ML19345B896

Decision Denying Util Petition for Increase in Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause

ML19345B896
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	10/02/1980
From:	Barbour G NEW JERSEY, STATE OF
To:
Shared Package
ML19345B881	List: ML19345B880 ML19345B884 ML19345B887 ML19345B896
References
NUDOCS 8012020687
Download: ML19345B896 (34)

Text

- . . . - _

+ ._ .c. , is-- v .

Jeff EXH! bit L htE1P sf N?n 3r-srg-DE.*ARTMENT CF ENERGY

- BCARD CF PUBUC UTILJTIES 10/2/80 f tco MAywcNo st.vo.

OAL/ LEGAL i NEWARK. NEW JERSEY 071n2 IN THE MATTIR OF THE PETITION OF )

JERSET CENTRAL 70k'ER & LIGHT ) DECISION AND ORDER COMPANY 70R AN INCREASE IN RATES )

AND AN ADJUSTMENT OF THE LEVELIZED ) OAL DOCKET No. PUC 3518-80 ENERGY ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE. ) 3PU DOCKET NOS. 807-488 and 804-285 (Service List Attached) 1

. 3Y THE BOARD:

On April 29, 1980, Jersey Central Power & Light Company (herein-af ter Petitioner) filed a petition with the Board of Public Utilities, requesting an increase in base rates, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:2-21 et sec.

On July 21, 1980, the Petitioner filed another petition vi:h the Board,

requestihg an increase in its Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause (LIAC),

to become effective September 1, 1980. The matter was transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law on July 31, 1980, and was consolidated with i the earlier petition for the increase in the Petitioner's base rares.

Hearings were held on the consolidated petitions, both in Newark, 4 and in Tems River, Morristown, and Sparta, during the =onths of August and j September, 1980. By consent of the parties, (with Counsel for Ocean County taking no position), the Petitioner amended the requested effective date of the proposed increased LEAC from September 1, 1980 to October 1, 1980, with corresponding adjustments for recovery over a five, rather than six-month period. The parties submitted briefs or position papers on the issue of i

the LEAC on September 8 and 9, 1980.

In its initial LEAC filing, the Petitioner requested that the 4

present LEAC of 21.923 mills /kvh be increased by an additional 6.264 mills /kwh (or by approx 1s ily 30%),- which would increase the Petitioner's annual

revenues by $77.E sillien. During the course of the hearings and prior to briefing, the Petitioner reduced the proposed increase to 5.808 = ills /kwh, which corresponds to annual revenues of approx 1=ately S72 =1111on.

On Septe=ber 16, 1980, the Administrative Law Judge submit:ed to the 3 card his Initial Decision in this matter. After careful censideratica and review of the Ad=inistrative Law Judge's Initial Decision and the i extensive briefs and exceptions filed by the Staff of the Board, Cempany, i

Rate Counsel, and the County of Ocean, the Board is convinced that ?eci:iccer, JC?&L, is not entitled to any increase or modification in its Levelized

. Energy Adjustment Clause at this eine.

4 8012 0 2 0 bW- .

._ . - .-- . . _ = __- -. - -- . .

The' B3crd adtpen tha cdjuttecnto to Paciciensr's projceted

. energy costs proffered by Race Counsel in its well-readoned presentation before the Administrative Law Judge and in its brief, these adjustments were also recommended by the Boards Staff. However, the Board agrees with Staff that a more equitable result will be obtained with regard to the amortization of "new" deferred energy costs if a twelve-month period is employed. The Board fully recognizes the potential for changing c conditions that could advers 5.y affect the level of the Deferred Energy balance. In particular, any unanticipated outage of Oyster Creek, radical changes in OPEC pricing policy, or extended coal strikes which would impair JCP&L's outside purchase power agreements are just a few of the problems we clearly recognize. Further, the Board continues to view with concern the Company's financial condition. In particular, wa recognize the current limitation of the Company's access to long-term financing, and its continued heavy reliance on the short-term credit available under the Revolving Credit Agreement. It is the highly dynamic and volatile nature of these relevant cost considerations that loads us to adopt Staff's recommendation to extend the current LEAC for a period of up to six months.

During this period the Company shall closely monitor each factor that could adversely affect the Company's Deferred Energy balance and recovery of its energy costs.

The Board wishes to make it perfectly e' tr to all parties that in the event of any material change in the cire- ances of the company,

. it will, on an expedited basis, entertain a pe . ion to reexamime the Company's LEAC. ' One such occurrence would be ene Nuclear Regulatory

Ccamission's refusal to allow a delay in the implementation of the TMI

" lessons learned" modifications to the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station scheduled for November 1980 until at least April 1, 1981.

