PPL Corp. (NYSE: PPL) said a planned follow-up inspection of the Unit 1 main turbine at PPL's 2,500 MW Susquehanna nuclear power plant in northeastern Pennsylvania revealed indications of cracks in blades that are similar to, but less extensive than, damage discovered and repaired in 2011.

PPL will replace one row of blades on the Unit 1 turbine during the current refueling and maintenance outage, and has decided as a precaution to shut down the Unit 2 reactor and inspect its main turbine after the Unit 1 outage is completed.

The Unit 2 outage will be scheduled after Unit 1 resumes generating electricity, PPL said. PPL also said the turbine blade replacement on Unit 1 will have a minimal effect on the duration of the current outage, which began March 31 and is expected to continue into mid-May.

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