Southern California Edison issues layoff notices to 600 employees

Southern California Edison issued layoff notices to 600 employees this week, following news this month that the San Onofre nuclear plant in San Clemente would be permanently retired.

The coastal plant that once supplied power to 1.4 million homes in Southern California was closed in January 2012 when a tube in its newly replaced steam generators leaked a small amount of radioactive steam, leading to the discovery that the tubes were wearing down at an unusual rate.

The shutdown will mean the utility company will reduce its staff at the plant from about 1,500 to 400.

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It issued layoff notices Monday to 600 non-union employees, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

“The premature shutdown of San Onofre is very unfortunate,” Pete Dietrich, Southern California Edison’s senior vice president and nuclear chief, said in the statement. “We have an extraordinary team of men and women. We appreciate their years of dedicated service and will continue to extend to them the utmost respect and consideration.”

The utility also said it would work with unions representing some workers on transition plans as it works to reduce its staff.

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ricardo.lopez@latimes.com