Vice President that I worked with at FPL resigned 
effective Dec. 2 and was made public on the 3rd. He was the VP of 
Engineering, and had been the temp Site VP at the St. Lucie Plant for 
a stop gap measure back during the spring. It was decided that an 
outsider was needed (isn't that always the case) .. so, after much 
turmoil and worker morale problems, the new management is in place, 
and, the plant continues to experience it's normal number of 
problems. The St. Lucie Plant has been managed and worked by 
excellent staff in the past, way before FPL brought in all new 
management. Too bad FPL's board, as well as NE's board, didn't 
consider the workers that were already there, and rely on them to fix 
the problems that were affecting the plant, instead of continuing to 
downsize the experienced workers and bringing in new management who 
had neither the necessary experience or the knowledge of the plants 
they were brought in to manage.. Anyway, the article regarding Conn 
Yankee is below.
----------------
 HARTFORD  - A group of power companies headed by  
Northeast Utilities decided Wednesday to pull the plug on the 
once-proud Connecticut Yankee nuclear plant, amid criticisms of 
Northeast's nuclear operations. 
  The decision came after a special meeting of Connecticut  
Yankee's board to decide the fate of the 28-year-old plant, one 
of the nation's oldest nuclear facilities. 
  The 582-megawatt Connecticut Yankee station in Haddam Neck,  
Conn., had been shut down for repairs and refueling since July 
22. 
  ``The low cost of replacement power, combined with the  
relative small size and age of Connecticut Yankee, make it in 
our customers' best interests to permanently retire the unit,'' 
Bruce Kenyon, president and chief executive of Northeast 
Utilities Nuclear, said in a statement. 
  Connecticut Yankee was the world leader in nuclear  
generation between 1980 and 1984. 
  The plant was operated and 49-percent-owned by Northeast  
Utilities, with the balance owned by seven other New England 
utilties. 
  The plant was licensed to operate until 2007. But after its  
shutdown in July, an economic analysis showed that customers 
could potentially save $100 million or more by the early closing of
the plant. 
  The dismantling of the plant, which had 350 employees, will  
cost about $425 million, a Northeast Utilities spokesman said. 
  Northeast Utilities said it would keep about 150 employees  
for the dismantling and will try to find jobs within the company for
some others. It will also offer severance packages. 
  Northeast Utilities' nuclear operations plunged into crisis  
this year when all four of its nuclear plants -- including the 
three Millstone units in Waterford, Conn. -- shut down because 
of various safety concerns. 
  The utility is being probed by the federal Nuclear  
Regulatory Commission, and citizens' watchdog groups have 
demanded that the plants be permanently closed. 
  After a management shakeup in September, Northeast Utilities  
said it was taking steps to fix the problems and that it hoped 
to have at least one Millstone plant back in operation by 
mid-1997. 
  With its nuclear arm in mothballs, Northeast Utilities must  
import up to 2,100 megawatts of power to meet this winter's 
anticipated peak demand of 5,300 MW. It has said it is 
''cautiously optimistic'' that Connecticut residents will not be left
in the cold this winter. 
  As Connecticut Yankee's board was voting to close the plant,  
top officials at Northeast Utilities were meeting with NRC 
representatives in Waterford, Conn., to explain a long list of 
nuclear plant violations. 

Sandy Perle
Director, Technical Operations
ICN Dosimetry Division
Office: (800) 548-5100 Ext. 2306 
Fax: (714) 668-3149

E-Mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com    

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