1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report June 15, 1994
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey 1-9120 22-2625848
(State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
80 Park Plaza, P. O. Box 1171
Newark, New Jersey 07101-1171
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 201-430-7000
PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey 1-973 22-1212800
(State or other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
80 Park Plaza, P. O. Box 570
Newark, New Jersey 07101-0570
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 201-430-7000
1
2
Item 5. Other Events.
- ------ ------------
The following information updates certain matters previously reported to
the Securities and Exchange Commission under Item 1 - Business of Part I of
the Annual Reports on Form 10-K for 1993 and Part II of the Reports on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994, of Public Service Electric and Gas
Company (PSE&G) and its parent, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
(Enterprise).
Nuclear Operations
- --------------
As previously reported, Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 1 (Salem
1) experienced an automatic reactor shutdown on April 7, 1994 due to
excessive grass from the Delaware River clogging the station's water intake
structure. Subsequent to the shutdown a precautionary Alert was declared at
1:16 p.m. and this emergency classification was terminated at 8:20 p.m. No
abnormal releases of radiation to the environment occurred during the event
and there was no threat to the public health and safety. Salem 1 remained
out of service while PSE&G and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
investigated the event and PSE&G implemented remedial actions required to be
completed prior to returning the unit to service.
On April 7, 1994 the NRC sent an augmented inspection team (AIT) to
Salem to investigate the event. The AIT completed its on-site investigation
on April 15, 1994 and presented its preliminary findings at a public meeting
held at the station site on April 26, 1994. The AIT concluded that the event
had challenged the reactor coolant system pressure boundary, that operator
error had occurred which complicated the event, that management had allowed
equipment problems to exist which made operations difficult for plant
operators, and that some equipment was degraded by the event, but overall the
plant performed as designed. The AIT further concluded that operator use of
emergency operating procedures was good and that investigation and
trouble-shooting efforts were good. PSE&G's investigation of the event
resulted in conclusions similar to those of the AIT.
On May 9, 1994, PSE&G and the NRC staff presented their findings to the
NRC Commissioners, and PSE&G described the actions it had taken to prepare
Salem 1 for restart. On May 11, 1994, Senator Joseph Biden, representing
Delaware, wrote to the NRC expressing his concerns regarding early restart of
the unit and requested assurances "that all outstanding mechanical and
management problems have been resolved and that a fine in the maximum amount
will be levied upon the licensee." On May 14, 1994 the NRC authorized the
2
3
restart of Salem 1, and the unit initially returned to service on June 4,
1994.
PSE&G is continuing to address matters to improve Salem's operations
identified by itself, the NRC and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
(INPO), an independent industry group consisting of utilities, including
PSE&G, that provides self critical analysis of nuclear operations to member
utilities. As has been previously reported, actions are being taken to
improve the plant's material condition, to upgrade procedures and to enhance
personnel performance, as well as other efforts. However, satisfactory
operating performance on Salem 1 has not yet been achieved, and the April 7,
1994 event indicates that to date the corrective actions taken by PSE&G to
address these long-standing problems have not been fully effective, and that
material condition deficiencies continue to complicate plant recovery from
transients which place reliance on operator action to mitigate the
consequences of the events.
PSE&G's own assessments, as well as those by the NRC and INPO, indicate
that additional efforts are required to further improve operating
performance, and PSE&G is committed to taking the necessary actions to
address Salem's performance needs. However, no assurance can be given as to
what, if any, further or additional actions may be taken by PSE&G, or
required by the NRC, to improve Salem's performance.
Salem Unit 2 and Hope Creek Generating Station, both located adjacent to
Salem 1 and operated by PSE&G, are presently in operation.
3
4
SIGNATURE
---------
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED
(Registrant)
PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
(Registrant)
By ROBERT C. MURRAY
-------------------------------------------
Robert C. Murray
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
Senior Vice President - Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
Public Service Electric and Gas Company
Date: June 15, 1994
4