ATLANTA, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
announced today the latest operational milestone for the new units
at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro,
Georgia – members of the third training class of nuclear
operators have passed the initial licensing exam by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC). Having licensed, qualified operators
in place prior to nuclear fuel loading and plant start up helps
ensure that the new units can be placed in service as quickly and
safely as possible to deliver power for 500,000 homes and
businesses.
Training is a multi-year process culminating in a three-week
test, which also includes simulator testing and job performance
measures. Each training class goes through a rigorous schedule that
teaches candidates the fundamentals of nuclear power and plant
operations. The training prepares them for duties as licensed
operators through AP1000 system-specific training in the classroom
and simulator, as well as hands-on training and task performance
evaluations.
With more than 6,000 construction workers onsite today, the
Vogtle nuclear expansion is the largest job-producing project in
the state of Georgia. Once online,
the new units will provide more than 800 careers, including 75
nuclear operators. Including the latest class of operators, 56
licensed operators are now available for Vogtle Units 3 and 4 with
additional licensing training underway.
The nuclear operators are employed by Southern Nuclear, the
nuclear operating subsidiary which operates the existing units at
plants Vogtle and Hatch and is now project manager at the Vogtle
construction site. Training, licensing and qualifying operators is
a major step in demonstrating to the NRC that Southern Nuclear is
prepared to commence start-up activities of Vogtle Units 3 and 4
and operate them once construction is complete.
Construction Progress Continues
Progress is made
every day at the construction site. Recent construction milestones
include the placement of the passive residual heat removal (PRHR)
heat exchanger and the CA55 module - the first roof module for the
in-containment refueling water storage tank, for Unit 3. Click here
to read more.
Savings & Benefits for Customers
From the
beginning of the Vogtle expansion, Georgia Power has worked with
the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to pursue all available
benefits for customers and minimize the impact of the new units on
electric bills. The company's 18th Vogtle Construction
Monitoring Report noted a revised, lower projected rate impact for
customers of 9.8 percent with approximately half of this impact
already in place on bills. This projected rate impact is well below
original projections of approximately 12 percent thanks to new
federal tax laws, anticipated customer benefits from federal
production tax credits, interest savings from loan guarantees from
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the fuel savings of
nuclear energy.
Additionally, $75 in total 2018
bill credits, or $188 million
overall, were approved by the Georgia PSC as part of its order to
continue construction of Vogtle 3&4 in December 2017. Georgia Power issued the first
$25 credit in April and plans to
issue the second credit in July. The credits are a direct result of
parent guarantee payments for the project from Toshiba available
due to the strength of the original contract for the project and
protections in place for Georgia
electric customers. Click here to read more.
Follow the progress being made at the project with new photos
added to the Plant Vogtle 3&4 Online Photo Gallery.
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, 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), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and
Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain information contained in this
communication is forward-looking information based on current
expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking information includes, among other things,
statements concerning expected customer rate impacts, expected cost
savings and customer benefits and other future actions related to
Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. 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 year ended December 31, 2017, and subsequent securities
filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from
management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking
information: the impact of any failure to amend the DOE loan
guarantee to allow for additional borrowings; state and federal
rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases
and negotiations; the impact of recent and future federal and state
regulatory changes, as well as changes in application of existing
laws and regulations; the uncertainty surrounding the federal tax
reform legislation, including implementing regulations and Internal
Revenue Service interpretations, actions that may be taken in
response by regulatory authorities, and its impact, if any, on the
credit ratings of Georgia Power; current and future litigation
or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; available
sources and costs of fuels; effects of inflation; the ability to
control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development,
construction and operation of facilities, which include the
development and construction of generating facilities with designs
that have not been previously constructed, including changes in
labor costs and productivity, adverse weather conditions,
shortages, increased costs or inconsistent quality of equipment,
materials, and labor, including any changes related to imposition
of import tariffs, contractor or supplier delay, non-performance
under construction, operating, or other agreements, operational
readiness, including specialized operator training and required
site safety programs, unforeseen engineering or design problems,
start-up activities (including major equipment failure and system
integration), and/or operational performance; 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 NRC actions; if certain adverse events were to occur,
a decision by more than 10% of the owners of Plant Vogtle Units 3
and 4 not to proceed with construction upon the occurrence of
certain adverse events; interest rate fluctuations and financial
market conditions and the results of financing efforts; changes in
The Southern Company's or Georgia Power's credit ratings, including
impacts on interest rates, access to capital markets, and
collateral requirements; the impacts of any sovereign financial
issues, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital
markets, impacts on foreign currency exchange rates, counterparty
performance, and the economy in general, as well as potential
impacts on the benefits of DOE loan guarantees; and the effect of
accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard setting
bodies. Georgia Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update
any forward-looking information.
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SOURCE Georgia Power