Fair use for educational purposes:

No outages but minor Y2K blips at U.S. power unitsUpdated 10:55 PM ET December 31, 1999SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A few confused clocks and repairs at three nuclear power plants, none of which produced outages, were the only problems seen so far on Friday as North America headed toward Jan. 1, 2000, electric industry officials said.

"Three clocks timed to run on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) had a problem...but this had no effect on power supply or power operations," said Jerry Cauley, a spokesman for the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC).

NERC is the Princeton, N.J.-based group that oversees operation of the power grid serving some 305 million people in the United States and Canada.

"There are GMT reference clocks throughout the (electrical) industry. About 30 percent of computers in control and telecoms systems in the U.S. and Canada are timed to GMT," Cauley said.

He declined to say where the faulty clocks were located, but added that the problem was quickly corrected by simply resetting them.

Midnight GMT was passed at 7 p.m. EST.

A spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) said separately that one of the clocks was used to coordinate generation and transmission systems at a Wisconsin facility, but he also declined to cite which company operated the facility. Industry officials said the plant was not a nuclear facility.

Earlier Friday, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reported outages at three U.S. nuclear power plants, but said the outages were likely due to normal repairs and maintenance rather than Year 2000 computer problems.

Typically, several of the 103 nuclear power plants in the U.S. are shut for maintenance on any given day of the year.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, in a briefing to reporters in Washington Friday evening, said that so far there were no power outages in the United States that could be linked to Y2K bugs.

((--J.Jelter, San Francisco Power Desk + 1 415 677 2518)) Plant Status Report

THIS FROM NRC:

See Site Location for Plant information. See Defined Terms for Plant Operational "Modes" and "Conditions." Ignore "Phone" number, used only by NRC Operations Center Personnel. "") ARE: "<" -> "<" ">" -> ">" "&percnt" -> "%" "&equals" -> "=" -->

NRC OPERATIONS CENTER PLANT STATUS REPORT FOR 12/31/1999 UNEVALUATED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE FACILITY

REG PLANT NAME %PWR DOWN REASON OR COMMENT * # --- ------------------------ ---- -------- -------------------------------- - - 1 BEAVER VALLEY 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 BEAVER VALLEY 2 52 Power Operation * FUEL CONSERVATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 CALVERT CLIFFS 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 CALVERT CLIFFS 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 FITZPATRICK 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 GINNA 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 HOPE CREEK 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 INDIAN POINT 2 99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 INDIAN POINT 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 LIMERICK 1 63 Power Operation * FOLLOWING LOAD SCHEDULE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 LIMERICK 2 0 12/31/99 Hot Shutdown * 1 REACTOR SCRAM DUE TO MAIN TRANSFORMER FAILURE. SEE EVENT 36553. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 MILLSTONE 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 MILLSTONE 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NINE MILE POINT 1 76 Power Operation * REMOVING A CONDENSATE PUMP FROM SERVICE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NINE MILE POINT 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 OYSTER CREEK 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 PEACH BOTTOM 2 70 Power Operation WILL MAINTAIN REDUCED POWER THROUGH Y2K TRANSITION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 PEACH BOTTOM 3 70 Power Operation WILL MAINTAIN REDUCED POWER THROUGH Y2K TRANSITION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 PILGRIM 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 SALEM 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 SALEM 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 SEABROOK 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 SUSQUEHANNA 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 SUSQUEHANNA 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 THREE MILE ISLAND 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 VERMONT YANKEE 1 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NRC OPERATIONS CENTER PLANT STATUS REPORT FOR 12/31/1999 UNEVALUATED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE FACILITY

