Georgia Power awaits Nuclear Regulatory
Commission 103(g) finding required to load fuel
ATLANTA, July 29,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Georgia Power announced
completion of another important step in the construction of the new
nuclear units at the Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear expansion site near
Waynesboro, Ga. The company shared
that Southern Nuclear has submitted documentation that all 398
inspections, tests and analyses have been performed and all
acceptance criteria, collectively known as ITAACs, have been met on
Vogtle Unit 3 as required by Southern Nuclear's Combined Operating
License. The completion of these ITAACs provides the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) assurance that the unit meets strict
nuclear safety and quality standards.
As defined by the NRC, each ITAAC closure notice must be
verified before fuel load.
Next, the company awaits receipt of the 103(g) finding from the
NRC documenting that license acceptance criteria for Unit 3 have
been met. This will indicate that the new unit has been constructed
and will be operated in conformance with its Combined License and
NRC regulations. Upon receipt of the 103(g) finding from the NRC,
no further NRC findings are necessary in order for Southern Nuclear
to load fuel and begin the startup sequence.
The team at the site continues working vigorously to bring the
units online and continues preparations for Unit 3 fuel load and
start up.
The new Vogtle units are an essential part of Georgia Power's
commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable
energy. Once operating, the two new units at Plant Vogtle are
expected to power more than 500,000 homes and businesses, providing
clean energy with no carbon emissions for the next 60 to 80
years.
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 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 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/Georgia Power), 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 expected
receipt the 103(g) letter and the future operation of Plant Vogtle
Units 3 and 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,
2021, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual
results to differ materially from management expectations as
suggested by such forward-looking information: the potential
effects of the continued COVID-19 pandemic; 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 Units 3 and 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 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, 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, including, for nuclear
units, inspections and the timely submittal by Southern Nuclear of
the Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria
documentation for each unit and the related investigations, reviews
and approvals by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC")
necessary to support NRC authorization to load fuel, challenges
with start-up activities, including major equipment failure, or
system integration, and/or operational performance, and challenges
related to the COVID-19 pandemic; the ability to overcome or
mitigate the current challenges at Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 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 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 and the ability of other
Vogtle owners to tender a portion of their ownership interests to
Georgia Power following certain construction cost increases,
including the purported exercises by Oglethorpe Power Corporation
("OPC") and the City of Dalton of their tender options and related
litigation initiated by OPC and Municipal Electric Authority of
Georgia; 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 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; 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