2 Vt. utilities sue nuke plant over (cooling) tower failure

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/01/10/news/nation/2-vt-utilities-sue-nuke-plant-over-tower-failure/

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont’s two largest electric utilities are suing the state’s lone nuclear plant, saying they were forced to buy more expensive replacement power when the Vermont Yankee reactor had to shut down twice for repairs to its cooling towers.

“Entergy’s failure to implement and exercise sound practices with respect to the maintenance, repair and improvements of the facility’s cooling towers caused tower failures in August 2007 and July 2008,” Green Mountain Power Corp. and Central Vermont Public Service Corp. said in a joint statement Tuesday.

“The failures resulted in significantly reduced power output, which in turn deprived us of power due to us and our customers at specified, below-market prices,” the companies added.

The companies announced the suit on Tuesday, a day after filing it in Windham Superior Court in Newfane. They are seeking $6.6 million — the amount they say they had to pay to replace the power they had been getting from Vermont Yankee during two power reductions triggered by the cooling tower failures in August 2007 and July 2008. The two utilities said they would also seek to recover interest and legal fees, and requested a trial by jury.

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