Duke Energy declares alert at Oconee Nuclear Station

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March 6, 2016

Media Advisory

(Duke Energy sent advisory below to media on March 6, 2016.)

SENECA, S.C. – The unusual event at Oconee Nuclear Station was upgraded to an alert classification at 4:58 p.m. when the fire that occurred earlier today damaged a power line in the station’s switchyard, which resulted in an equipment fault. Per procedure, an Alert must be declared when a fire causes loss of electrical equipment.

An Alert is the second in increasing significance of four nuclear emergency classifications. This classification is used to describe conditions that require emergency response agencies to be in a heightened state of readiness, but pose no threat to public safety.

Earlier this afternoon, an unusual event was declared at Oconee Nuclear Station today at due to a transformer fire in the unit 1 switchyard at 3:20 p.m. 

Unit 1 has been safely shutdown and Units 2 and 3 continue to operate safely.

Site fire brigade responded with assistance provided by local fire responders.  

The fire was extinguished.

There is no impact to plant neighbors or employees. 

We will be conducting a thorough investigation of the cause.

Duke Energy Carolinas owns nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas, renewables and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides approximately 19,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to about 2.5 million customers in a 24,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.4 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 24 million people. Its Commercial Portfolio and International business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com

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