Pacific Gas & Electric has asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its opinion on whether the California utility’s bankruptcy proceeding will affect the future decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
In doing so, PG&E is following the order of a California Public Utilities Commission administrative law judge.
In a Feb. 26 letter to the federal regulator, Jon Franke, PG&E’s vice president for safety and health, asked for the NRC opinion on whether the Chapter 11 bankruptcy would affect the safety of operations and future decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon site – including whether there will be sufficient funding to maintain required safety levels.
Franke also requested the NRC’s opinion on whether the bankruptcy will delay the scheduled 2024 and 2025 targets to shut down the two reactors and begin decommissioning of the San Luis Obispo County power plant. He also wants to find out if the bankruptcy could enable application of the decommissioning trust fund for Diablo Canyon for operations besides decommissioning.
Separately, CPUC President Michael Picker on Feb. 14 directed the utility to obtain an NRC advisory regarding potential worries on PG&E’s capacity to meet its safety and financial commitments at Diablo Canyon and the largely decommissioned Humboldt Bay nuclear power plant in Humboldt County. That would include “any concerns or opinions the NRC has regarding whether PG&E’s bankruptcy creates any risks” for either plant’s nuclear decommissioning trust fund, Franke wrote.
The California Public Utilities Commission requested a response from PG&E by March 15. The NRC said last week it is reviewing the questions, but did not know yet when it might provide answers.
