BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant
operators safely removed Unit 1 of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric
Generating Plant offline Sunday, Sept.
16, at 5 a.m. ET for the
scheduled fall 2018 refueling outage. The severe weather resulting
from Hurricane Florence had no impact on the scheduled refueling
outage activities.
Each of the two units at Plant Vogtle requires new fuel every 18
months. The most recent refueling outage for Unit 1 was completed
in the spring of 2017.
In addition to refueling the reactor during the outage, workers
will perform regular maintenance, testing and upgrades to plant
equipment.
"Safety is our number one priority during the refueling outage,"
said Darin Myers, site vice
president for Vogtle units 1 and 2. "A safe and successful
outage is achieved through the focus of the entire organization –
our employees and our supporting partners. The station has planned
for this refueling outage for over a year. This planning
ensures the activities are coordinated to ensure safety is
maintained at the highest level."
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 1,300
additional workers from Georgia Power, Westinghouse, General
Electric, Day & Zimmermann 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 2 continues to safely generate electricity while
Unit 1 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 nationally recognized as a
leading energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating
capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas
consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers
through its subsidiaries as of December 31,
2017. We operate nearly 200,000 miles of electric
transmission and distribution lines and more than 80,000 miles of
natural gas pipeline as of December 31,
2017. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy through electric operating companies in four
states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a
competitive generation company serving wholesale customers in 11
states 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 creating
new products and services for the benefit of customers. We are
building the future of energy by developing the full portfolio of
energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon
capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency
and storage technology. 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 and
the No. 1 Company for Progress by DiversityInc and designated as
one of America's Best Employers by Forbes magazine. Visit our
website at www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Nuclear