As a result of our action today, the Petitioner's Deferred Energy balance should significantly decrease during the six months of the clause.

It is estimated that at the and of six months the Deferred Energy balance should decrease by some $45 million. This anticipated decrease will play ,

a significant part in reducing the short-tern pressures on the RCA credit limit..

Therefore, based upon the foregoing, the Board HEFI3Y DENIES Jersey Central Power & Light Company's (JCP&L's) petition fo an increase in its Level 12ed Energy Adjustment Clause (LEAC) . The 3 card EERI3Y DIRECTS the Petitioner to continue in effect its currently existing LEAC.

DATED: October 7, 1980 30ARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES 4

(SEAL) 3Y: (SIGNED)

/ .' CEORGE H. 3AR30UR

, PRESIDENT EDWARD H. EYNES COMMISSIONER 1

i s t ~. 7 .- cr.. .

l BAR3 ARA A. CURRAN

• M l COMMISSIONER O

j ATTIST: S (SIGNED) II

, .+

p

Phil Fine Upon Receipt November 7, 19800

1. 28-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- General Public Utilities today advised the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that the Company expects cleanup from the accident at Three Mile Island will take more time and cost more than earlier estimates.

Revised preliminary schedules were submitted as part of GPU's extensive comments on the NRC's draf t Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), which deals with plans for decontamination and disposal of radioactive wastes from the March 28, 1979 accident at TMI Unit 2.

A GPU spokesperson said the base schedule, originally developed

~

late 1979 and early 1980, is expected to be extended two to three years. This reflects slippage that has already occurred as a result of regulatory and financial constraints, as well as expectations that those constraints will continue.

- - MORE - -

" v I

In November,1979 an HRC policy statement called for completion of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement prior to authorizing major cleanup efforts on TMI-2. The draf t of that report is cur-rently available for public comment and is not expected to be finalized until the end of March, 1981. Faced with this and related regulatory decisions, the current rate of progress of the cleanup and the limited cash resources, the Company in September announced a substantial reduction in the level of effort for the cleanup.

Earlier this year the projected date for removal of the damaged I

core was April, 1983. That is the final, significant milestone needed to reduce the level of risk for any new emergency. In the PEIS comments submitted today, that milestone is now predicted for August, 1985.

, Last August the Company estimated that cleanup costs would i

l total about $500 million for the period 1980 through 1985 if the base schedule could be followed, and without any allowance for inflation. The Company expects the two to three year schedule extension to increase cleanup costs by about $150 million. That

. gives a new total of $750 million, without any adjustment for I inflation and including the 1979 expenditures. If the inflation rate is assumed to 10 per cent per year, costs would grow further to close to S1 billion.

- - MORE - -

After deducting $300 million of insurance, the GPU spokesperson estimated that the Company would have to find $700 million from other sources to pay for the remaining cleanup costs. GPU and others have been exploring various forms of federal aid to ease the burden on ratepayers.

The cost estimates do not include ordinary, non-accident levels of operation and maintenance costs, or fixed charges on the investment-in plant.

Meanwhile, GPU, in its comments to the NRC, said "it should be a source of considerable reassurance to everyone that the analyses conducted (by the NRC) to support the draf t PEIS clearly indicate the cleanup can be conducted with negligible releases to the environment... (and) less radiation exposure to the public than would occur from normal plant operations."

However, GPU said the draf t was " seriously flawed" by the NRC's failure to assess which of the various alternative cleanup methods are envirementally acceptable. GPU said it is essential to a timely cleanup operation for the NRC to establish which criteria, if fulfilled, are sufficient for the cleanup to proceed.

l l

l 1

News Release General Public Utilities Corporatiors g 100 lntercace Parkway e Parccoany New Jersey 07054 A J 201 263-6500 g Furtner information Joseph M. Benish (201) 263-6779 Immediately November 6, 1980 80-072 GPU BOARD CANCELS FORKED RIVER PARSIPPANY, NJ, NOVEMBER 6 -- Responding to continuing financial pressures and regulatory uncertainties, the board of directors of General Public Utilities Corporation (GPU) voted today to cancel the Forked River nuclear project.

"The GPU board, meeting with the Jersey Central Power

& Light Company's (JCP&L) board of directors, cancelled the Forked River plant because of the regulatory and cost uncertain-ties associated with the project," said William G. Kuhns, GPU chairman and chief executive officer.

