BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant operators
safely took Unit 2 of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant
offline Sunday, Sept. 17, at
4:57 a.m. EDT for a scheduled
refueling outage.
Each of the two units at Plant Vogtle requires new fuel every 18
months. The most recent refueling outage for Unit 2 was completed
in the spring of 2016.
In addition to refueling the reactor during the outage, workers
will perform regular maintenance, testing and upgrades to plant
equipment.
"Safety is our top priority above all else during this refueling
outage," said Darin Myers, site vice
president for Vogtle units 1 and 2. "A safe and successful
outage is achieved through the total commitment of each of our
workers and our supporting partners. Our comprehensive planning as
one team will ensure our outage activities are coordinated and
accomplished at the highest levels of safety and performance."
Southern Company subsidiary Southern Nuclear operates Plant
Vogtle on behalf of Georgia Power and the plant's other
Georgia co-owners. Employees from
across the Southern Nuclear fleet as well as nearly 1,200
additional workers from Westinghouse, General Electric, Day &
Zimmermann, Williams Corporation and other companies have come to
the plant to assist the site employees in completing the multiple
tasks required to ensure the unit will run safely and reliably for
the next 18 months.
These additional workers provide considerable economic stimulus
to surrounding communities during their stay in the area.
Vogtle Unit 1 will continue to safely generate electricity while
Unit 2 is offline and refueling.
About Southern Nuclear:
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary
of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation's
nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced
nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of
Southern Company's energy portfolio, and its importance will
continue to grow as America transitions to a low-carbon energy
future. While the company produces clean, safe and reliable nuclear
energy, it's also an economic engine powered by quality jobs and
community service. Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units
for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear
Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin
I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley,
Ga.; and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near
Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear
is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under
construction at Plant Vogtle that are among the first nuclear units
being constructed in the United
States in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear received
numerous accolades in 2016 for leadership in the advancement of
nuclear energy including the Special Achievement Award by the
United States Nuclear Infrastructure Council and the Presidential
Citation by the American Nuclear Society. Southern Nuclear also
received two of the Nuclear Energy Institute's Top Innovative
Practice awards and special recognition for achieving excellence in
research and performance. Southern Nuclear's Plant Hatch received
the ANS Operations & Power Division's Utility Achievement Award
for plant improvements that resulted in a record-setting refueling
outage duration. The company's headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala.
Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook:
facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com
About Southern Company:
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is
America's premier energy company, with 44,000 MW of generating
capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas
consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million electric and
gas utility customers through its subsidiaries. The company
provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through
electric utilities in four states, natural gas distribution
utilities in seven states, a competitive generation company serving
wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized
provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics
and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for
excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices
that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading
commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are
inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio
of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century
coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating
new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern
Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and
G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military
employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by
DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40
Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for
Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National
Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic
Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear
development and is continually ranked among the top utilities in
Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility
rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Nuclear