WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wolf Creek nuclear power plant is asking federal regulators for more time to replace a faulty sensor unit that provides an early warning of reactor coolant leaks.

The Wichita Eagle reports that normally the plant would have 30 days to make the fix. But because the repair involves shutting down the plant, operators want to wait until a scheduled shutdown at the end of February.

An unscheduled two- to three-day shutdown would cost customers more than $1 million.

Problems began on Aug. 31 when the sensor unit began to fail, providing false indications of a leak. Records show the sensor quit altogether on Sept. 3 after operators reset it five times in three days.