AMS Expands Role in Extending the Life of Nuclear Power Plants

Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (AMS), a Knoxville-based nuclear engineering company, has received U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval for its cable condition monitoring technology for life extension and aging management of electrical cables in nuclear power plants. The approval establishes an NRC-accepted technology that can be used to extend the life of cables, which will help save tens of millions of dollars in cable replacement costs across the nuclear industry as plants seek to extend their operating lifetimes.

U.S. nuclear plants were originally licensed for 40 years, with most having received renewed licenses for 60 years and many now extending to 80 years. As plants age, the health and condition of their critical infrastructure and systems such as cables becomes increasingly important. The new AMS technology provides a systematic, condition-based approach for assessing cable health, helping utilities extend qualified cable life, avoid costly replacement projects, and maintain compliance with NRC requirements.

AMS President Dr. H.M. “Hash” Hashemian stated, “The NRC approval of our cable aging management methodology gives utilities a practical, technically defensible way to extend the life of critical cable assets while maintaining safety and reliability. By basing decisions on actual cable condition, plants can avoid unnecessary replacement costs and support long-term operation.”

The NRC safety evaluation concluded that the AMS methodology provides reasonable assurance that cables will continue performing their intended safety functions when used within a plant’s aging management program. The approval reflects years of AMS research and operating experience in cable testing and aging management and provides utilities with a consistent framework for demonstrating cable reliability as nuclear plants continue producing clean, carbon-free electricity.