Unit 2 of PP&L, Inc.'s Susquehanna nuclear power plant near Berwick, Pa. returned to service at 12:30 a.m. Friday (12/24) following repairs to a pipe in a system that monitors water pressure on a recirculation water pump. This pump is one of two located inside the plant's primary containment structure. Prior to the shutdown for the repairs last Friday (12/17), Unit 2 had operated for 184 consecutive days.

"While we could have continued to operate the plant with a leak in this system, we made a conservative decision to shut down Unit 2 for the repairs," said Herbert D. Woodeshick, special assistant to the president of PP&L, Inc.

"Decisions like these are typical of our operational approach at Susquehanna, which focuses on safety and long-term reliable performance," said Woodeshick. "Those objectives can be best achieved by aggressively pursuing problems that occur, which is what we did in this case."

"While the pipe was being replaced, plant crews also did other maintenance work that can only be done during a unit shutdown," said Woodeshick. "To ensure that we make the best use of time when the unit is out of service, we continuously identify needed repairs and potential enhancements and have these jobs ready to be completed when the unit is out of service."

Throughout the repair work to Unit 2, Unit 1 continued to operate at full power. Unit 1 has operated continuously for 163 days.

The Susquehanna plant, located about five miles north of Berwick in Luzerne County, is jointly owned by PP&L, Inc. and Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.