Monticello
Online · 100% powerXcel Energy·Monticello, MN·BWR·617 MWe
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Composite Operational Excellence Score (0-100) — average percentile rank across 7 dimensions in three sub-scores: Reliability (capacity factor, forced outage days, B2B avg streak), Efficiency (fuel utilization, refuel duration), and Discipline (startup duration, scram count). 5-year window. Higher = more operationally excellent. Click to see the full breakdown.
Excellence
Rank locked · 93 units
Subscribers
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Current reactor power level from the most recent NRC daily report.
100%
Power
ONLINE
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Days of continuous operation since the last outage ended. Ranked against all operating units.
69
Current Run
days
#65 of 95
Mid Quartile
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Longest recorded period of continuous operation between outages.
707
Record Run
days
#37 of 95
Mid Quartile
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Breaker-to-Breaker runs — continuous operation exceeding the cycle-adjusted threshold (615 days for this 24-month cycle unit) with no trips to 0% power.
3
B2B Runs
#67 of 86
Bottom Quartile
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Lifetime capacity factor: average power level across all recorded days (100% = always at full power). Ranked against all NRC-tracked units.
87.8%
Capacity Factor
#76 of 95
Bottom Quartile
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Net electricity actually generated over the most recent 12 months reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (Form EIA-923). These are authoritative actuals, not an estimate.
4.76 TWh
Net Generation
EIA-923 · 12 mo to 2026-07
2030-12
Planned Retirement
EIA-860M announced
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Total NRC-reported scram events (emergency reactor shutdowns). Ranked fleet-wide — fewer scrams = better rank.
8
Scrams
#59 of 94
Mid Quartile
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Years since commercial operation began. License remaining: 23.8 years.
55.3
Operating Age
years
23.8 yrs remaining
Excellence Score, Records & Plant Facts
Breaker-to-Breaker Runs 3 runs
Breaker-to-breaker runs measure continuous operation between refueling outages using a cycle-adjusted threshold (90% of cycle length minus RFO duration). An active streak means the unit has been running continuously since the last refueling with no trips to 0% power.
Monticello has logged 3 breaker-to-breaker runs, continuous stretches from one refueling to the next with no trip to zero power. Its longest ran 705 days, and its runs average 681 days.
705
Best Run (days)
M1R29 (2019-05-14) → M1R30 (2021-04-18)
681
Avg Run (days)
★ Double breaker-to-breaker
M1R28 → M1R29 → M1R30
All Runs
| 2019-05-14 | 2021-04-18 | 705 days | M1R29 → M1R30 |
| 2017-05-15 | 2019-04-14 | 699 days | M1R28 → M1R29 |
| 2005-04-11 | 2007-01-11 | 640 days | M1R22 → M1R23 |
About This Site
Written by NukeWorker from public records: facts that do not change. Operator, status and capacity come from the live data elsewhere on this page. Sources: Wikipedia: Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant.
Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant is on the Mississippi River at Monticello, in Wright County, Minnesota.
Read more
Construction began on June 19, 1967. The plant was built with one General Electric BWR-3 boiling water reactor with a Mark 1 containment. It connected to the grid on March 5, 1971, and entered commercial operation on June 30, 1971. About 50,000 gallons of low-level radioactive water were released into the Mississippi River for repairs in November 1971, and about 1,300 gallons of radioactive water leaked into the river on May 5, 1982.
Facility Statistics
Key performance and lifecycle metrics calculated from NRC operational data. Includes operating age, construction timeline, capacity factor, efficiency, generation totals, and reliability records.
Monticello has operated for about 55.3 years and averaged a 87.8% lifetime capacity factor, generating roughly 128.8 TWh of electricity. Its longest unbroken run reached 707 days.
Lifecycle & Tenure
Operating Age: 55.3 Yrs
Build Time: 4 Yrs
Lic. Remaining: 23.8 Yrs
Production & Power
Lifetime CF: 87.8%
Efficiency: 30.8%
Generated: 128.8 TWh
Reliability & Outages
Record Run: 707 Days
Refuelings: 14
Avg Startup: 5.5 Days
Ownership & Construction
The utility or company that owns and operates the facility, the architect-engineer responsible for plant design, and the primary construction contractor. Click names to view all facilities by that entity on the map.
Ownership, operation and management history
| Date | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2000 | Operator change | Northern States Power (owner, operated it) | Nuclear Management Co (operator only) |
| Sep 22, 2008 | Operator change | Nuclear Management Co (operator only) | Xcel Energy (owner, took over operation) |
XEL
Xcel Energy Inc.
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11,754,658
Delayed quote as of Nov 3, 2026 4:00 PM ET.
Source: Yahoo Finance.
Full quote on Yahoo Finance
Operational Excellence Score Subscribers
Monticello is rated 0 to 100 on how well it actually runs, scored against every other operating reactor in the US fleet from its own operating record. Subscribers see the score, the three sub-scores behind it, and each of the seven measured inputs.
- This unit's composite score and fleet rank
- Reliability, Efficiency and Discipline sub-scores
- All seven measured inputs, with fleet percentiles
- Rank against comparable units, not just the fleet
- Three-year, five-year and lifetime windows
- Five-year trend, and every other operating US reactor
Included with every outage subscription and with NukeWorker Gold membership. Trading the outage rather than working it? The same record, cut by power market, is on NukeGryd.
Scram History 8 events since 2011
Automatic and manual reactor scram (emergency shutdown) events reported to the NRC since 2011. Includes event dates, trip type, and average recovery time. Click the title to view the full fleet scram dashboard.
Monticello has recorded 8 reactor scrams, or emergency shutdowns, since 2011 (7 automatic, 1 manual). On average the unit was back to full power about 10 days after each trip.
Technical Specs
Reactor design specifications including type (PWR/BWR), containment design, nuclear steam supply system manufacturer, thermal and electrical power ratings, and current operational status.
Reactor Type:
BWR
Containment:
BWR-MARK 1
NSS Supplier:
GE 3
Turbine Supplier:
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. IAEA
Thermal Power:
2004 MWt
Net Capacity:
617 MWe
Gross Capacity:
691 MWe IAEA
Design Capacity:
545 MWe IAEA
Efficiency:
30.8%
Status:
Operating
Lifetime Output:
225.9 TWh through 2025 IAEA
Licensing
NRC licensing history including docket number, license type and number, construction permit date, operating license issuance, commercial operation date, license renewal, and expiration date.
Docket #:
05000263
License #:
DPR-22
License Type:
OL-FP
Const. Permit:
1967-06-19
Construction Start:
1967-06-19 IAEA
Operating Lic:
1970-09-08
First Criticality:
1970-12-10 IAEA
Grid Connection:
1971-03-05 IAEA
Commercial Op:
1971-06-30
License Renewed:
2024-12-30
License Exp:
2050-09-08
Market & Region
EIA market and grid-region classifications: NERC reliability region, U.S. Census region, balancing authority responsible for grid operations, and whether the unit operates as a rate-regulated utility or a competitive merchant generator. Hover any value for the full name.
NERC Region:
MRO
— Midwest Reliability Organization
Census Region:
WNC
— West North Central
Balancing Authority:
MISO
— Midcontinent Independent System Operator (ISO/RTO)
Market Structure:
Regulated
— Rate-regulated utility (cost-of-service pricing)