Use of PRA in engineering and management decisions at Toledo Edison

Toledo Edison Company has undertaken the development of an Integrated Living Schedule Program (ILSP) to help prioritize plant betterment projects, This program was embarked upon to ensure optimal allocation of resources available within a budget year in light of the escalating regulatory requirements for plant modifications. In order to systematically prioritize these projects, PRA based tools have been developed. In the absence of a completed level 4 PRA, the present level 1 models are being effectively utilized for this activity. In the process of development of these tools important insights were gained in the design, operation, and system interaction of vital plant systems. These insights, aimed at improving the overall system reliability, have been incorporated into the conceptual engineering and design process of modifications to these systems. Toledo Edison has negotiated and submitted a license amendment request to the NRC to incorporate the ILSP into the operating license such that all modifications whether required by the NRC or desired by the utility are systematically evaluated to ensure optimal allocation of the resources. The application of PRA tools to such a process has proven to be both effective and defensible