The State - News from April 9, 1989

The Rancho Seco nuclear power plant began producing electricity 11 days after a shutdown that prompted federal officials to summon the utility district’s board members to Washington. The troubled plant 25 miles southeast of Sacramento was brought to 35% power and will be kept at that level for several days for tests. It will then be brought to 60% for more tests and finally to its normal operating level of 92%. Meantime, the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District invited the public to tour the plant over the weekend as part of a “spring open house” designed to improve the plant’s public relations in advance of a June election to determine its fate. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission summoned district board members and staff to Washington to talk about the shutdown and a nuclear industry organization’s critique of the plant and the district.