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http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpne1d.htmThree U.S. Nuclear Plants Go Down
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three nuclear power plants unexpectedly shut down in South Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania as the new year approached, but federal officials said Friday the problems were not Y2K-related and the shutdowns were conducted safely.
``All safety systems at all three reactors are fully operative,'' Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said.
Two of the reactors were shut down Thursday evening -- one in Georgia and another in Pennsylvania -- and the third in South Carolina was reduced to 40 percent power at 1:11 a.m. EST Friday, officials said.
Meanwhile, Richardson said he was ``reasonably confident'' that America's electricity grids will roll into the new year without any major Y2K glitches. The first indicator was expected to come hours before midnight when interconnecting grids that are pegged to Greenwich Mean Time -- five hours ahead of U.S. time zones -- are tested.
Power plant computers are linked to local time, but about a third of the electricity equipment involves the interconnecting grids.
``While we're not ready to declare victory, we are reasonably confident,'' said Richardson, whose department was closely monitoring the electric grids, nuclear power plants and other energy sectors.
The three commercial nuclear power plants that shut down were:
--The Catawba reactor, operated by Duke Power Co., in South Carolina. The reason could not immediately been learned, but it was not Y2K-related, officials said.
--The Vogtle reactor, operated by Southern Co., in Georgia. The reason given was an unspecified distribution problem.
--The Limerick reactor, operated by Philadelphia Electric Co., in Pennsylvania, after a transformer problem.
Each of the shutdowns were normal and the plants remained stable, officials said. The utilities switched to other sources of power and there was no interruption of electricity, officials said.
Electric utility executives have expressed optimism that their preparation will lead to smooth transition with no power disruptions.
Richardson, speaking to reporters during a live video linkup with Russia's nuclear minister in Moscow, said he was gratified to hear that Russia's nuclear reactors as well as those in Ukraine handled the Y2K transition smoothly over their 11 time zones.
``This is great news. ... We had some concern about Ukraine,'' said Richardson.
Richardson also reported no indication of any international disruption in oil supplies as the oil-rich Middle East rolled through the transition. If there were any such disruptions, he said was prepared to release oil from the U.S. strategic reserve, and three oil producers -- Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Venezuela -- were committed to increase production.
``So far, we are confident that there will be no interruptions affecting the United States,'' said Richardson. ``We are confident there will be a successful Y2K rollover on electricity, natural gas. There will be enough fuel at all gas stations.''