Nuclear control

nuclear business has been awarded a multi-year, $17 million contract by

, the largest nuclear generation company in the

, to supply reactor control components to the utility’s fleet of 12 boiling water reactors (BWRs).

Under the contract, GE is supplying critical parts for the hydraulic control units (HCUs) in all twelve of Exelon’s BWR units, which are located in Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The HCU moderates reactivity levels by managing the location of control rod blades within the reactor core. The new components, which will contribute to improved system responses and overall performance, are being installed during the utility’s standard maintenance cycles for the reactors.

Exelon’s Dresden and Quad Cities reactor units in Illinois, and the Peach Bottom nuclear station in Pennsylvania, were the first plants to benefit from the new agreement, which was made retroactive to the parts ordered in the first quarter of 2005.

In 2004, New Jersey-based utility Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) and Exelon agreed to merge. Once that process is complete, PSEG’s Hope Creek BWR facility in New Jersey will also benefit from the parts agreement.

Although GE is a longtime nuclear technology vendor for Illinois-based Exelon, the contract marks GE’s first multi-plant, long-term agreement with the utility for parts supplies.

A large percentage of the HCU equipment will be manufactured at GE Energy’s nuclear facility in Wilmington, NC. GE is the original equipment manufacturer for Exelon’s 12 BWRs.

Exelon operates a total of 17 reactors at 10 nuclear power plants, which generate approximately 20% of the US nuclear industry’s power.