-MORE-

~

GPU Add 1 JCP&L, a GPU subsidiary and owner of the plant, i

started construction on the 1168 megawatt station in 1973 a f ter

. receiving a construction permit from the Atomic Energy Commission.

"In 1978 the plant was forecast to be on-line in the mid-80's at a cost of about Sl.2 billion. Financing limitations, environmental and nuclear regulatory delays and uncertainties, coupled with an anticipated high rate of inflation, made contin-uation of the project imprudent," Kuhns said.

According to Kuhns, the utility will seek approval j from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to have the project investment of $394 million recovered over a reasonable l period of time through the Company's , rates.

JCP&L will also continue investigating the possibility of developing a coal-fired generating station at Forked River and other locations in both New Jersey and western Pennsylvania,

]

i i said Kuhns.

I ECARD VOTES TO OMIT DIVIDEND The GPU board today also voted to cmit the fourth quarter common stock dividend, the fourth consecutive omission by the utility.

-MORE-

J GPU Add 2 Kuhns concluded, "We regret that a dividend again

! could not be declared. We continue to have a critical need to conserve cash as a result of the TMI accident, and until the severe financial circumstances f acing the GPU System signifi-1 cantly improve, we do not expect we will be able to resume 4

common stock dividends."

i d

a s

l i

i

~

blews helease Three Mile Island F= - #{]

Nuclear Station Post Office Box 480

~]

i

{Q g Middletown. PA 17057 717 948-8197 Public Information Services For Further info *mation

Contact:

John Fidler Fcr Retene: Upon Receipt Date: November 4, 1980

1. 26-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- A small amount of krypton 85 is scheduled to be vented from the Unit 2 Contcinment Building at Three Mile Island beginning Friday morning at about 10.

The venting, expected to release between 10 and 15 curies of krypton during a six-hour period, is to prepere for the fourth manned entry into the Containment Building, tentatively set for late next week.

Plans for the entry are still being developed. Details will be released shortly.

~

News Release Three Mlle Island Nuclear Station Post Oftce Box 480 I'- k U eM

%ccletown. PA 17057 717 948 8197 Public Information Services For Further Information Centact. Dave Delzingaro For Release: Upon Receipt Date: October 31, 1980

1. 24-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- Three Mile Island environmental monitoring personnel reported no radioactive fallout has been detected from the first pass of nuclear fallout from the Oct.16 Chinese atmospheric nuclear weapon test.

TMI monitoring was conducted at six locations within a 16 mile area.

The Chinese fallout passed over the TMI area .on Monday, Oct. 20, at an altitude of 40,000 feet.

The Environmental Protection Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Comission and Pennsyl7ania Department of Environmental Resources also have reported no radioactive fallout from the Chinese bomb test.

A second pass of the Chinese radioactive fallout is expected over the THI area during the Nov. 4-6 period. TMI will continue its monitoring.

News Release Three Mlle Island ,

Nuclear Station Pest Offico Box 480 f

M eM Midctetcw1. PA 17057 717 948 8197 Public information Services For Funner Information Centact. Dave De1zingaro For Release:

Upon Receipt Date: October 31, 1980

1. 23-80N i4IDCLETOWN PA -- Ongoing testing by THI Environmental Impact Assessment technicians has recorded some increase in tritium at monitoring stations on Three Mile Island.

The monitoring stations were installed earlier this year to watch for leakage from the Unit 2 Containment Building. Tritium has been above nonnal background levels at several monitoring points and technicians believe it is coming from the Borated Water Storage Tank.

The recent tritium readings at these monitoring points ranged between 1,320 and 4,940 picocuries per liter, compared to a previous high of 2,160 picocuries. All of these readings are well below the 20,000 picocuries per liter established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the maximum permissible concentration of tritium in drinking water.

Technicians believe the recently higher levels of tritium can be traced sto extensive pumping tests performed during late August in the monitoring stations.

The tritium levels are expected to return to their previous range after the disturbance caused by the pumping tests subsides.

-more- -

. October 31, 1980 Leaks from piping systems associated with the Borated Water Storage Tank, believed to be the source of the tritium, have been repaired and additional

. modifications are being completed which will collect water from future leaks.

Regular sampling of Susquehanna River water near TMI indicates no change

-in the background amounts of tritium normally present in the river. The slight increase in tritium levels at the on-island monitoring stations represents no danger to the environment or to the public, and does not affect off-site drink-ing water supplies. -

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environ-mental Resources and other agencies were advised of the monitoring results.

