BERWICK, Pa., Dec. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Operators at PPL's Susquehanna nuclear power plant disconnected Unit 1 from the regional electric grid Saturday (12/13) because of a small water leak inside the containment structure. The massive concrete containment structure, which surrounds the reactor, is not accessible when the unit is running.

Although the water leak is well within the plant's limits for continued safe operation, operators began shutting the unit down as a conservative measure to complete repairs and enhance the unit's reliability for the upcoming winter, when cold weather drives higher electricity use.

PPL Susquehanna expects to quickly identify the source of the water leak, complete repairs and resume generating electricity for the regional power grid.

The Susquehanna plant, located in Luzerne County about seven miles north of Berwick, is owned jointly by PPL Susquehanna LLC and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc. and is operated by PPL Susquehanna.

PPL Susquehanna LLC is one of PPL Corporation's generating affiliates. PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), with 2013 revenues of $12 billion, is one of the largest companies in the U.S. utility sector. The PPL family of companies delivers electricity and natural gas to about 10 million customers in the United States and the United Kingdom. PPL has announced an agreement to combine its competitive generation business with the competitive generation business of Riverstone Holdings LLC to form Talen Energy Corporation. More information is available at www.pplsusquehanna.com and www.pplweb.com.

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation.

Contact: Joe Scopelliti, 1-866-832-4474
PPL Susquehanna

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SOURCE PPL Susquehanna