Work to add about 16 MWe to each of the 1127MWe San Onofre 1 and 2 plants in California began in July after the 1.4% power uprate was approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Southern California Edison will uprate the twin PWRs by using Westinghouse Combustion Engineering’s ultrasonic feedwater flow measuring technology. This technology was featured in NEI July 2001, p36. The NRC approved the utility’s application, which was filed in April, after only a three-month review.

The NRC has also approved a request by Pennsylvania Power & Light Company to increase the generating capacity of the two Susquehanna 1100MWe BWR units by 1.4%. The power increase for unit 2 will be implemented immediately, and for unit 1 following the Spring 2002 refuelling outage.