The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is sending experts to begin an investigation into circumstances surrounding a leak in one of the cooling towers at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

The inspectors are expected to begin work on Monday, to verify that the nuclear plant is safe to continue operations.

The NRC Executive Director for Operations Bill Borchardt is also traveling to the plant to consult with the inspectors and plant officials.

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant remained at only 25 percent power on Sunday, after a leak in a pipe in one of its cooling towers and continued low flow of the Connecticut River, which it draws water from.

As a result, spokesman Rob Williams says, power - which had been reduced to 47 percent after Friday night's incident - had to be reduced further Saturday because of low river flow, so that Vermont Yankee stayed within the limits of its river water temperature discharge permit.

Last August, a cooling tower cell collapsed in a shower of wood, water and debris.