Minn. nuclear plant returns to full power

[November 01, 2011]  MONTICELLO, Minn. (AP) -- Xcel Energy's Monticello nuclear power plant is back at full power 10 days after shutting down.

The Minneapolis-based company says operators returned the plant to full power Monday after replacing a cable that failed Oct. 21.

Xcel Energy says the cable problem caused a transformer to lock out. That, in turn, briefly interrupted non-safety-related power from the grid to part of the site and caused the plant to automatically shut down, as designed.

The company says all plant safety systems worked as designed, and the shutdown posed no danger to the public or plant workers.

The 600-megawatt plant is located about 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

[Associated Press]

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