California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #: A.11-04-006

CPUC APPROVES SEISMIC PROJECTS AND
ANALYSES FOR SAN ONOFRE

SAN FRANCISCO, May 10, 2012 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved Southern California Edison's (SCE) request to conduct an ongoing seismic program and new seismic research projects and analyses for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Units 2 and 3.

The cost of the seismic activities was approved at $64 million, of which 20 percent will come from San Diego Gas & Electric, which is a minority owner of SONGS.

The seismic activities are being conducted in response to legislation that directed the California Energy Commission to assess the potential vulnerability of power plants such as SONGS to a major disruption due to a major seismic event or plant aging; assess the impacts of such a major disruption on system reliability, public safety, and the economy; assess the costs and impacts from nuclear waste accumulating at these plants; and evaluate other major issues related to the future role of the plant in the state's energy portfolio.

Although SONGS is currently offline, the seismic study work is necessary regardless of the operating status of the plant because spent fuel and other radioactive material is likely to remain at the plant site for many years.

The proposal voted on is available at http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/WORD_PDF/AGENDA_DECISION/165866.pdf.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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