Xcel Energy Inc : Notification of Unusual Event declared at Prairie Island nuclear plant today

MINNEAPOLIS - Officials at the Prairie Island nuclear plant near Red Wing declared a Notification of Unusual Event today at 2:18 p.m.

There was no release of radioactive materials and there is no danger to the public or plant employees.

Plant officials made the declaration due to the temporary failure of some security equipment. The equipment has been restored, and plant officials are evaluating the cause. Plant security was maintained throughout the event.

Unit 2 continues to operate at full power. Unit 1 remains off-line as part of a scheduled refueling outage.

Notification of Unusual Event declaration is the lowest of four emergency classifications established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The declaration indicates a potential reduction in the level of safety at the plant, but no threat to public safety. The declaration's purpose is to have the plant's operating staff reach a state of readiness for emergency response if necessary.

The Prairie Island nuclear plant is 28 miles southeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul and about six miles northwest of Red Wing. The plant's two pressurized water reactors generate 1,076 megawatts of electricity. Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy owns and operates the plant.

Xcel Energy has notified all appropriate federal, state and local officials of the event.

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Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis.