Pickering Hydro Reactors Shut Down

PICKERING, Ontario -- - A problem with the water that flows into the boilers at the Pickering Nuclear Power Plant forced the shutdown of the largest power generation facility in Ontario.

Officials with Ontario Power Generation, which runs the facility, refused to comment on the closure, but a source at the Pickering plant confirmed the shutdown for maintenance.

"What I can tell you is that Ontario Power Generation does not provide the operating status of any of these units. The information can be used to the detriment of the consumers of Ontario, because it can be used to impact on the price of electricity," OPG spokesperson John Earl told the Star. "This is not an issue around safety, this is an issue around commercial sensitivity."

Pickering Mayor Wayne Arthurs said three operational reactors were shut down — one due to operator error in tripping a circuit breaker on a safety shutdown system and the others as a result of leaks in the water line that feeds the boilers.

Breakdowns occurred at a string of electricity generating stations throughout the province.

But mild weather and the availability of imported power kept the agency that operates Ontario's power grid from asking power users to cut back consumption.

The Independent Electricity Market Operator, or IMO, warned power users to "expect in excess of 900 megawatts of generation to be forced out of service."

Market rules prevent the IMO from identifying which generators fail.