Total U.S. nuclear plant availability dropped early Feb. 20 to 92.16%, down from 94.29% on Feb. 16 but above the 91.81% reported on the same day in 2017.

Pulling down total output was the loss of three reactors across the country for planned seasonal maintenance. Calvert Cliffs 1 in Maryland, which is owned by Exelon Corp. and EDF Group, was taken offline Feb. 19 after being pegged at 88% power Feb. 16. Exelon's LaSalle 1 in Illinois was also shut Feb. 19 from 95% power Feb. 16. Tennessee Valley Authority's Browns Ferry 3 in Alabama was idled Feb. 17 from 91% power Feb. 16.

In addition, the TVA's Browns Ferry 1 saw output cut from 100% on Feb. 16 to 78% by early Feb. 20.

Working to offset the outages and curtailment was the return of Pinnacle West Capital Corp.'s Palo Verde 1 in Arizona. The unit was operating at 48% early Feb. 20 after being automatically tripped Feb. 15.

In addition, Duke Energy Corp.'s Brunswick 2 in North Carolina saw production increase from 58% on Feb. 16 to 78% early Feb. 20. Entergy Corp.'s Grand Gulf 1 in Mississippi was at 100% power early Feb. 20, rising from 83% on Feb. 16.

For details of U.S. nuclear power plant operations, visit our Nuclear Availability and Status and Outage pages.