Breaker-to-Breaker Runs
5 runs
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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.
Summer has logged 5 breaker-to-breaker runs, continuous stretches from one refueling to the next with no trip to zero power. Its longest ran 502 days, and its runs average 491 days.
502
Best Run (days)
RF-19 (2011-05-30) → RF-20 (2012-10-13)
★ Double breaker-to-breaker
RF-26 → RF-27 → RF-28
All Runs
| 2023-05-19 |
2024-09-21 |
491 days |
RF-27 → RF-28 |
| 2021-12-11 |
2023-04-06 |
481 days |
RF-26 → RF-27 |
| 2015-12-02 |
2017-04-08 |
493 days |
RF-22 → RF-23 |
| 2011-05-30 |
2012-10-13 |
502 days |
RF-19 → RF-20 |
| 1999-06-06 |
2000-10-08 |
490 days |
RF-11 → RF-12 |
About This Site
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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: Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station.
Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station is near Jenkinsville in Fairfield County, South Carolina, about 20 miles northwest of Columbia. It uses Monticello Reservoir for cooling.
Read more
South Carolina Electric & Gas and the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) were the original owners. Unit 1, a Westinghouse three-loop pressurized water reactor, began construction on March 21, 1973, and entered commercial operation on January 1, 1984. The NRC approved licenses for two AP1000 units in March 2012, and construction began on Unit 2 on March 9, 2013, and Unit 3 on November 2, 2013. After Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2017, construction of those two units was stopped on July 31, 2017.
Facility Statistics
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Key performance and lifecycle metrics calculated from NRC operational data. Includes operating age, construction timeline, capacity factor, efficiency, generation totals, and reliability records.
Summer has operated for about 42.8 years and averaged a 87.7% lifetime capacity factor, generating roughly 208.5 TWh of electricity. Its longest unbroken run reached 522 days.
Lifecycle & Tenure
Operating Age: 42.8 Yrs
Build Time: 10.8 Yrs
Lic. Remaining: 35.8 Yrs
Production & Power
Lifetime CF: 87.7%
Efficiency: 33.7%
Generated: 208.5 TWh
Reliability & Outages
Record Run: 522 Days
Refuelings: 19
Avg Startup: 7.3 Days
Ownership & Construction
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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 |
| Jan 1, 2019 |
Merger |
SCANA |
Dominion |
D
Dominion Energy, Inc.
NYSE
$62.86
▲ +0.06 (+0.10%)
Previous Close
62.80
Day's Range
62.42 – 63.85
52-Week Range
55.85 – 72.99
Volume
5,925,182
Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy (NEE) announced a merger on 2026-05-18. It is still subject to regulatory and shareholder approval, so Dominion remains the owner of record here until the deal closes.
Operational Excellence Score Subscribers
Summer 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
Scram History
9 events since 2011
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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.
Summer has recorded 9 reactor scrams, or emergency shutdowns, since 2011 (5 automatic, 4 manual). On average the unit was back to full power about 16.1 days after each trip.
Recent Events
| 2026-01-30 |
Manual |
MANUAL REACTOR TRIP DUE TO A STEAM LEAK The following inform... |
|
| 2025-10-14 |
Auto |
EN Revision Imported Date: 10/27/2025 EN Revision Text: AUTO... |
|
| 2025-02-10 |
Manual |
EN Revision Imported Date: 2/13/2025 EN Revision Text: MANUA... |
|
| 2023-04-05 |
Manual |
MANUAL REACTOR TRIP The following information was provided b... |
|
| 2021-11-15 |
Manual |
EN Revision Imported Date: 12/16/2021 EN Revision Text: MANU... |
|
| 2017-11-07 |
Auto |
AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP ON TURBINE TRIP "On 11/7/2017 at 1957... |
|
| 2017-08-28 |
Auto |
AUTOMATIC REACTOR TRIP ON TURBINE TRIP "On 8/28/2017 at 0837... |
|
| 2017-06-29 |
Auto |
AUTOMATIC TRIP DUE TO A LOSS OF NORMAL FEEDWATER FLOW TO B S... |
|
+1 more events
Technical Specs
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Reactor design specifications including type (PWR/BWR), containment design, nuclear steam supply system manufacturer, thermal and electrical power ratings, and current operational status.
Turbine Supplier:
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. IAEA
Thermal Power:
2900 MWt
Net Capacity:
977 MWe
Gross Capacity:
1,006 MWe IAEA
Design Capacity:
900 MWe IAEA
Efficiency:
33.7%
Lifetime Output:
295.0 TWh through 2025 IAEA
Licensing
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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 #:
05000395
License #:
NPF-12
License Type:
OL-FP
Const. Permit:
1973-03-21
Construction Start:
1973-03-21 IAEA
Operating Lic:
1982-11-12
First Criticality:
1982-10-22 IAEA
Grid Connection:
1982-11-16 IAEA
Commercial Op:
1984-01-01
License Renewed:
2025-06-30
License Exp:
2062-08-06
Market & Region
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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:
SERC
— SERC Reliability Corporation
Census Region:
SAT
— South Atlantic
Balancing Authority:
SCEG
— South Carolina Electric & Gas
Market Structure:
Regulated
— Rate-regulated utility (cost-of-service pricing)