For over 20 years, RAPID has provided utilities with sourcing options for urgently-needed parts that have saved RAPID participants millions of dollars in replacement generation costs. PPL Generation has recently experienced two events in two months that have driven home RAPID’s value with clarity. George Kinek (Manager, Generation Purchasing at PPL) shared the details:

Event 1

Site: Lower MountBethel Energy

Action: “The OEM was contacted, and quoted 7 weeks for delivery.  RAPID was then contacted, and was able to locate the needed parts.  RAPID provided us with the contacts at the owner facility, and we were able to obtain the parts quickly. The replacement parts were purchased on a Friday and installed over the weekend. The unit was operational on Monday.

“As it turned out the original OEM quote was wrong – it would have actually required 14 weeks for delivery of the needed parts.  If we had waited for the OEM, we would have lost 14-15 weeks in generation from a clean natural gas-fired power plant that is important to electric supply reliability.   

“This event has helped us appreciate the value of RAPID in providing maximum sourcing options during emergencies.”

Event 2

Site:  Holtwood Hydro Unit 8

Need: (2) Bassler Electric 600 Amp SCRs

Action: PPL staff, trained in the use of the RAPID database, conducted a search and found the needed parts at another power generation company.  However, the owner representative did not have the authority to release the parts.  Our need was so urgent that we thought additional effort should be made at a higher management level to seek release of the parts, but were not sure who to contact.

We phoned Bob Gibson on the RAPID staff, and Bob personally made over a dozen phone calls on our behalf.  He helped us find that ‘right person’ and we were successful in having the parts released to PPL.”

“Compared to the alternatives at the time, RAPID saved us 15 weeks in generation.  This event helped us understand not only the value of the RAPID database, but the dedication of the RAPID staff in ‘going the extra mile’ to support its members.”

RAPID is part of Scientech, a division of Curtiss Wright Flow Control Nuclear. PPL has been a USA member since 2002.