STP nuclear power plant

2008
May 7 STP receives another Best of the Best Award, the plant's third, and another Top Industry Practice Award, the plant's seventh, for developing and applying risk management for maintenance applications. NEI Best of the Best Award Press Release

2007
September 24 NRG Energy, Inc. and the STP Nuclear Operating Company apply for a license to build and operate two new units at the South Texas Project nuclear power plant site. This is the first license application for a new nuclear plant in the U.S. in 29 years. NRG COLA Press Release.

September 17 STP reports lowest production cost among U.S. nuclear plants, 1.356 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2006. 2006 Production Cost Press Release.

July 13 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves STP's request to use risk assessment and management to determine allowed outage times for many of the systems and components covered by the plant's Technical Specifications.

April 20 The low pressure turbines and main generator rotor in Unit 2 were replaced in 28 days, setting a new world record.

March 26 STP completes a second, and consecutive, breaker-to-breaker production run. Unit 2 operated continuously for 508 days between scheduled refueling outages. Unit 2 B2B Press Release.

February 15 For the third consecutive year, STP led the U.S. in electricity production by two-reactor facilities. The plant's total generation in 2006 was 21.37 billion kilowatt-hours, which set another record for the facility. STP Leads U.S. in Production.

2006
October 27 The low pressure turbines in Unit 1 were replaced in 26.5 days, establishing a new world record.

October 1 STP completes the first breaker-to-breaker production run in the plant's history. Unit 1 operated continuously for 532 days between scheduled refueling outages.

June 1 For the second year in a row, STP led the U.S. in the amount of electricity produced by a two-reactor facility. STP Again Leads U.S. Press Release.

2005
May 17 STP wins its sixth Top Industry Practice Award, for a major plant modification project spanning several years. NEI 2005 TIP Awards Press Release.

February 11 STP led all two-unit plants in the country in annual production in 2004.

2004
August 10 The American Nuclear Society presents its 2004 Utility Achievement Award to STP and its 2004 Utility Leadership Award to STPNOC President and CEO Joe Sheppard.

May 14 STP receives another Best of the Best Award, the plant's second, and another Top Industry Practice Award, the plant's fifth, for a precedent-setting repair project praised as an "exemplary case study in technical project management under stress." NEI Best of the Best Award Press Release

2003
May 22 STP wins another Top Industry Practice Award, the plant's third in four years and fourth overall, for pioneering a technological and regulatory breakthrough. NEI TIP Awards Press Release

April 7 James T. Sheppard takes the helm as STPNOC President and CEO. Mr. Sheppard, an executive at STP for ten years, previously held the positions of vice president and assistant to the president and CEO; vice president, Engineering and Technical Services; vice president, Business Systems; assistant to the executive vice president; and general manager, Licensing.

2002
December The four massive steam generators in Unit 2 are replaced in 65 days.

March 12 STP Unit 1 led all 103 U.S. reactors in generation in 2001, producing 10.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The unit also placed eighth in production among the 433 reactors worldwide. Unit 1 Leads U.S. Press Release

2001
July 25 The South Texas Project has the lowest average fuel cost, at four-tenths of a cent per kilowatt-hour, of any power plant in the U.S. Fuel Cost Press Release

June 27 A trio of creative employees receives a U.S. Patent on an award-winning invention used in reactor maintenance that can improve safety and lower operating costs at nuclear plants worldwide. Patent Award Press Release

February 11 Unit 2 surpasses 100 million megawatt-hours of electrical generation since going online in June 1989.

2000
December 22 STP exceeds 200 million megawatt-hours in total production for both units.

June 21 STPNOC President and CEO William T. Cottle is elected Chairman by the Board of Directors. Mr. Cottle replaces Founding Chairman Gerald Vaughn, who held the office since September 1997.

May The four steam generators in Unit 1 are replaced in 75 days, setting a new world record.

February 1 STP and four other nuclear power plants with reactors of similar design, size and age sign an agreement to share resources and expertise, and to gain economies of scale in purchasing and inventories. The other members of the Strategic Teaming and Resource Sharing (STARS) alliance are the Callaway, Comanche Peak, Diablo Canyon and Wolf Creek plants. The Palo Verde plant also subsequently joined the alliance.

January 1 The Year 2000 date-change has no affect on plant operations or equipment, successfully concluding STP's multi-year effort to find and fix all potential Y2K problems.

