ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has
marked another year of safe construction, steady progress and
significant milestones at the Vogtle nuclear expansion site near
Waynesboro, Georgia. The recently
released Q4 2016 Vogtle Timeline video on Georgia Power's YouTube
channel showcases the work accomplished last year at the country's
first new nuclear units in more than three decades.
2016 by the Numbers
Consistent, quality welding, rebar, steel and concrete placement
take place every day at the Vogtle site and are essential to
long-term safety and reliable operation. In 2016, more than 6,000
workers completed more than 27 million safe work hours without a
lost-time accident:
- Completed nearly 10.8 miles of on-site module welding to
exact design specifications, with every inch being inspected and
approved for safety.
- Installed more than 3,396 tons of rebar.
- Erected more than 5,714 tons of structural steel.
- Poured more than 30,798 cubic yards of concrete.
Major 2016 Milestones
- February – The safe placement of eight new shield building
panels for Unit 3. The shield building will encapsulate the
containment vessel and is comprised of more than 160 individual
steel panels.
- May – The last of the "Big 6" modules – CA02 and CA03
are placed. The modules, weighing 52 tons and 237 tons,
respectively, are critical components and part of the
In-Containment Refueling Water Storage Tank.
- June – The safe placement of the CA05 module jumpstarted
activities in June as the 90-ton module is a key component that
provides critical structural support for the containment building.
Crews also completed vertical construction of the 600-foot Unit
4 cooling tower.
- August – One of the heaviest lifts of the project took place
when the 2 million-pound or 1,000 ton, CA20 module was
placed.
- October – The first class of Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear
operators passed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing
exam, ensuring that licensed, qualified operators are in place
prior to nuclear fuel loading and the plant start up.
- November – With the receipt of the final National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), or water discharge,
permit by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, all major
permits are now in place for the new units.
- November /December – The nuclear construction team concluded
the year on a high note with the placement of the second
containment vessel ring for Unit 3. Other major lifts included
the setting of both the 612,000-pound Unit 3 reactor vessel
and 2-million pound Unit 4 CA01 module.
- December - The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC)
unanimously approved an agreement between Georgia PSC staff and
Georgia Power, confirming the prudent investment of
$5.68 billion by the company in the
Vogtle nuclear expansion. Under the agreement, all capital costs
incurred by the company up to $5.68
billion, including $3.3
billion invested through the end of 2015 and the
$350 million settlement agreement
with the project's contractors will be presumed to be reasonable
and prudent. The agreement fairly balances the company's
contribution with customer benefits and is expected to deliver
approximately $325 million in savings
to customers during the construction period, while keeping the
project's overall projected rate impact to customers at 6 to 8
percent.
The expansion at Plant Vogtle, located near Waynesboro, Georgia, is part of Georgia
Power's long-term, strategic plan for providing safe, clean,
reliable and affordable energy for Georgians. Once units 3 and 4
join the existing two Vogtle units already in operation, Plant
Vogtle is expected to generate more electricity than any other U.S.
nuclear facility, enough to power more than one million homes and
businesses. Southern Nuclear is overseeing construction and will
operate the new units on behalf of Georgia Power, which owns 45.7
percent of the facility, and co-owners Oglethorpe Power
Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia 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 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to
delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates
below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse,
innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century 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 consistently
recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in
customer satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
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
construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, expected savings for
customers and the expected impact on customer rates. Georgia Power
cautions that there are certain factors that could 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 fiscal year ended December 31,
2015, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual
results to differ materially from management expectations as
suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent
and future federal and state regulatory changes, as well as changes
in application of existing laws and regulations; current and future
litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries;
available sources and costs of fuels; the ability to control costs
and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of
facilities, which includes the development and construction of
generating facilities with designs that have not been finalized or
previously constructed; state and federal rate regulations and the
impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including
rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms;
the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the
requirements of permits and licenses, 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; advances in technology;
legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to
Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, including Georgia Public Service
Commission approvals and Nuclear Regulatory Commission actions; and
the ability of counterparties of Georgia Power to make payments as
and when due and to perform as required. Georgia Power expressly
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
information.
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SOURCE Georgia Power