REG PLANT NAME %PWR DOWN REASON OR COMMENT * # --- ------------------------ ---- -------- -------------------------------- - - 2 BROWNS FERRY 1 0 03/03/85 Refueling DEFUELED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 BROWNS FERRY 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 BROWNS FERRY 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 BRUNSWICK 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 BRUNSWICK 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CATAWBA 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CATAWBA 2 0 12/30/99 Hot Standby * 1 REACTOR TRIP FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. SEE EVENT 36551. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CRYSTAL RIVER 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 FARLEY 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 FARLEY 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 HARRIS 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 HATCH 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 HATCH 2 98 Power Operation MAXIMUM OPERATING POWER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 MCGUIRE 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 MCGUIRE 2 65 Power Operation HOLDING POWER AT THIS LEVEL IN ORDER TO EXTEND CORE LIFE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 NORTH ANNA 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 NORTH ANNA 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 OCONEE 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 OCONEE 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 OCONEE 3 26 Power Operation REPAIRING LETDOWN SYSTEM VALVE 3HP14, SEE EVENT 36545. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 ROBINSON 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 SEQUOYAH 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 SEQUOYAH 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 ST LUCIE 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 ST LUCIE 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 SUMMER 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 SURRY 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 SURRY 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 TURKEY POINT 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 TURKEY POINT 4 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 VOGTLE 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 VOGTLE 2 20 Power Operation * PREPARING TO SYNCHRONIZE THE MAIN TURBINE TO THE GRID -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 WATTS BAR 1 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NRC OPERATIONS CENTER PLANT STATUS REPORT FOR 12/31/1999 UNEVALUATED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE FACILITY

REG PLANT NAME %PWR DOWN REASON OR COMMENT * # --- ------------------------ ---- -------- -------------------------------- - - 3 BRAIDWOOD 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 BRAIDWOOD 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 BYRON 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 BYRON 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 CLINTON 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 COOK 1 0 09/08/97 Refueling REFUELING OUTAGE - DEFUELED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 COOK 2 0 09/09/97 Refueling REFUELING OUTAGE - DEFUELED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 DAVIS BESSE 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 DRESDEN 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 DRESDEN 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 DUANE ARNOLD 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 FERMI 2 97 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 KEWAUNEE 1 97 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 LASALLE 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 LASALLE 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 MONTICELLO 1 84 Power Operation COASTDOWN TO REFUELING OUTAGE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 PALISADES 1 43 Power Operation * INCREASING POWER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 PERRY 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 POINT BEACH 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 POINT BEACH 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 PRAIRIE ISLAND 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 PRAIRIE ISLAND 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 QUAD CITIES 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 QUAD CITIES 2 93 Power Operation COASTDOWN TO REFUELING OUTAGE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NRC OPERATIONS CENTER PLANT STATUS REPORT FOR 12/31/1999 UNEVALUATED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE FACILITY

REG PLANT NAME %PWR DOWN REASON OR COMMENT * # --- ------------------------ ---- -------- -------------------------------- - - 4 ARKANSAS NUCLEAR 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 ARKANSAS NUCLEAR 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CALLAWAY 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 COMANCHE PEAK 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 COMANCHE PEAK 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 COOPER 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 DIABLO CANYON 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 DIABLO CANYON 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 FT CALHOUN 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 GRAND GULF 1 80 Power Operation REDUCED POWER THROUGH Y2K TRANSITION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 PALO VERDE 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 PALO VERDE 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 PALO VERDE 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 RIVER BEND 1 90 Power Operation REDUCED POWER THROUGH Y2K TRANSITION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SAN ONOFRE 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SAN ONOFRE 3 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOUTH TEXAS 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOUTH TEXAS 2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 WATERFORD 3 75 Power Operation * REDUCED POWER THROUGH Y2K TRANSITION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 WNP2 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 WOLF CREEK 1 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * - REASON OR COMMENT HAS BEEN CHANGED IN PAST 24 HOURS # - NUMBER OF REACTOR SCRAMS WITHIN PAST 24 HOURS NOTE - REACTOR STATUS DATA COLLECTED BETWEEN 4 A.M. AND 8 A.M. EACH DAY. ALL TIMES ARE BASED ON EASTERN TIMES (ET).

-- Casey DeFranco (caseyd@silcom.com), January 01, 2000

Answers

What does SCRAM stand for?

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), January 01, 2000.

scram - push the control rods all of the way in rapidly to shut down the reactor. sorta like dumping a bucket of water on a match to douse it.

-- hiding in plain (sight@edge of.nowhere), January 01, 2000.