Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station Returns to Service Following Refueling and Maintenance Outage

AKRON, Ohio, May 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. FE, announced its Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio, returned to service at 11:07 p.m. on May 9, 2016,  following a March 26 shutdown for refueling and maintenance.  The 908-megawatt plant is currently operating at approximately 45 percent power and is expected to reach full power in the next week.

During the refueling outage, approximately one third of the plant's 177 fuel assemblies were exchanged.  In addition, numerous inspections and preventative maintenance and improvement projects were completed to ensure continued safe and reliable operations, including examinations of the unit's reactor head and vessel, turbine, electrical generator and various pumps, motors and valves.

Numerous outage projects will help support Davis-Besse as it prepares to enter its 20-year period of extended operation.  The plant's two steam generators, which convert heated water to super-heated steam that turns the plant's turbine to create electricity, were inspected during the outage.  These inspections confirmed that Davis-Besse's steam generators, newly installed in 2014, are performing at industry-leading levels following their first operating cycle.  In addition, two of the plant's four 50-ton, 16-foot tall reactor coolant pump motors were replaced, and a new emergency feedwater facility was constructed to provide an additional backup supply of power and water to the plant. 

Prior to beginning the refueling and maintenance outage, Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station had operated safely and reliably, generating more than 14.5 million megawatt hours of electricity since the completion of its last refueling in May 2014. 

FirstEnergy Corp. is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio.  Its FENOC subsidiary also operates the Beaver Valley Power Station in Shippingport, Pa. and the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Perry, Ohio.  Visit FENOC on the web at www.fenoc.com, and follow the nuclear plants on Twitter:  @Perry_Plant, @BVPowerStation, and @DavisBesse.

www.firstenergycorp.com

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.