he Nuclear Regulatory Commission has imposed stricter oversight on a second generating unit of Southern Co.’s Farley nuclear plant, based on breaker failures at that unit.

It means both of the Alabama plant’s generators are now classified as "degraded" in the NRC’s safety and inspection parlance.

And that means a much tougher inspection regimen for both units for at least two years, at Southern Co.’s expense.

The latest move adds to a snowballing list of problems for Farley and its operators.

The NRC issued a serious safety finding against the other Farley unit two weeks ago, related to the company’s handling of a stuck valve in the system that would cool the reactor core in an emergency.