Constellation Energy's Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Completes Refueling Outage

OSWEGO, N.Y., April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG) today announced that its Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Oswego, N.Y. completed its scheduled Unit 2 refueling outage at 1:43 a.m., April 17, 2008. The refueling outage duration was 27 days.

"The completion of this outage is an investment in generation reliability, as well as part of our commitment to continued safe operation," said Keith Polson, vice president, Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station. "A great deal of planning and preparation went into this effort. It is a milestone achievement for the site."

More than a year of in-depth planning and preparation set the stage for the successful refueling outage. During the outage, employees of Nine Mile Point and other Constellation Energy organizations, as well as specialized contractors, teamed to execute the work with a relentless focus on safety.

Refueling and maintenance activities completed during the outage included inspections, upgrades and routine replacement of equipment such as motors, valves and seals. In addition, Constellation Energy completed several projects that contribute to the long-term viability of the station, including upgrades to the fire detection system and modifications to support the planned power uprate at Unit 2.

As one of the nation's premier nuclear power plant owners and operators, Constellation Energy is demonstrating that nuclear power is reliable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Constellation Energy continuously works to safely improve production at its five operating nuclear units, which produced 60.9 percent of the power the company generated in 2007. Refueling outages are a key opportunity to ensure equipment reliability and, in turn, capability factor-a plant's ability to stay on-line and produce electricity. According to performance indicators compiled by the World Association of Nuclear Operators, the median unit capability factor for 104 reactors in 31 states reached 91.5 percent in 2007. The report, which can be found on the Nuclear Energy Institute's web site, notes that the entire industry is making strides in both safety and operating excellence.

Constellation Energy (http://www.constellation.com/), a FORTUNE 125 company with 2007 revenues of $21 billion, is the nation's largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation's largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of 78 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 8,700 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: lisa.lundberg@constellation.com

Source: Constellation Energy

CONTACT: Jill Lyon of Constellation Energy, +1-315-349-5221

Web site: http://www.constellation.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/084087.html

2008-04-18 16:30:16 0339864 PRNEWSWIRE