Dive Brief:

• Some of Exelon's ten nuclear plants are unprofitable and the company may shut them down, company officials said in a conference call with analysts. A decision is expected by the end of the year.
• The Chicago-based company contends that its roughly 19,000 MW of nuclear plants have been hurt by low power prices caused by subsidized wind generation and low natural gas prices. Exelon will push for policies to end renewable subsidies and lead to more coal plant retirements.
• Exelon expects about 5,200 MW of coal plants in the Eastern Interconnect to retire by 2017, including about 2,700 MW in PJM.

Dive Insight:

Like other generators, Exelon has been saying for several years that they expect power prices to rebound. That hasn't happened yet, but the company believes a pending wave of coal plant shutdowns will be a pick-me-up for the market.