US power company Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has received a federal credit payment of $271m (€200m) from a Department of Energy (DOE) programme set up in 2022 as a $6bn federal investment to help preserve the existing reactor fleet.

The payment covers extended operations for Diablo Canyon-1, with the DOE noting that Unit 2 will become eligible for a payment after completion of the 2025 award year audit.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued PG&E operating licences that expire in 2044 for Unit 1 and 2045 for Unit 2, but the state has only approved operation of the twin reactors to 2029 and 2030.

California’s legislature still needs to pass a law to extend operations beyond 2030 for PG&E to use the entire period of its new licence.