1999
November STP sets a new global benchmark by completing the ten-year in-service inspection of its second reactor in three days. The companion refueling outage was finished in 26 days, another international benchmark.

October A NASA Mars Mission team visits STP to discuss the possible use of a small, portable reactor to power and heat a Mars base. A second NASA/contractor Space Station team comes to the plant, to benchmark management practices.

August The U.S. Department of Agriculture presents a Conservation Award to STP for its Texas Prairie Wetlands and Native Grass Restoration projects.

May STP receives a Top Industry Practice Award, the plant's second in three years, from the Nuclear Energy Institute for a machine designed and built by employees. Stud Cleaning Machine Press Release

April STP performs its first ten-year in-service inspection of a reactor vessel, and sets a global benchmark by completing the work in six days and finishing the accompanying refueling outage in 32 days. 1RE08 Press Release

March A team of NASA officials and aerospace contractors working on the International Space Station project visit STP to learn how plant staff safely handle and hoist bulky, heavy objects. NASA, DoD Team Press Release

March For the second straight year, the area including STP led the country in the National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count.

1998
July 4 The plant surpasses 150 billion megawatt hours of generation in less than ten years of operations. 150 Billion Kilowatt-hours Press Release.

June STP receives the national, annual Powerplant Award from Power magazine. Power Press Release

March The National Audubon Society announces that a 15-mile-wide area surrounding STP led the U.S. in the organization's annual Christmas Bird Count.

1997
December 31 STP's two units generated 19.85 billion kWh of electricity in 1997.

December 19 The NRC issues its Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance ratings of the South Texas Project, conferring "Superior" marks in the Maintenance, Operations and Support categories, and a "Good" rating in the Engineering category. NRC Press Release

November 14 The STP Nuclear Operating Company officially assumes management of STP from Houston Lighting & Power, completing a nearly two-year transition. STP Nuclear Operating Company Press Release

October 4 The seventh refueling of Unit 1 is completed in 21.6 days, quickest in the unit’s history. The unit was on-line 456 out of a possible 460 days in its 18-month operations cycle. 1RE07 Press Release

June STP places in the top ten percent nationally in low-cost electricity production. UDI Press Release

May STP receives a Top Industry Practice Award, for outage management, from the Nuclear Energy Institute. Outage Management Press Release

March 20 The Texas Prairie Wetlands Project, a manmade habitat for waterfowl, is officially dedicated next to STP's main entrance. The Wetlands Project is the first partnership of its kind between conservation groups and Gulf Coast industry. Wetlands Press Release

February 24 Unit 2 sets a new record for the fastest refueling outage in the U. S., 17.6 days. 2RE05 Press Release

February 12 STP led all 33 two-unit plants in the U.S. in production in 1996.

1996
December 31 Units 1 and 2 performed at record levels for the year, together generating 20.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough for more than one million Texas homes. For 1996, Unit 2 ranked second in the U.S. and sixth in the world, while Unit 1 ranked third nationally and seventh worldwide. Best Year Press Release

June 13 The combined output of STP's units tops 100 billion kWh since going on-line in 1988.

June 9 Unit 1 sets a new national record for shortest outage: 22 days 15 hours and 14 minutes. The outage sets another world record for quickest among four-loop PWRs. 1RE06 Press Release

May 1 HL&P and the City of Austin reach an out-of-court settlement. Austin agrees to drop all litigation against HL&P; both parties agree to form a separate operating company to run STP.

The NRC issues its Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance ratings for STP, awarding "Superior" marks in the Maintenance and Support categories, and "Good" ratings in the Operations and Engineering categories.

1995
December 31 Unit 2 ranks third nationally and tenth globally in electrical generation by a nuclear plant, despite a full refueling outage.

November 2 Unit 2 establishes a world record for the shortest refueling/maintenance outage of a four-loop pressurized water reactor: 26 days 11 hours 51 minutes.

1994
December 31 For the last six months of 1994, Unit 2 leads nuclear plants nationwide in amount of electricity generated, producing more than 5.7 billion kilowatt hours. Unit 1 places second with more than 5.68 billion kWh.

May 22 Unit 2 returns to service.

May 17 NRC approves restart of Unit 2.

March 22 Unit 1 is placed back in service.

