UPDATE 1-PSEG N.J. Salem 1 reactor in hot shutdown mode

(Recasts, updates with company comment)

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Public Service Enterprise Group Inc's (PEG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 1,174-megawatt Unit 1 at the Salem nuclear power station in New Jersey remained in hot shutdown mode early Monday, a spokesman for the company said.

He could not say when the unit would exit the current refueling outage due to competitive reasons.

Electricity traders guessed the unit would return to service later this week.

The unit shut for refueling by Oct. 14.

Unit 1 last shut for refueling from March 27 to April 20, 2007. It is on an 18-month refueling cycle.

The 3,562 MW Salem/Hope Creek station is located along the Delaware River in Salem about 40 miles south of Philadelphia. There are three reactors at the station, the 1,174 MW Salem 1, which entered service in 1977, 1,130 MW Salem 2 (1981) and the 1,220 MW Hope Creek (1986), along with the 38 MW Salem 3 oil-fired turbine.

Salem 2 and Hope Creek continued to operate at 87 percent and 97 percent, respectively. The spokesman noted both units were reduced due to transmission line work expected to end this week.

One MW powers about 800 homes in New Jersey.