Unit 1 at PP&L, Inc.'s Susquehanna nuclear power plant near Berwick, Pa., returned to service around 7 p.m. Thursday (7/15) following an automatic shutdown that occurred July 1.

During that time, the company inspected and repaired a valve that controls the flow of steam through one of the unit's four main steam lines. Those lines carry steam from the reactor to the turbines to generate electricity, said Herbert D. Woodeshick, special assistant to the president for PP&L, Inc.

"After a thorough engineering inspection and analysis, we found that loose bolts caused the valve to close inadvertently on July 1, triggering the automatic shutdown of Unit 1," Woodeshick said.

"Plant personnel not only repaired the valve in question but also took the time to ensure that the problem did not exist in other similar valves on the unit's main steam lines," said Woodeshick.

"The plant responded as designed to the automatic shutdown," said Woodeshick.

Unit 2 at the plant continued to generate electricity throughout the shutdown of Unit 1, according to Woodeshick.

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.