February 22 City of Austin files lawsuit against HL&P to recover fuel costs associated with the year-long outage at STP.

February 16 NRC Chairman Ivan Selin visits STP and describes plant, "as well designed and as good a physical facility as there is in the United States."

February 14 NRC approves restart of Unit 1.

1993
November Fuel reload of Unit 1 is completed.

October Steam generator tube inspections finished on both units.

March William T. Cottle is named Group Vice President, Nuclear by HL&P.

February Both units are taken out of service to resolve problems with steam-driven auxiliary feedwater pumps.

1992
December Unit 2 sets a record for most electricity generated in
a calendar year by any US reactor, 10.8 billion kWh.

September Unit 1 sets a world record for Westinghouse reactors for the most electricity generated in a fuel cycle, 14.5 billion kWh.

June The combined output of STP's two units tops 50 million kilowatt hours since they went on-line in 1988.

April With the refueling of Unit 2, STP completes the transition
to an 18-month fuel cycle.

1991
January 15 The third refueling/maintenance outage for Unit 1 begins. All 193 fuel assemblies are removed and inspected. Seventy-six new assemblies are added as part of the transition
to an 18-month refueling cycle.

1990
December 11 Unit 2 returns to service.

September 28 The first refueling of Unit 2 begins.

June 21 Unit 1 returns to service.

March 30 Unit 1 enters its second refueling outage.

1989
October 19 The first refueling outage for Unit 1 is completed.

August 4 Unit 1 is refueled for the first time.

June 19 Unit 2 enters commercial operation. This completes STP's transition from a construction project to a fully operational electric generating station.

March 28 The NRC grants a full-power license for Unit 2.

March 12 Unit 2 reaches initial criticality.

1988
December 20 Fuel loading of Unit 2 is completed.

December 16 The NRC issues a low-power license for Unit 2.

August 25 Unit 1 is placed in commercial operation.

March 21 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission grants a full-power license. Within 48 hours, power-ascension testing begins.

March 8 Unit 1 reaches initial criticality.

January 28 First shipment of nuclear fuel is received from Westinghouse.

1986
August 29 The NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) recommends that STP receive an operating license.

June 18 Concrete work on the Unit 2 dome is completed.

1985
May 30 A settlement of the lawsuit with Brown & Root is announced. The company agrees to pay STP's owners $750 million for problems encountered during Brown & Root's tenure at the plant.

February Work commences on installation of the Unit 1 reactor vessel internals.

1984
July Setting of the main control panels for Unit 1 is completed. The Unit 2 reactor vessel is set and the dome liner is completed.

1983
August 11 Final concrete placement for the Unit 1 RCB dome is completed.

January 6 City of Austin sues HL&P, charging the company mismanaged construction of the plant.

1982
February 15 Ebasco Constructors, Inc. named as new constructor.

1981
December 26 Owners commence breach of contract lawsuit against Brown & Root.

November 4 Brown & Root begins withdrawal from project after company, owners fail to reach agreement on constructor scope.

September 24 Brown & Root forecasts project completion for June 1989 at cost of $4.4 to 4.8 billion. The forecast is rejected by the owners, who relieve Brown & Root of engineering responsibility. Bechtel Energy Corp. named as project's new architect/engineer. Brown & Root remains as constructor.

1979
August Steam generators for Unit 1 are set in place.

July Reactor vessel for Unit 1 is set in place.

1976
April First permanent concrete poured for Unit I Reactor Containment Building (RCB) foundation.

1975
December 22 The NRC issues construction permits for Units 1
and 2.

September 26 The ACRS writes a letter to the NRC stating that STP can be built and operated safely.

August 27 The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) subcommittee meets in Bay City.

February 7 First pre-hearing conference and site visit is held by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the successor to AEC.

1974
May 19 An application for plant construction permits is submitted to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

1973
November 18 Voters in Austin approve the City's participation in the South Texas Project.

June 28 The San Antonio City Public Service Board signs a participation agreement to become an owner of STP.

June 6 HL&P and CPL announce plans at a public meeting in Bay City to build the South Texas Project nuclear plant in Matagorda County.

1971
December 6 Houston Lighting & Power Co., the City of Austin, the City of San Antonio, and the Central Power and Light Co. (CPL) initiate a study on the feasibility of constructing a jointly-owned nuclear plant.