Nuclear Energy Pennsylvania

The operator of Pennsylvania's Peach Bottom nuclear power plant was ordered Thursday to pay a fine of $1.25 million, the largest in Nuclear Regulatory Commission history, because 33 reactor workers slept or were negligent on the job. In addition, the NRC levied fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 against the 33 present and former reactor operators, the first such civil penalties ever proposed for individual operators.

The troubled Peach Bottom nuclear plant in Delta, Pa., will use everything from less comfortable chairs to a new shift rotation to prevent a recurrence of control room operators sleeping on duty, officials said. About 60 reporters were handed hard hats, goggles and tiny radiation monitors as Philadelphia Electric Co., operator of the dormant plant on the Susquehanna River, conducted its first media tour of the facility.

The Supreme Court, in a victory for consumers and state regulators, ruled Wednesday that a utility has no constitutional right to pass along to ratepayers the cost of canceled nuclear power plants. The justices, on an 8-1 vote, gave states broad leeway to set utility rates so long as power companies are not deprived of a reasonable return when all of their investments are taken into account.

The Supreme Court, in a victory for consumers and state regulators, ruled Wednesday that a utility has no constitutional right to pass along to ratepayers the cost of canceled nuclear power plants. The justices, on an 8-1 vote, gave states broad leeway to set utility rates so long as power companies are not deprived of a reasonable return when all of their investments are taken into account.

The troubled Peach Bottom nuclear plant in Delta, Pa., will use everything from less comfortable chairs to a new shift rotation to prevent a recurrence of control room operators sleeping on duty, officials said. About 60 reporters were handed hard hats, goggles and tiny radiation monitors as Philadelphia Electric Co., operator of the dormant plant on the Susquehanna River, conducted its first media tour of the facility.

The operator of Pennsylvania's Peach Bottom nuclear power plant was ordered Thursday to pay a fine of $1.25 million, the largest in Nuclear Regulatory Commission history, because 33 reactor workers slept or were negligent on the job. In addition, the NRC levied fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 against the 33 present and former reactor operators, the first such civil penalties ever proposed for individual operators.