FirstEnergy's Perry nuclear power plant is back on line

PERRY -- The Perry nuclear power plant is making electricity again, following a five-day shutdown because of an electrical problem on the non-nuclear side of the plant.

Operators synchronized the reactor to the high-voltage grid late Sunday afternoon.  The reator is expected to reach full power later this week.

Perry automatically shut itself down early Tuesday morning after a blown fuse in the nearby turbine building cut power to pumps that push water into the boiling water reactor as needed when the reactor is operating. When this "feedwater" is interrupted, the plant automatically shuts downs, said Jennifer Young, spokeswoman for the FirstEnergy-owned reactor.

Engineers determined that the fuse had blown because of the cold temperatures in parts of the turbine building near a very large overhead door.  Maintenance teams have installed electric heaters in the area of the door while engineers figure whether a  more permanent solution is necessary.

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