Canada Bruce Power said it expects to restart two 750MWe units at Bruce A in time to meet next summer’s peak electricity demand, several months ahead of schedule. The earlier restart was due to an accelerated hearing schedule with Canadian energy regulators.
Bruce Power chief executive Duncan Hawthorne said: “We understand that our case will have to be made at the hearings to justify our restart, but we have high confidence for a successful outcome.” With the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission hearing expected next February, Bruce Power said Bruce A unit 4 could start supplying electricity as early as April 2003. Hawthorne also said unit 3 could be in service before next summer, further helping Ontario meet its power needs during the peak summer months.
Bruce A was taken out of service in December 1997. Bruce Power estimates the cost to restore the Bruce A units at C$400 million, which is above the company’s initial estimate of C$340 million.
