Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) plans to eliminate nearly one-third of the staff at its troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (Songs) along the Pacific Coast in the northern-most end of San Diego County, CA. The staff reductions had already been articulated in SCE’s pending general rate case, but with the two 2,200 MW Songs units out of service since January, the move is sure to spark more speculation about the long-term future of the plant. Both units have turned up excessive wear in part of the tubing on newly installed steam generators on both units (see Daily GPI, Feb. 7). The length of the outage has caused a re-emphasis on natural gas-fired generation in a state, which already relies on gas-fired power for the bulk of its in-state generation (see Daily GPI, Aug. 14). As part of the explanation for the staff reduction to 1,500 from the current levels above 2,100 positions, a utility spokesperson said the Songs steam generator issues “require SCE be prudent with its future spending while [the utility] and regulators review the long-term viability of the nuclear plant. The reality is that the Unit 3 reactor will not be operating for some time.”
Edison
Articles from Edison
Con Ed: Gas Conversions to Grow 3.5% through 2017
Consolidated Edison Co. (Con Ed) of New York is projecting natural gas demand from utility conversions will grow 3.5% through 2017, requiring substantial new pipeline capacity to be up and running, according to the director of the utility’s gas supply.
Con Ed Projecting Gas Conversions to Grow 3.5% through 2017
Consolidated Edison Co. (Con Ed) of New York is projecting natural gas demand from utility conversions will grow 3.5% through 2017, requiring substantial new pipeline capacity to be up and running, according to the director of the utility’s gas supply.
Industry Briefs
California regulators provided an option to smart meters — both gas and electric — for San Diego Gas and Electric Co. (SDG&E) and Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) customers last Thursday, mirroring action take earlier in the year by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) (see Daily GPI, Feb. 2). SCE customers who don’t want an advanced digital meter can keep their current meter or one that was at their location prior to the installation of a wireless smart meter. Similarly, SDG&E customers who do not want a smart gas or electric meter can choose to have the analog meters. SCE said it supported the decision by state regulators and will “respond quickly to customers choosing to opt out.” Separately, one of the state’s two large public sector utilities, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, said it has nearly completed the installation of 600,000 smart meters and an automated electric metering infrastructure.
California Power Gen Gas Rises with Nuke Plant Down
California natural gas for electricity generation rose nearly 250 MMcf/d in the past week in the wake of Southern California Edison Co. (SCE) taking its 2,300 MW San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) entirely offline. The shutdown came from a scheduled outage at Unit 2 and an unplanned outage of Unit 3 when a small leak occurred last Tuesday.
New York Utilities Form Public Policy Coalition
Six investor-owned natural gas and electric utilities in New York — Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Consolidated Edison Inc., National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas Corp. and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. — have formed Energy Coalition New York “to provide public policy leadership on energy issues” in the state, a coalition spokesman said Wednesday.
Thousands Still Without Gas Service in Upper Manhattan
Hundreds of workers with Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc. (Con Ed) and other companies are reportedly working around the clock to restore natural gas service to approximately 4,300 customers in New York City’s Upper Manhattan.
People
John Bryson, the retired CEO of Edison International, was nominated Tuesday by President Obama to be the next secretary of commerce, replacing Gary Locke, the former Washington governor who is leaving the federal Cabinet post. A former chief regulator in California and a founding attorney of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Bryson will continue the U.S. Commerce Department’s efforts to increase the nation’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, according to the White House. Obama said Bryson “understands what it takes to succeed in the 21st century economy.”
Industry Brief
Southern California Edison Co. last Friday reconnected its Unit 3 at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station along the Pacific Coast in the far north end of San Diego County, marking the completion of a 10-year, $671 million replacement of the steam generators at both of the 2,200 MW nuclear plant’s two operating units. Unit 3 was taken down for planned maintenance and the generator replacement early in October last year. The other unit completed similar work in 2009 as part of an overall effort that the utility estimated will save its customers more than $1 billion over the remaining licensing period for the plant that runs through 2022.
Senate Climate Change Briefing Lacked Specifics
Several major energy groups, including the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Edison Electric Institute, attended a Capitol Hill briefing Tuesday where three senators involved in crafting climate change and energy legislation presented “their thinking” on the issues, but were short on details.
