TVA expects to be under federal oversight for its problems at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant throughout 2012, TVA President Tom Kilgore said Friday.
Kilgore, who continues to insist that nuclear remains the most economical source of new power, told investment analysts Friday that working through a Nuclear Regulatory Commission “red finding” at Browns Ferry will be long-range effort.
The NRC in early May gave TVA a “red” or “high safety significance” rating in connection with last fall’s failure of the cooling-water injection valve on unit 1 at Browns Ferry.
“Red” is the worst level given by the NRC before a plant is shut down, something the agency never has done. The rating prompted a series of NRC inspections at Browns Ferry that will continue for several months, officials have said.
During a conference call with analysts following the release of TVA’s 2011 annual report, Kilgore and Chief Financial Officer John Thomas also said worker productivity problems at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant are raising costs and creating some delays.