Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: de2a6863-3e00-4ade-b40d-9f1371ed9734
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Power Levels of Nuclear Power Plants (Rev. 1)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1221/ML12216A005.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.49
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
ubstantive changes from previous issue. B. DISCUSSION The design power levels of nuclear power plants have increased from about 600 megawatts electric in 1965 to slightly above 1300 megawatts electric in 1973. The continual ificrease in the size of these plants has resulted in many plant design modifications and in a large expenditure of AEC staff review effort to assure the maintenance of a consistent level of safety. These numerous plant design variations, coupled with the rapidly increasing number of applications, have contributed to the steady growth in the required licensing review effort to evaluate such applications. The increase in plant power levels, and the associated design modifications, have made standardization of designs difficult to achieve. The intent of the AEC policy on plant power levels is also to stabilize the maximum size of nuclear plants until sufficient experience is gained with design, construction, and operation of large plants. The first plants in the 1100-megawatt electric class are now in the startup phase. The Regulatory staff believes that a substantial time period should elapse before maximum licensed core thermal power levels are changed. Accordingly, construction permit applications should not be submitted for plants of core thermal power levels greater than 3800 megawatts before January 1, 1979, at the earliest. The AEC will issue notice of its intent to consider applications at core thermal power levels greater than 3800 megawatts at least two years prior to acceptance of such applications. In determining, subsequent of January 1, 1979, the acceptability of any increase in the maximum licensed power level, the operating history of large plants will be carefully reviewed. Some of the analyses in support of the proposed licensed power level are made for a slightly higher assumed power level to allow for possible instrument USAEC REGULATORY GUIDES Copies of published guides may be obtained by request indicating the divisions