Preparations underway for major fall outage at Exira Station

Planning and preparation are in full swing at Exira Station as MRES engineers and plant staff gear up for one of the facility’s most significant maintenance efforts in recent years. The outage, which is scheduled for this fall, will primarily be on Unit 2 and includes critical inspections, repairs and routine maintenance.

The focus is a planned replacement of key combustion system components discovered during a routine inspection. MRES leadership also approved advancing additional maintenance work that was originally scheduled for a later year, allowing multiple major projects to be completed during a single outage window.

“Any time we can combine major maintenance activities into one planned outage, it helps us reduce future downtime and maintain a high level of reliability for our members,” said Brent Moeller, director of generation resources. “This project is really about being proactive and making sure the plant continues to perform when it’s needed most.”

The work involves highly specialized turbine equipment with an overall goal to replace and refurbish components that naturally experience wear after years of operation. By completing the work now, the crew can minimize the risk of unplanned outages and maintain the plant’s strong operational performance.

Over the last several months, MRES and plant staff have coordinated schedules, ordered materials, lined up contractors and developed detailed work plans. “This level of work takes a tremendous amount of planning before the outage ever begins,” Moeller said.

A key advantage for this year’s project is the completion of Exira’s new on-site turbine shop. In the past, major turbine maintenance would have required shipping large components to outside facilities or temporarily repurposing other plant buildings for repair work. The addition, completed July 1, 2026, provides a dedicated space where much of the work can be done, reducing transportation risks, improving efficiency and giving plant staff greater control over the project schedule.

“The addition of the turbine shop is a game changer,” Moeller said. “It allows us to complete major maintenance work here at Exira, which improves flexibility and helps us get units back in service more quickly.”

The outage is one part of a busy fall season that includes routine inspections, electrical testing and other maintenance activities.

“The Exira crew takes a lot of pride in keeping the plant operating at a high level,” Moeller said. “This outage represents a significant investment in the future of the plant and helps ensure we can continue providing reliable generation within the region.”