Unit 1 at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Luzerne County shut down automatically at 2:23 p.m. Saturday (10/3).

The shutdown was caused by the activation of electrical circuits associated with the main generator on the non-nuclear side of the plant. These electrical circuits are designed to protect this large piece of rotating equipment.

"The reactor shut down safely as designed," said Herbert D. Woodeshick, special assistant to the president for PP&L, Inc., operator of the power plant.

"Our immediate activities will involve identifying the specific condition that caused the shutdown and correcting it," he added. "In addition, we will be conducting other maintenance work that can be done only while the reactor is out of service."

Unit 2 at the plant continues to operate at full power.

The Susquehanna plant, jointly owned by PP&L, Inc. and Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc., is located about five miles northeast of Berwick along Route 11.

PP&L, Inc. — a subsidiary of PP&L Resources, Inc. — generates electricity, provides electricity delivery service to1.2 million customers in eastern and central Pennsylvania, sells retail electricity throughout the state of Pennsylvania and markets or trades wholesale energy in 26 states and Canada through its state-of-the-art Energy Marketing Center.