Iii s

e e

Three Mlle Island News Release "ls=:e="l8 Middletown. PA 17057 k& J Nuclear 717 948-8197 Public Information Services For Further Information

Contact:

Phil Fine For Release: Upon Receipt Date: October 29, 1980

1. 22-80N General Public Utilities today released the findings of a poll on public opinion in Pennsylvania since the March 28, 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island.

The poll, conducted for CPU by the Field Research Corp. of San Francisco, was done in two waves -- the first in late June just prior to and during the venting of krypton gas from the damaged Unit 2 reactor, and the second in late September.

The poll showed overwhelming public agreement on the need to clean up Unit 2 as soon as possible. Better than 80 percent agreed that "if repairs are not made to the damaged reactor there could be further equipment failures which could cause new dangers".

A majority of the 2,849 people polled were confident that problems of the cleanup will be solved safely, but expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the cleanup thus far.

Bare majorities favored restarting the undamaged Unit I while Unit 2 cleanup continues - providing that Unit 1 is operated under improved. safety standards.

A slightly larger majority favored restarting Unit 2, if it can be repaired and rebuilt to improved safety standards.

A narrow majority of the people polled believe they stand a chance of receiving dangerous doses of radiation in the future. One in five believes l they received a dangerous dose during the TMI accident.

- mRs -

9

. Seven out of ten people thought Metropolitan Edison did a fair to excellent technical job of venting krypton from Unit 2 containment building, and an equally high number felt Met Ed did a good job of keeping the public informed on the venting.

But Met Ed, the CPU subsidiary that operated TMI at the time of the accident, 1

conti 'ued to have low credibility problems, scoring the lowest among 10 informa-tional sources tested in the poll. Met Ed's rating was followed closely by low i

credibility ratings for anti-nuclear groups and newspaper editorials. Scientists

from the nuclear industry, universities and independent laboratories all scored highest as reliable information sources. '

Robert C. Arnold, chief operating executive of the newly formed CPU Nuclear I group, said, "What the poll seems to be telling us is that we still have a way to go before we regain sufficient public confidence. And that's not too surprising, considering all that has happened in the past -19 months. But I'm confident we'll continue to make progress."

The Field poll was taken, primarily, among two groups of Pennsylvania residents --the first those living in the " primary region" within a five-mile radius of Three Mile Island, and the second, residents of the " secondary region" within a radius of five to 25 miles of the nuclear power plant. People living in remaining areas of Pennsylvania were questioned during the first round of 4

polling, but not the second one.

In September 46 percent of the residents in the primary region rated Three Mile Island as the most serious problem facing their county-ahead of such issues

. as inflation, unemployment, taxes and crime. In the secondary region, 27 percent in June and 20 percent in September ranked TMI -- in a tie with unemploy-ment --as second in their concerns after inflation and the cost of living.

Other findings included:

9 O

5 e

v - ~

-3

-- Restarting the undamaged Unit 1. Fifty-one percent of the people in the primary region and 55 percent of those in the secondary region in September approved of restarting Unit I while the cleanup of Unit 2 continues, assuming that improved safety standards are met.

-- Restarting a rebui) 2. Fifty-six percent of the residents of' the primary region and 59 if those in the secondary region in September approved of restarting Uni .t is repaired under improved safety standards.

-- The safety of nuci .4 r . Three quarters of the people who were l

polled in both regions felt that " residents living in the vicinity of nuclear power plants will be much safer in the future as a result of the lessons learned at THI".

-- Costs of the Unit 2 cleanup Forty-five percent of the peiple in the primary region and 41 percent of those in the secondary region in September

, felt that Met Ed's stockholders should pay all or most of the costs of the cleanup. Seven in ten said Met Ed customers should pay none of the cleanup costs, Sixty Eight percent said the Federal government should psy some part of the costs of cleanup.

-- Fears of radiation. Twenty-two percent of the residents within five miles of TMI and 14 percent of those between five and 25 miles in September believed they got a dangercus dose of radiation during the TMI accident and about 50 percent of both groups thought they might get a dangerous exposure ,

from TMI in the future. Those feelings, however, run counter to the Kemeny Commission's report on the TMI accident. The Krmeny Commission found that "the radiation doses were so low that we conclude that the overall health effects will be minimal. There will either be no case of cancer or the number of cases will be so small that it will never be possible to detect them."

di4949 9

~ '

News Releaso Three Mile Island r~

Nuclear Stailon !T ~ ~l r '

b ~ -[- =[,

g gg"[

Pest Office Box 480 Midctetown, PA 17057 717 948-8197 Public information Services Mr Feino 1-a: ma:en .

