With some simple improvements in existing equipment, 20 nuclear reactors in six states were able to expand their generating capacity by more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) last year. In fact, the Nuclear Energy Institute has announced that 2001 was the most productive year ever of power "uprates" for the industry.

Mitch Singer, NEI's spokesman, explained that an uprate, which must be approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, gives a nuclear power plant the ability to increase its electricity output. Plants can do this by putting in bigger turbines in their steam generators or making other improvements to equipment. Singer stressed that an uprate does not involve building additional reactors or other facilities, only augmenting existing equipment.

Last year, NRC gave permission for 20 reactors to uprate, putting 1,091 more MW online. One MW is said to be used by 1,000 American homes. NEI said the uprates were equivalent to adding a large power plant to the electrical grid, at a fraction of the cost of building a new reactor. Although specific uprate cost numbers are not available yet, NEI said uprates can cost about $10 per kilowatt.

Since 1977, about 70 reactors have been uprated putting a combined increase of 3,244 MW onto the grid. NEI said this is the equivalent of approximately one-half of total electric generating capacity in the state of Connecticut.

NRC approved the following reactor for uprates in 2001: