California nuclear plant: Up and running by year's end?
Southern California Edison, the company that owns California's malfunctioning San Onofre nuclear power plant, says the plant may be operational by the end of the year.
This file photo shows beach-goers walking on the sand near the San Onofre nuclear power plant in San Clemente, Calif.
AP Photo, Lenny Ignelzi, File
LOS ANGELES
The operator of California's troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant estimates that the damaged twin reactors could be running by the end of the year.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press on Monday show Southern California Edison notified the Public Utilities Commission last week that the Unit 2 reactor could possibly be back in service by Nov. 18, and its sister Unit 3 by Dec. 31.
An Edison spokeswoman says the dates submitted to state power managers for planning could be changed.
The plant has been sidelined since January after a tube break in a steam generator released traces of radiation.
The dates do not represent a formal request to restart either reactor, which must be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Edison says safety is its first concern.