U.S. nuclear power plants posted an estimated average capacity factor of 91.9 percent in 2014, surpassing the industry’s prior record set in 2007 by one-tenth of a percentage point, according to data compiled by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

Capacity factor measures total electricity generated as a percentage of year-round potential generation.

“The 2014 numbers show unequivocally how important well-performing nuclear energy is to America’s energy security, the economy and our quality of life,” says NEI President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin Fertel.

Actual electricity production from nuclear energy facilities was at an estimated 798.4 billion kilowatt-hours kwh ), the sixth-highest on record. The highest electricity generation was in 2010, when 104 operating reactors produced 806.9 billion kwh of electricity and posting an industry average capacity factor of 90.9 percent.

The top three nuclear power plants by capacity were the South Texas Project Unit 2, Three Mile Island Unit 1 and Surry Unit 1, at 103.7 percent, 103.6 percent and 103.1 percent, respectively.

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