Exelon’s Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear power plants ran at an average 97.7 percent capacity factor through June, July and August, despite hotter than average summer temperatures and more than 30 hot weather alerts from regional grid operators. 

 

That's according to a release from Exelon late Wednesday afternoon.

 

This summer, Clinton and Quad Cities stations ran at their maximum allowable power levels during those hot weather alerts, providing 24/7 carbon-free baseload power to offset higher demand. 

 

In fact, all Illinois plants ran at an average 97.0 percent capacity factor through June, July and August. 

 

Capacity factors are used throughout the nuclear industry to track operational performance and reliability.

 

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, June and July 2016 recorded the warmest average temperatures since 2012 for Illinois. 

 

When temperatures rise, regional grid operators issue hot weather alerts, which signal generation facilities to avoid or reschedule maintenance and testing activities that could cause a loss of generation to the grid. 

 

Bryan Hanson, president and chief nuclear officer of Exelon’s nuclear fleet said quote - “We continue to work with Illinois legislators to find a solution that values Clinton, Quad Cities and all our Illinois plants for the clean, reliable electricity they produce, but time is running out.”

 

In June, Exelon Generation announced plans to retire Clinton and Quad Cities in 2017 and 2018 respectively, due to sustained low natural gas prices and lack of state and federal policies that recognize nuclear plants for their many environmental and economic benefits.