Car a:: Dave Kluesik

'er Re d u *~ Upon Receipt oate: October 28, 1980

1. 21-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- Two Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigations found no grounds for a series of charges criticizing Metropolitan Edison's operations at Three Mile Island.

The reports, received by Met-Ed from the NRC staff, cover charges related to issues raised by the anti-nuclear group Three Mile Island Alert (TMIA).

These issues are being considered this week before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. The Board is conducting hearings on the restart of THI Unit 1.

NRC investigators reported they found "...no items of noncompliance with regu,latory requirements and no facts to substantiate the allegations..."

NRC's Office of Inspection and Enforcement examined records, made unnanounced inspections and conducted extensive interviews with present and former TMI employees.

The investigatior, dealt with the following accusations: improper testing of equipment; improper maintenance of pump seals; de' lays in performance of maintenance work; inadequate quality' control surveillance and other alleged maintenance inadequacies.

Since the hearings began Oct.15, the ASLB has rejected many of TMIA's requests to enter certain exhibits in the case. The Board ruled that certain of these exhibits were unreliable or irrelevant to nuclear safety.

TMIA was directed to present its case first on these issues in the restart proceedings because of its failure to provide infonnation supporting its general allegation of improper maintenance.

MORE

- October 28, 1980 i

The hearings are chaired by Ivan Smith, an attorney who serves full-time with the ASLB. The other ASLB members are Dr. Walter Jordan, a retired nuclear physicist and professor, and Dr. Linda Little, an environmental scientist.

- The second full week of hearings begins today with TMIA presenting more of its case. One of its witnesses is expected to be a former TMI employee who is to testify on charges of abuse of overtime.

Unit I was shut down for refueling at the time of the accident at TMI-2, and has not been permitted to resume operations pending the current hearings before the ASLB. Meanwhile, extensive modifications are underway at Unit 1, i

based on what has been learned from Unit 2, extensive studies by GPU Nuclear and orders issued by the NRC.

Ellill NOTE: Updated information on the restart hearings or related activities is available frcm the TMI Communications office at (717) 948-8197.

l I

l l

l l

w,

News Release 2

Three f/.ile Island 7 lj'}f

Nuclear Statioi1 Fest Office Box 480 t "-

{ gg '

thcd etown. PA 17057 717 948 8197 Public Informat. ion Services 7: r- c : .:orma::en C : ::: John Fidler F:' # Ef:~ Upon Receipt Da:e: October 27, 1980

1. 20-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- Pennsylvania State Police today charged two contractor's employees at Three Mile Island with running an illegal gambling operation.

Paul Whelski, 41, of Tower City, a labor foreman, and Norman E. Beaver, 28, of Middletown, a laborer, both employees of Catalytic Inc., were charged with gambling, lottery and conspiracy. The charges were filed before District Justice Truman B. Peters of Middletown.

The investigation began seve 31 months ago when the alleged gambling operation came to the attention of the TMI security department. After ,

conducting its own investigation, the security department called in the state police.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been advised of the investiga-tion.

. Ms;wsRelease 1 l

l Metropolitan Edison Cornpany - -

A IJemcer CNy at #4 Genorm % udoes SWem Furmer informatron COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES For re! ease IMMEDIATELY cate. October 23, 1980 -

News Release #155-80C i

NEW STATE TAX SURCHARGE REQUESTED BY MET-ED A request for approval of a revised State Tax Surcharge was filed Wednesday by Metropolitan Edison Company before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Comission (PUC). The revision will result in a change of the State Tax Surcharge from 7.29 fercentto6.12percentforservicerenderedonandafterNovstber1.

The new surcharge will result in a 24-cent reduction en the bill of a typical residential customer without electric water heat, using 500 kilowatt-hours per month. That bill will change from $35.21 to $34.97, a reduction of just under one percent.

-more-l

e New State Tax . Surcharge Requested By Met-Ed

. Add One Ernest W. Schleicher, vice president of consumer affairs for the utility, explains the recent history of the sur;harge: "In the spring of 1979, in response to an appeal by utilities, certain kinds of property were ruled to be non-taxable under the Pennsylvania Utility. Realty Tax Act (PURTA). As a result, the Pennsyl-vania Board of Finance and Revenue ordered the Connonwealth to grant Met-Ed a refund for PURTA overpayments in the years 1972 through 1976. In July, 1979, Met-Ed began to refund some $11.8 million through credits on customers' bills.

"In an extraordinary session on July 4,1979, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill which had the effect of reversing the PURTA tax ruling by broadening the class of property normally taxable. At the same time, they also imposed an additional one-time surtax to offset the monies refunded by the state as a result of the Board of Finance cnd Revenue decision. To minimize the effect on electric rate payers. the PUC ordered utilities to recover this surtax over a 12-month period; for Met-Ed this period ends October 31, 1980."

