ATLANTA, Aug. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
announced today the completion of another major milestone in the
construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 near Waynesboro, Ga. On Saturday, the project team
successfully placed the CA20 module into the Unit 4 nuclear island.
Weighing nearly two million pounds, or 1,000 tons, and towering
more than five stories tall, the module is the heaviest lift at the
project so far this year. With a footprint of approximately 67 feet
long by 47 feet wide, the critical module will house various plant
components, including the used fuel storage area. It was lifted
into place using a 560-foot tall heavy lift derrick, one of the
largest cranes in the world.
Including submodules produced at the Lake Charles and Vigor
facilities, the CA20 module was assembled from prefabricated wall
and floor sections within the Modular Assembly Building (MAB) at
the Vogtle site. The completed CA20 module was carefully moved from
MAB earlier in the week with the successful placement of the
module, including all pre-placement activities, occurring in just
over three hours on Saturday.
Progress continues across the construction site every day with
28 shield building panels now in place for Unit 3, two additional
roof truss modules completed for the Unit 3 turbine building, as
well as significant concrete placement on the west side of the Unit
3 nuclear island. The company recently released 4K,
ultra-high definition video captured by an unmanned aircraft system
(UAS) illustrating progress on the company's YouTube Channel.
The Vogtle nuclear expansion project is the state's largest
job-producing construction project with more than 6,000
construction workers onsite and 800 permanent jobs once the new
units begin operation. Once all four units are online, Plant Vogtle
is expected to generate more electricity than any other U.S.
nuclear facility, enough to power more than one million homes and
businesses.
Completing the new units at Plant Vogtle remains the best cost
option for meeting Georgia's
future energy needs. The projected overall peak rate impact of the
Vogtle nuclear expansion continues to be significantly less than
when the project was originally certified due to lower financing
rates, other benefits the company has proactively pursued and the
fuel savings of nuclear. The company projects that, even with
the new costs and schedule forecast, the peak rate impact will be
approximately 6 to 7 percent – which is nearly half of the original
rate impact forecast. Of this, approximately 4.5 percent is already
in rates. Once the new units come online, they are expected to put
downward pressure on rates and deliver long-term savings for
Georgia customers.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company
(NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of
electricity. 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, 21st century 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) and Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
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 job creation, the expected impact on
customer rates, expected benefits, and completion of
construction of 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 fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and
subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ
materially from management expectations as suggested by such
forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future
federal and state regulatory changes, as well as changes in
application of existing laws and regulations; current and future
litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries;
available sources and costs of fuels; the ability to control costs
and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of
facilities, which includes the development and construction of
generating facilities with designs that have not been finalized or
previously constructed; state and federal rate regulations and the
impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including
rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms;
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 Nuclear Regulatory Commission actions; and
the ability of counterparties of Georgia Power to make payments as
and when due and to perform as required. Georgia Power expressly
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
information.
Video - https://youtu.be/ifj0OCkQtsU
Photo
- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160822/400192
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO
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SOURCE Georgia Power