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8-K - 8-K - Talen Energy Corp | tln09272016_8k.htm |
Contact: Todd Martin, 570-542-2881
Susquehanna Nuclear Plans Brief Unit 2 Maintenance Outage
BERWICK, Pa. (Sept. 26, 2016) -- Talen Energy is planning to take a brief maintenance outage
on Unit 2 at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Luzerne County, Pa., within the next few
weeks.
As the company has discussed publicly for several years, Susquehanna has been working with
the manufacturer of the main steam turbines for both units at the plant to understand and address
issues associated with the formation of very small cracks in the metal blades.
Susquehanna generates electricity by boiling water to make steam that passes through the
turbines, which have many rows of fanlike metal blades. The spinning blades turn a generator
that produces electricity.
Recently, plant engineers identified an indication of crack development on one blade of the Unit
2 turbine where modifications have not yet been completed. “The plan we are developing will
meet our primary objectives of safe and reliable long-term operation,” said Timothy S. Rausch,
Talen Energy senior vice president and Chief Nuclear Officer. “This outage will enable us to
replace the blade safely and efficiently so we remain prepared to meet the regional demand for
electricity, especially during the peak winter season.”
The plant is continuing a multi-year, systematic turbine blade modification and replacement
project. Susquehanna has determined root cause of the issue and is expected to complete the
final, permanent modifications on the Unit 2 turbine during the 2017 refueling outage and on the
Unit 1 turbine during the 2018 refueling outage.
There are no current indications of issues with Unit 1 turbine blades that have yet to be modified.
The other turbines on Unit 1 and Unit 2 have previously completed the permanent modifications
to address the cracking issue.
Talen Energy will inform the public when Unit 2 is shut down to begin the planned outage, as
well as when it returns to service.
The Susquehanna plant, located about seven miles north of Berwick, is owned jointly by
Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc. and is operated by
Susquehanna Nuclear. For information, visit www.susquehannanuclear.com.
Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC is one of Talen Energy Corporation’s generating affiliates. Talen
Energy (NYSE: TLN), is one of the largest competitive energy and power generation companies
in the United States. Our diverse generating fleet operates in well-developed, structured
wholesale power markets. To learn more about us, visit www.talenenergy.com.
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Exhibit 99.1
Forward-Looking Information
Statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal
securities laws. These statements often include such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate,"
"intend," "plan," "estimate," "target," "project," "forecast," "seek," "will," "may," "should,"
"could," "would" or similar expressions. Although Talen Energy believes that the expectations
and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from
the results discussed in the statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements are: adverse economic
conditions; changes in commodity prices and related costs; the effectiveness of Talen Energy's
risk management techniques, including hedging; accounting interpretations and requirements
that may impact reported results; operational, price and credit risks in the wholesale and retail
electricity markets; Talen Energy's ability to forecast the actual load needed to perform full-
requirements sales contracts; weather conditions affecting generation, customer energy use and
operating costs and revenues; disruptions in fuel supply; circumstances that may impact the
levels of coal inventory that are held; the performance of transmission facilities and any changes
in the structure and operation of, or the pricing limitations imposed by, the RTOs and ISOs that
operate those facilities; blackouts due to disruptions in neighboring interconnected systems;
competition; federal and state legislation and regulation; costs of complying with environmental
and related worker health and safety laws and regulations; the impacts of climate change; the
availability and cost of emission allowances; changes in legislative and regulatory policy;
security and safety risks associated with nuclear generation; Talen Energy's level of
indebtedness; the terms and conditions of debt instruments that may restrict Talen Energy's
ability to operate its business; the performance of Talen Energy's subsidiaries and affiliates, on
which its cash flow and ability to meet its debt obligations largely depend; the risks inherent with
variable rate indebtedness; disruption in financial markets; Talen Energy's ability to access
capital markets; acquisition or divestiture activities, and Talen Energy's ability to realize
expected synergies and other benefits from such business transactions, including in connection
with the completed MACH Gen acquisition; changes in technology; any failure of Talen
Energy's facilities to operate as planned, including in connection with scheduled and
unscheduled outages; Talen Energy's ability to optimize its competitive power generation
operations and the costs associated with any capital expenditures; significant increases in
operation and maintenance expenses; the loss of key personnel, the ability to hire and retain
qualified employees and the impact of collective labor bargaining negotiations; war, armed
conflicts or terrorist attacks, including cyber-based attacks; risks associated with federal and
state tax laws and regulations; Talen Energy's ability to successfully integrate the RJS Power
businesses and to achieve anticipated synergies and cost savings as a result of the spinoff
transaction and combination with RJS Power; costs of complying with reporting requirements as
a newly public company and any related risks of deficiencies in disclosure controls and internal
control over financial reporting as a standalone entity; and the ability of affiliates of Riverstone
Holdings LLC to exercise influence over matters requiring Board of Directors and/or
stockholder approval. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such
important factors and in conjunction with Talen Energy’s Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2015 and its other reports on file with the SEC.