Malfunction Triggers Shutdown of Reactor

The Unit 1 reactor at the Limerick Generating Station shut down automatically Sunday, apparently because an electronic malfunction caused the nuclear plant to produce more power than planned, a spokesman for the utility said. He said no radiation was released and there was no risk to public health.

Philadelphia Electric said it hoped to replace or repair the faulty control by today. The utility is in the final two months of preliminary testing of the reactor.