Schleicher continued, "We are pleased to be able to reduce customers' bills, even though the amount in this case is slight. This occasion gives us the oppor-tunity to point out some of the impact of taxes on our customers' bills. For example, the Public Utility Realty Tax and a 4.5 percent gross receipts tax are imposed only upon utilities. In addition to these special taxes, utility bills also include other taxes paid by non-regulated businesses."

i  : iii  :

s 4

1

NewsRelease General Public Utilities Corporation CDERAL PUBJC UTLITES y - , __

100 Intercace Parkway ' u a 7 Parsiccany. New Jersey 07054

/ l 201 263 6500

?

5

[ j s 8

Further rnforrnation Joseph M. Benish N EW

. (201) 263-6779 Fct release IMMEDIATELY Cate Oc tober 21, 1980 80-068 t

GPU POSTS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS PAR..iIPPANY , NJ, October 21 -- General Public Utilities Corporation (GPU) today reported third quarter earnings of 17 cents per share, down 60 percent from the 42 cents per share repo r ted for the third quarter of 1979.

{ Net income was S10.5 million, down 59 percent from the S25.6 million reported for the same period a year ago.

Last quarter GPU reported a loss of 14 cents a share, the only quarterly loss in the corporation's hiscory.

-MORE-

GPU Third Quarter Earnings Add 1 "Our earnings continue to be severely affected by the

- removal of both Three Mile Island units from our rate base,"

said William G. Kuhns, GPU chairman and chief executive of ficer.

" Stated simply, we are continuing to reflect in our financial statements the impact of capital and operating costs associated with both TMI units, while we are not recovering any of these costs from customers," he said.

A 13 cents per share drop equalling abcut $8 million in third quarter 1980 earnings, as compared to the same period in 1979, resulted from the removal of the undamaged Three Mile Island Unit 1 (TMI-1) from the GPU operating companies' base rates in the first half of 1980. During the second quarter of 1979 TMI-2 was removed from customers' rates by both the Pennsy-Ivania and New Jersey public utility commissions.

" Earnings improvements from the $60 million of annual i emergency rate relief granted to GPU subsidiary Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) last May, and approximately 5 f

cents per share from increased sales of electricity during the quarter were more than offset by the suspension of credits to income (AFUDC) for the carrying costs of funds associated with i

the Forked River nuclear project, increased expenditures at s TMI-1 ( the undamaged unit) , the effects of a recently-settled strike at Pennsylvania Electric Company and other increases in operating costs," Kuhns explained.

I The financial tables follow:

l l

f f

-MORE-4 u

., .;

GPU Third Quarter Earnings '

Add 2 THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 1980 1979  % Change Sales of electricity (Thousands of MWH) 7,785 7,649 2 Total revenues (000) S 490,201 S 383,926 28 Pevenues other than those related to energy costs

. (000) S 261,865 S 240,106 9 Net income (000) $ 10,458 S 25,592 (59)

Average common shares outstanding (000) 61,264 61,264 -

Earnings per average share S .17 $ .42 (60)

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 Sales of electricity (Thousands of MWH) 24,072 24,327 (1)

Total revenues (000) $1,363,925 $1,104,180 24 Revenues other than those related to energy costs (000) S 750,978 S 735,108 2 Net income (000) S 19,172 S 81,271 (76)

Average common shares outstanding (000) 61,264 61,203 -

Earnings per average share S .31 S 1.33 (77)

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 Sales of electricity (Thousands of MWH) 31,741 32,105 (1)

. Total revenues (000) $1,749,900 $1,433,4G0 22

' Revenues other than those related to energy costs (000) $ 983,135 S 958,374 3 Net income (000) S 33,684 S 116,190 (71)

Average common shares outstanding (000) 61,264 61,096 -

Earnings per average share S .55 S 1.90 (71)

-MORE-

e GPU Third Quarter Earnings Add 3 Note: Since the March' 1979 accident at the TMI Nuclear Generating -

Station, the. future earning power of the GPU System is dependent upon the regulatory responses to a number of major continuing uncertainties created as a result of the accident, the outcome of which is not now determinable.

1

! e e

4

(

t e

News Release-P Three Mile Island --

Nuclear Station Post Office. Box 480 lL -C--ld"- ~ QQ

, gi .

