Total U.S. nuclear plant availability rose early May 18 to 91.93%, up from 91.23% on May 17 and above the 80.96% reported on the same day in 2017.
Providing a boost to total output was the return of Wolf Creek 1 in Kansas, which is owned by Westar Energy Inc., Great Plains Energy Inc. and Kansas Electric Power Cooperative Inc. The unit was warming up at 9% early May 18 after being shut March 31 for planned seasonal work.
A handful of units ramped output. Nine Mile Point 2 in New York, which is owned by Exelon Corp., EDF Group and Long Island Power Authority, saw production rise from 33% on May 17 to 71% on May 18. Southern Co.'s Farley 1 in Alabama was operating at 85% early May 18, up from 74% on May 17. Entergy Corp.'s River Bend 1 in Louisiana was at full power early May 18, climbing from 66% on May 17.
Working to offset the increase in generation was a curtailment at Exelon's Byron 1 in Illinois. The reactor saw output fall from 100% on May 17 to 72% early May 18.
As of early May 18, a total of five nuclear units remain idled.
For details of U.S. nuclear power plant operations, visit our Nuclear Availability and Status and Outage pages.
