Oconee Nuclear Station receives approval to extend operations

Supports growing energy demand, helps keep customer costs as low as possible

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licenses for Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station for an additional 20 years.

The approval of its subsequent, or second, renewed licenses enables Oconee, located in Seneca, S.C., to operate through 2053 and 2054, supporting the company’s “all of the above” strategy to deliver a path to cleaner energy while protecting reliability and affordability for customers as regional electricity demand continues to grow. Nuclear generation is a vital part of Duke Energy’s generation portfolio and is the only clean energy source that is always on and available 24 hours a day.

Oconee is the first of Duke Energy’s nuclear facilities to reach the significant milestone of extending its license and receiving approval to operate for 80 years. Duke Energy is working toward extending the life of all of its existing nuclear units, with plans to submit a license renewal application for Robinson Nuclear Plant in Hartsville, S.C., in April of this year.

Maintaining safe and reliable operations is Duke Energy’s primary focus, and the company invests heavily in maintenance and upgrades at its nuclear facilities to ensure they can operate through midcentury. At Oconee, the company has replaced its reactor vessel heads, steam generators, turbines, transformers, pumps, valves and other equipment to support longevity. In 2024, Oconee added a combined 45 megawatts by implementing power uprate improvement projects on all three units. Learn more about Oconee’s road to subsequent license renewal and the team that made it possible.

Value of License Renewal 

Nuclear energy has safely and reliably provided electricity to Duke Energy’s Carolinas customers for more than 50 years. In 2024, its six plants provided more than 50% of Carolinas customers’ electricity and more than 96% of the company’s clean energy.

Duke Energy’s nuclear sites benefit customers and communities by reliably generating large amounts of electricity with low operating costs, while also providing thousands of well-paying jobs and producing economic and tax benefits for local communities. The federal nuclear production tax credit incentivizes our existing plants, like Oconee, to operate as cost-efficiently as possible, further lowering the cost of nuclear energy for our customers.

Nuclear energy has and will continue to play an essential role in meeting Duke Energy’s customers’ rapidly growing and evolving energy demands. The company’s expertise in and commitment to the continued safe and reliable operation of its existing nuclear plants are foundational to Duke Energy’s energy transition.