April 3, 2013 – Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) today filed a capital budget application with the Newfoundland and Labrador Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (Board) for restoration of Unit One at the Holyrood Generating Station. The application also includes several investigation reports.
Unit One at the Holyrood plant shut down due to an electrical disturbance that originated in the high-voltage switchyard at the Holyrood terminal station during a severe winter storm on January 11, 2013. Following this event, Hydro began a comprehensive analysis with independent experts to investigate the cause of the unit shut down and determine the repairs required to restore the unit to service. The investigation identified that a lubricating oil pump did not provide the
required lubricating oil to the bearings during the unit shut down. Timely restoration of Unit One is necessary for stand-by operations during regular maintenance work and capital upgrades on Units Two and Three this summer and early fall, and to ensure safe and reliable operation of the plant entering into the 2014 peak winter period.
This capital project, including investigation and restoration work, is expected to cost approximately $13.2 million. Reports and the capital plan filed with the Board are available at www.nlh.nl.ca under Operations/Thermal Generation.