'fg'$[

[i dig [^'7U37 Public Information Services For Further Inferrnat:en Con:ac:: John Fidler For Release: Upon Receipt Cate: October 21, 1980 MIDDLETOWN, PA -- A contractor's employee at Three Mile Island was charged with possession of marijuana today. Charges were filed by the Pennsylvania State Police before District Justice Truman B.

Peters of Middletown.

A summons will be sent to Stephanie Spease, 21, of Harrisburg, a clerk with Nuclear Support Services Inc.

A small quantity of suspected marijuana was found in the woman's purse during a routine search Sept. 22. The matter was then turned over to the state police.

Since that date, she has been denied access to the site.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been notified of the incident.

' ~

News R~elease~

m--

uc! ar at c3

• h '

~

Pest Office Box 480 ~~~~~

Miecietown. PA 17057 717 948-8197 PublIC Information Services

i:artner info ~ 3::-

C:. :_::: John Fidler

. .stease. Upon Receipt Date: October 17, 1980 -- 5:00 p.m.

1. 13-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- A work crew performed additional m:'atenance and testing of the personnel airlock door in the Unit .1 Containment Building at THI this afternoon.

The men tested and cleaned the seals to the inner door of the airlock. After yesterday's entry, tests showed that additional work was necessary to maintain the door seals.

The work performed today was on the airlock door used to enter the building yesterday, and not on the airlock to the equipment hatch that was repaired. Additional testing of that airlock is continuing.

l i

1 a

l

News Release Three Mile Island f T-- -

lj'

{ gg Nuclear Station ,F Post Office Box 480 k~ -[ r '

Middletown, PA 17057 717 948-8197

. Public Inf armat. ion Services For Fur:ner interr a::en C nt2::: Dave Delzingaro For Release: Upon Receipt Date: October 10, 1980 10:30 a.m.

1. 13-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- A minor venting of a small a. mount of krypton 85 from the Three Mile Island Unit 2 Containment Building began at 10:05 a.m.

today.

.The venting will continue through late afterncon. Less than 20 curies of the gas will be released.

Today's activity will cause no adverse health effects to workers or the general public.

The venting is being done in preparation for a possible t'iird manned entry into the Containment Building next week.

There have been five previous minor ventings since the major venting took place last summer.

TMI officials have reported routine periodic venting would be necessary

'o remove small amotr.ts of existing krypton that diffuses from the water and otiier materials in the Containment Building.

i l

l

News Release Three Mile Island  : ~ -- r ~' ,

Nuclear Station Pest Office Ecx 180 ,

. , /.

L . T 7-

[)2 :-. gg g Middletown PA 17057 717 948-8197 Public Information Services Fcr Fu :ner informa:en '

Cc- a::: Dave Delzingaro Fer Re case- Immediately Date: October 10, 1980

1. 14-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- A minor venting of a little under 131s curies of krypton 85 gas from the Three Mile Island Unit 2 Containment Building was completed at 4:06 p.m. today.

The venting began as scheduled at 10:05 a.m., and continued routinely.

The venting resulted in no adverse health effects to workers or'the general public.

As previously reported, routine periodic krypton ventings are required to remove small amounts of existing krypton that diffuse from the water and other materials in the building.

Daring the major venting program from June 28-July 11, about 43,000 curies were released. Since that time, minor ventings were conducted On Aug.1, 8,14 and 22 and Sept. 19.

The venting was don'e in pr'eparation for a possible third manned entry into the Containment Building next week.

j I

News '- ~r' Release Three Mile Island F*~ r Nuclear Station Post Office Box 480 I cc.] ' = = "

/ .

Q ggy .,

Middletown PA 17057 717 948-8197 Public information Services Fct Further !nforr .at:en Con:a::. Jchn Fidler For Re:es:s. Upon Receipt Date: October 16, 1980

1. 17-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- Five TMI technicians completed a successful entry into the Unit 2 Containment Building Thursday. All five were able to stay longer than planned because radiation levels inside~the building were lower than anticipated.

The team completed all its tasks. Afterward the team and support personnel congratulated each other on a mission well done.

The team members were Sam Griffith, 28, a . health physics technician with Nuclear Support Services Inc., and a veteran of the second entry; Larry E.

iberly, 44, an instrument and centrol technician with Metropolitan Edison Company; Guy E. Wise, 45, a Met-Ed machinist; Richard Croll, 28, a radiation-chemical technician with Met-Ed, and Peter Keegan, 27, a Met-Ed senior health physics technician.

The team entered the building at 10:30 a.m. Wise and Croll repaired the locking mechanism of a personnel a irlock that is a part of an equipment hatch.

The doors to the airlock have been sealed shut since the accident.

Wise and Eberly left the building after the first hour, staying twice as long as was planned. Keegan left with them when a camera malfunctioned. He was scheduled to join Croll and Griffith who climbed to the next elevation and continued radiation monitoring and picture taking. Croll and Griffith left the building at noon. They were inside an hour and a half or 30 minutes longer than scheduled.

l I

1 1

MORE

- October 16, 1980

~

Other tasks completed were a radiological sdrvey or tne core flood tanks, maintenance on two monitors that keep operators apprised of certain plant systems, and a visual survey of the polar crane, the device used to lift the top of the reactor off during refueling.

The team recorded radiation readings of between 200 and 500 millirems per hour on the entry floor, and an average of 150 millirems per hour on the next higher elevation.

Actual radiation doses to the team members were well below the 625 millirem limit set for the entiy; they ranged from 200 to just over '450 millirems. By comparision, the company quarterly limit is 1,250 millirems and the federal quarterly limit is 3,000 millirems.

Team members praised the light weight breathing apparatus they wore:

battery-powered sir filtration devices with positive flow air masks. In the firse entry the team carried oxygen tanis on their backs.

This time the entry team wore cotton coveralls instead of the heavier fireman's coats worn during the first two entries.

1. !i!##

Ngws Release .

For further information call:

Pu::lic informatron Department umanq ue Jersey Central Power & Ught Company 3

% __r. -cu .01 Grand Avenue kJ 3 (,.,_

%j(y_

Ny ff

~

[ J Ast:ury Park, New Jersey 07712

% =~ .. < (201) 775-6600. Ext. 261 A heefnoet Cornoeny of the ceners even.c unk syss.m

SUBJECT:

Oyster Creek Weekly Status Report RELEASE: Upon Receipt LACEY TOWNSHIP--The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station is presently operating at its rated capacity of 650 megawatts.

The plant power level had been limited by equipment problems in the liquid radioactive waste treatment system. Plant personnel, aided by consultants, have been successful in making the necessary repairs, a11'owing the facility to return to full power operation.

Additional long term efforts will be required to upgrade the system .

to permit reliable full power operation.

One event was reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the past week in accordance with the thirty day reporting requirements. On Thursday, September 11, 1980, while performing a functional test of the containment spray system, three of four high drywell pressure switches were observed to have setpoints slightly i higher than those specified in the plant technical specifications.

The switches automatica11'y start the containment spray system when the drywell (reactor containment) reaches a specified pressure. The cause was attributed to instrument drift. The problem is being evaluated by the equipment supplier. The safety significance of the event is con-sidered to be minimal since the system would have actuated, if needed, and performed its intended function.

-more-

1--add Jersey Central Power 4 Light Company is a member of the General Public Utilities System.

j fl101780 e

. News Release Wa:Mia"."'

Post Othee Sox 480

[r e1 Nuclear

" PA 17057

$$$3f7 PubllC Information Services For Further Information j contact: John Fidler For Release: Upon Receipt Data: October 13, 1980

1. 15-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA -- A small amount of krypton 85 will be vented from the Unit 2 Containment Building at Three Mile Island beginning Wednesday i

morning between 10 and 11.

Tne venting is to prepare for the third manned entry into the Contain- j ment Building, scheduled for Thursday morning.

Approximately five curies of krypton will be vented during the opera- l tion, expected to last through the entry.

Last Friday, a little under 131s curies of krypton were released in preparation for the entry.

I l

eii i

l

.. l

News Release Three Mlle Island g Nuclear Station Post Ottice Box 480

( 2 UCuear i Nj2$36[^'757 Public Information Services For Further Informabon contact. John Fidler For Release: Upon Receipt Date: October 13,1980 -- 3:30 p m.

1. 16-80N MIDDLETOWN, PA - A five-man team will enter the Unit 2 Containment Building at Three Mile Island Thursday morning.

To prepare for the entry, approximately five curies of krypton 85 will be released from the building, beginning Wednesday morning at abet:t 10. The venting will continue until the entry is completed.

~

Two technicians are scheduled to exit the building after approximately 25 minutes, but the other three are scheduled to remain for up to an hour.

The team plans to repair the locking mechanism on a personnel airlock which hasn't been opened since the accident last year. They will also measure radiation levels in several locations, take photographs, try to open an elevator door and retrieve a radiation monitor left behind in the last entry.

This is the third manned excursion into the Unit 2 Containment Building since the accident. The first entry was July 23, and the second, August 15.

A TMI representative will be at the Media Center Thursday morning to provide updates on the progress of the entry.