BERWICK, Pa., Oct. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Operators at PPL's Susquehanna nuclear power plant safely shut down the Unit 1 reactor Saturday (10/20) to begin an inspection of turbine blades. The previously announced inspection will help confirm diagnostic data that is expected to result in a long-term solution to the issue of turbine blade cracking that was first identified in 2011.

"The inspections are part of our systematic and deliberate approach to this issue and reflect our deep commitment to safe operations," said Timothy S. Rausch, PPL Susquehanna senior vice president and chief nuclear officer.

"The results of the inspection and ongoing, detailed engineering analysis will help us verify the causes of the cracking and implement both short-term and long-term measures to resolve the cracking issues," Rausch said.

Pending the outcome of the Unit 1 turbine inspection, PPL Susquehanna will determine whether a similar inspection of the Unit 2 turbine is warranted.

PPL Susquehanna is preparing to implement turbine modifications that will provide a long-term solution to the turbine blade cracking issue starting with the scheduled refueling and maintenance outage for Unit 2 in the spring of 2013.

The Susquehanna plant, located in Luzerne County about seven miles north of Berwick, is owned jointly by PPL Susquehanna LLC and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc. and is operated by PPL Susquehanna LLC.

PPL Susquehanna LLC is one of PPL Corporation's generating affiliates. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) owns or controls through its subsidiaries about 19,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets, and delivers electricity and natural gas to about 10 million customers in the United States and the United Kingdom. More information is available at www.pplweb.com.

SOURCE PPL Susquehanna