OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska nuclear plant that sat idle for nearly three years while regulators evaluated problems should reach full power sometime on Christmas Day. The Omaha Public Power District received permission on Dec. 17 from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart Fort Calhoun.  OPPD spokesman Jeff Hanson says the restart process that began last week has gone smoothly.

Fort Calhoun initially shut down for routine maintenance in April 2011, but significant flooding that summer, a small fire and a series of safety violations forced it to remain closed for an extended period. The utility has spent more than $180 million as it addressed more than 450 concerns at the plant, and federal inspectors double-checked the work.

The repair bill may grow because that cost estimate just runs through November.