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A U.S. commercial nuclear plant must get prior approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) before raising its maximum licensed reactor power. The plant operator submits a plant-specific license amendment request showing that the proposed higher-power configuration can operate safely; NRC staff review the technical and accident analyses, publish a safety evaluation, and decide whether to approve the change.
What approval is required?
A power uprate is a change to a reactor’s maximum licensed power—not simply a temporary operating maneuver within its existing limits. The operator applies to amend its license and technical specifications under 10 CFR 50.90, 50.91, and 50.92. The NRC must approve the amendment before the plant changes its licensed maximum output. NRC’s power-uprate overview describes this as the licensing process used for other commercial reactor license and technical-specification amendments; its glossary definition likewise says a licensee may change maximum power only after NRC approval.
What must the operator’s safety case cover?
The operator develops and submits the technical case. There is no universal equipment checklist: the analyses depend on the plant design, the size and type of uprate, and the systems or equipment affected. The application must show how the proposed configuration performs at higher power and demonstrate that it remains safe and continues to protect public health and safety. NRC’s background on power uprates identifies areas that may need analysis or changes:
- Fuel: the fuel selected and any proposed fuel changes.
- Steam and water flows: higher flows and their effects on plant systems.
- Components and equipment: potentially affected pipes, valves, pumps, heat exchangers, electrical transformers, and generators. Some proposals require component modifications or replacement; major equipment such as a main turbine may also be involved.
- Accident analyses: the operator’s analyses must support safe operation at the proposed power level.
These are examples of areas to assess, not a claim that every plant changes every item. The application’s job is to connect the proposed uprate to the particular plant configuration and justify the safety of that configuration.
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How does the NRC review differ by uprate type?
NRC materials identify three broad categories. They share the general license-amendment process, but the category helps determine the review guidance and the expected scale of the change. The NRC’s LIC-112, Revision 2, “Power Uprate Process”, provides general process guidance.
| Uprate category | What distinguishes it | NRC review guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement uncertainty recapture (MUR) | Category for an increase associated with recapturing measurement uncertainty; the application still needs a plant-specific safety basis. | Specific guidance is identified in LIC-112. |
| Stretch | Category for a power increase treated separately from MUR and extended uprates; scope depends on the plant and proposal. | NRC says it has no specific stretch-uprate guidance. Staff uses previously approved stretch uprates and RS-001 as guidance. |
| Extended | Typically involves more substantial equipment changes. NRC’s January 2022 fact sheet describes approvals as reaching increases as high as 20 percent; that is a historical range, not an automatic allowance for a particular reactor. | NRC identifies RS-001, Revision 0, “Review Standard for Extended Power Uprates.” |
The category does not replace review of the actual application. The NRC’s RS-001 review standard is specific to extended uprates; LIC-112 points to more specific guidance for MUR and extended uprates.
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What does the NRC do, and when can the public participate?
- Application and notice: The operator submits its request. After receiving it, the NRC publishes a Federal Register notice that it is considering the application.
- Comment and hearing-request periods: The NRC’s described process provides 30 days for public comments and 60 days to request a hearing. A hearing is not an automatic part of every technical review; it may occur if requested and pursued.
- Technical and legal review: NRC staff review the operator’s data and accident analyses. Technical and legal staff, along with NRC management, may be involved; other NRC offices or the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) may participate in some cases. The NRC reviews public comments and addresses hearing requests.
- Findings and decision: When its review is complete, the NRC issues a safety evaluation and publishes a further Federal Register notice announcing whether it approves or denies the request.
Environmental review is not described as identical for every application. NRC staff prepares environmental assessments for some applications. For each extended power uprate, staff typically issues a draft environmental assessment for a 30-day public comment period, considers comments, and finalizes the assessment. Some applications also include staff briefings to the ACRS. The NRC’s power-uprate fact sheet describes these processes.
How long can review take?
The NRC’s published review durations are goal targets, not guaranteed deadlines. Its Power Uprate Review Readiness page reports targets announced May 7, 2024:
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| Uprate category | NRC review goal target |
|---|---|
| Extended | 12 months |
| Stretch | 9 months |
| Measurement uncertainty recapture | 6 months |
The target depends on the uprate category; it does not establish when a particular application will be approved. The NRC page presents these durations as agency goals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to assess a specific plant’s proposal
For a named reactor, the general process does not establish what equipment must change, what analysis will be decisive, or when the NRC will finish. Those details are in the facility’s application and review record. Compare proposals by looking at:
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- the uprate category and the size and nature of the proposed change;
- the systems, components, and safety analyses the application identifies as affected;
- whether major equipment modifications or replacements are proposed;
- the NRC guidance relevant to that category;
- whether an environmental assessment is expected and what public-comment opportunities apply; and
- the application-specific schedule, comments, hearing records, and NRC safety evaluation.
NRC reported 171 approved uprates as of January 2022, representing approximately 24,089 MWt of added thermal capacity and 8,030 MWe of added electric capacity. These are agency totals as of that date, not predictions for any individual plant. The NRC fact sheet provides the historical figures.
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