ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some of the important differences between a fossil-fueled and nuclear power plant to better understand the management considerations that apply to electric utility projects. The utility industry, more than ever, must take a dedicated approach to achieving high plant availability and reliability due to the spiraling cost of power generation, whether it be through fossil or nuclear power generation. Fuel costs stop when a power plant is not operating, but capital, administrative, and maintenance costs must be paid whether a plant is producing electricity or not. Power plant owners often have specific preferences with regard to types of equipment, operating and control philosophies, and maintenance provisions. All large projects require an overall integrated schedule. The schedule must integrate the engineering, procurement, construction, test, start-up, and turnover planning. Engineering budget control is usually based on a work breakdown structure which organizes the project work according to: systems or facilities, activities, and functional groups or disciplines.
