Georgia Power, Southern Nuclear look to next
steps, startup process for the new unit
ATLANTA, Aug. 3, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today a historic milestone
in the completion of Vogtle Unit 3 near Waynesboro, Ga. – the receipt of the 103(g)
finding from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This finding
was confirmed in an official letter received by Southern Nuclear
and signifies that the new unit has been constructed and will be
operated in conformance with the Combined License and NRC
regulations. No further NRC findings are necessary in order for
Southern Nuclear to load fuel or begin the startup sequence for the
new unit.
"Today's finding by the NRC helps ensure we have met our
commitment to building Vogtle 3 & 4 with the highest safety and
quality standards," said Chris
Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "These
new units remain a strong long-term investment for this state, and,
once operating, are expected to provide customers with a reliable
and resilient, clean, emission-free source of energy for the next
60 to 80 years. That's why we've been so committed to getting this
project done right – it's about serving our customers today and for
decades to come."
The issuance of the 103(g) finding follows years of diligent and
careful work by the team at the site to submit documentation that
Unit 3 has satisfied 398 required inspections, tests, analyses, and
acceptance criteria (ITAACs) as outlined in Southern Nuclear's
Combined License – helping ensure the unit meets strict nuclear
safety and quality standards. This process was completed on
July 29, and the NRC conducted a
thorough review process of each submission and targeted inspections
of the facility before issuing the 103(g) finding. As
required by the NRC, each ITAAC had to be verified before fuel load
and operations.
The team at the site continues working diligently to make final
preparations for Unit 3 fuel load, initiate startup testing and
bring the unit online. Over the next several weeks, well-trained
and highly qualified nuclear technicians will continue work
required to support loading fuel, which is already onsite, into the
unit's reactor. This will be followed by several months of startup
testing and operations. Startup testing is designed to demonstrate
the integrated operation of the primary coolant system and steam
supply system at design temperature and pressure with fuel inside
the reactor. Operators will also bring the plant from cold shutdown
to initial criticality, synchronize the Unit to the grid and
systematically raise power to 100%.
The new Vogtle units are an essential part of Georgia Power's
commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable
energy, and, once operating, the two new units at Plant Vogtle are
expected to power more than 500,000 homes and businesses.
Additionally, the new units will be clean energy sources that
produce zero air pollution.
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 completion
of remaining work necessary to load fuel and the future loading of
fuel, testing and 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 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 exercise 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