BERWICK, Pa., Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Operators at PPL's Susquehanna nuclear power plant disconnected Monday (11/19) from the regional power grid shortly after returning to service because of a hydraulic oil leak on a system that controls the flow of steam into the turbine.

Operators are manually shutting down the reactor and plant systems are responding as designed. Susquehanna employees are investigating the cause of the oil leak.

"Shutting down the reactor is the safest course of action until we can determine the reason for the oil leak and make the necessary repair," said Timothy S. Rausch, PPL Susquehanna senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. "All systems are functioning as expected to keep the unit in a safe condition."

The oil leak is not affecting employee or public safety and is contained within the Turbine Building. Unit 1 is operating safely at full power.

The Susquehanna plant, located in Luzerne County about seven miles north of Berwick, is owned jointly by PPL Susquehanna LLC and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc. and is operated by PPL Susquehanna LLC.

PPL Susquehanna LLC is one of PPL Corporation's generating affiliates. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) owns or controls through its subsidiaries about 19,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets, and delivers electricity and natural gas to about 10 million customers in the United States and the United Kingdom. More information is available at www.pplweb.com.

SOURCE PPL Susquehanna