[cdn-nucl-l] OPG 1999 nuclear results

["Brown, Morgan" <brownmj@aecl.ca>]

Definitely a better year for Ontario Power Generation, as its nuclear fleet
attained better performance in 1999, which was better than in 1998, which
was better than in 1997.  The Dec 1999 report cards can be found at
http://www.ontariopowergeneration.com/newgen/nuclear/RepCardDec99.asp

For the twelve operating reactors - Pickering 5-8, Bruce 5-8 and Darlington
1-4  - the total net energy produced was 61.4 TWhe in 1999.  This compares
with 65.7 (1994), 65.5 (1995), 59.7 (1996), 52.3 (1997), and 58.3 (1998)
TWhe net.  The 1999 performance was 17% better than the low point in 1997,
and 5% better than 1998.  In 1997, the total nuclear production from all the
nuclear units (Pickering A and Bruce B were in operation, too) was 70.3 net
TWhe.  In 1998 the total nuclear production was 59.9 TWhe, but this included
a small amount of electricity from Bruce 3 and 4, which shut early in 1998.

The average unit capacity factor for 1999 was 81.3%, whereas the industry
median (North America) is 82.8%.

The overall Nuclear performance Index was 81.0, out of 100, for the Q4 of
1999.  This was 4 points higher than target, and reflects nine standard
industry performance measures.  Evidently OPG is improving its reactor
performance in more than just capacity factor.

cheerio

Morgan Brown