Wadsworth, Texas – Aug. 21, 2009 – The STP Nuclear Operating Company today reached another significant safety milestone. The two-unit facility, one of the nation’s largest nuclear power plants, has operated the past two years without a restricted-duty or lost-time injury among its approximately 1,200 employees.

“Safety is a core value and the top priority at our facility, overriding demands of production and schedule,” said STP Chief Nuclear Officer Ed Halpin. “We maintain a constant focus on safe and reliable operations. Our employees are committed to safety and we are proud of this achievement.”

The company has reached a milestone of 7.6 million labor-hours without a serious accident or injury. This achievement ranks STP as one of the industry’s best in terms of safety. The commercial nuclear industry – 104 plants nationwide – maintains one of the top safety records in the United States.

This is STP’s second major safety accomplishment this year. In February, the company reached a Total Safety Industrial Accident rate of 0.0 for the 18 preceding months, ranking STP in the top ten percent of all U.S. nuclear plants in personal safety.

For more than 20 years, the South Texas Project has provided safe, clean, reliable energy throughout Texas. The two-unit facility is a recognized industry leader on a number of fronts.

• For five consecutive years, the facility has safely and reliably produced more energy than any other two-unit nuclear facility in the country.
• STP set an industry record in October 2008 when the site completed a fourth consecutive production run by operating both units continuously between refuelings, which are 18 months apart.
• During the past three years (2006-08), STP maintained the highest net capacity factor, 98.87 percent –- a measure of reliability -- of any multi-unit site in the country.

STP also has earned more honors than any other U.S. nuclear power plant. This month, the company received the 2009 Utility Achievement Award from the American Nuclear Society for demonstrating a prolonged dedication to safe and economical nuclear generation. In addition the company is the only repeat winner of the industry’s top honor, the B. Ralph Sylvia Best of the Best Award, which STP has won three times. The company also has won seven of the annual Top Industry Practice (TIP) awards, two Utility Achievement Awards, and a Project of the Year Award for Best Nuclear Project worldwide.

STP supplies approximately 7.5 percent of the electricity used in Texas. The plant is managed by the STP Nuclear Operating Company and owned by Austin Energy, CPS Energy and NRG Texas. STP’s twin reactors produce 2,700 megawatts of electricity, enough for nearly two million homes.
To learn more about the South Texas Project, visit www.stpnoc.com.