Milestone is pivotal prior to startup testing
and commercial operation
ATLANTA, Aug. 17,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today
the process to load fuel into the Vogtle Unit 4 reactor core has
begun at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro,
Ga. Loading fuel marks a pivotal milestone toward startup
and commercial operation of the second new unit at Plant Vogtle.
Vogtle Unit 3 – the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the
U.S. in more than 30 years – entered commercial operation on
July 31, and is providing customers
and the State of Georgia with
reliable, emissions-free energy. Read more.
The start of Unit 4 fuel load comes after Southern Nuclear
received the 103(g) finding from the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) in July which signified that the new unit has been
constructed and will be operated in conformance with the Combined
License and NRC regulations.
During fuel load, nuclear technicians from Westinghouse and
operators from Southern Nuclear are scheduled to safely install 157
fuel assemblies into the Unit 4 reactor core in the coming
days.
Startup testing will begin next and is designed to demonstrate
the integrated operation of the primary coolant system and steam
supply system at design temperature and pressure with fuel inside
the reactor. Operators will also bring the plant from cold shutdown
to initial criticality, synchronize the unit to the electric grid
and systematically raise power to 100%. Vogtle Unit 4 is projected
to be placed in service during late fourth quarter 2023 or the
first quarter 2024.
The new Vogtle units are an essential part of Georgia Power's
commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable
energy to its 2.7 million customers. Once operating, each of the
new units can produce enough electricity to power an estimated
500,000 homes and businesses. Southern Nuclear will operate the new
units on behalf of the co-owners: Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power,
MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's
premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service
and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to
2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159
counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative
generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well
as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power
focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every
day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry
leader in customer satisfaction. For more information,
visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company
on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain information contained in this release is
forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans
that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information
includes, among other things, statements concerning the projected
in-service date for Plant Vogtle Unit 4. Georgia Power cautions
that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to
differ materially from the forward-looking information that has
been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on
this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of
future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and
other factors, many of which are outside the control of Georgia
Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested
results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to
those discussed in Georgia Power's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent securities
filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from
management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking
information: the ability to control costs and avoid cost and
schedule overruns during the development, construction, and
operation of facilities or other projects, including Plant Vogtle
Unit 4, which includes components based on new technology that only
within the last few years began initial operation in the global
nuclear industry at this scale, due to current and/or future
challenges which include, but are not limited to, changes in labor
costs, availability and productivity, challenges with the
management of contractors or vendors, subcontractor performance,
adverse weather conditions, shortages, delays, increased costs, or
inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor
or supplier delay, the impacts of inflation, delays due to judicial
or regulatory action, nonperformance under construction, operating,
or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized
operator training and required site safety programs, engineering or
design problems or any remediation related thereto, design and
other licensing-based compliance matters, challenges with start-up
activities, including major equipment failure, or system
integration, and/or operational performance, continued challenges
related to the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemic health events,
continued public and policymaker support for projects,
environmental and geological conditions, delays or increased costs
to interconnect facilities to transmission grids, and increased
financing costs as a result of changes in market interest rates or
as a result of project delays; the ability to overcome or mitigate
the current challenges, or challenges yet to be identified, at
Plant Vogtle 4, that could further impact the cost and schedule for
the project; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions
related to construction projects, such as Plant Vogtle Units 3 and
4, including Georgia Public Service Commission approvals and NRC
actions; under certain specified circumstances, a decision by
holders of more than 10% of the ownership interests of Plant Vogtle
Units 3 and 4 not to proceed with construction; the notices of
tender by Oglethorpe Power Corporation and the City of Dalton of a
portion of their ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4
to Georgia Power, including related litigation; the ability to
construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits
and licenses (including satisfaction of NRC requirements), to
satisfy any environmental performance standards and the
requirements of tax credits and other incentives, and to integrate
facilities into the Southern Company system upon completion of
construction; the inherent risks involved in operating and
constructing nuclear generating facilities; the ability of
counterparties of Georgia Power to make payments as and when due
and to perform as required; the direct or indirect effect on
Georgia Power's business resulting from cyber intrusion or physical
attack and the threat of cyber and physical attacks; catastrophic
events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes,
hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events,
political unrest, wars or other similar occurrences; the potential
effects of the continued COVID-19 pandemic; and the direct or
indirect effects on Georgia Power's business resulting from
incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid or operation of
generating or storage resources. Georgia Power expressly disclaims
any obligation to update any forward–looking information.
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SOURCE Georgia Power