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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
INL makes a case for eliminating ALARA and setting higher dose limits
A report just released by Idaho National Laboratory reviews decades of radiation protection standards and research on the health effects of low-dose radiation and recommends that the current U.S. annual occupational dose limit of 5,000 mrem be maintained without applying ALARA—the “as low as reasonably achievable” regulatory concept first introduced in 1971—below that threshold.
Noting that epidemiological studies “have consistently failed to demonstrate statistically significant health effects at doses below 10,000 mrem delivered at low dose rates,” the report also recommends “future consideration of increasing this limit to 10,000 mrem/year with appropriate cumulative-dose constraints.”
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Cost Reduction Opportunities
Tuesday, August 10, 2021|10:30AM–5:00PM EDT |Calusa 8-9
Track Organizers:
Ray Herb (Southern Company)
Ken Lowery (Southern Company)
Tim Schlimpert (MCR Group)
Maria Hernandez (Duke Energy)
Knowledge Manager:
Saieed Ahmed (Exelon)
Student Intern:
Edward Chen (NC State Univ.)
The utility industry is undergoing dramatic changes as low fuel costs and new technologies, such as solar and batteries, threaten to disrupt the traditional utility generation model; potentially having dramatic impacts on revenues. For nuclear, subsidized renewables and cheap natural gas are formidable low-cost energy competitors in a reduced electricity demand environment. At the same time, costs are increasing as workforces and assets age, interest rates rise, and customer expectations drive the need to support new channels for information and transactions. Combined, these trends are placing significant pressure on earnings. Macro trends will continue to drive business priorities, but enterprise-wide control of cost allows utilities to determine their own destinies. These Cost Optimization sessions will analyze the past 6 years of cost and staffing trends. We will identify key circumstances representing improvements and hear from utilities which have successfully implemented cost saving initiatives. We will discuss measures utilities have already taken, or plan to implement, with an eye on cost reductions. With the premature shutdown of nuclear power plants a reality, reducing cost while maintaining safety and reliability is of utmost importance.
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