Latest Vogtle Timeline Video Highlights Focus on Safety, Productivity and Efficiency

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Wednesday, July 27th, 2016

Georgia Power has released the latest timeline video highlighting safety, productivity and efficiency at the Vogtle nuclear expansion near Waynesboro, Georgia.   The Vogtle 3 & 4 project is the state's largest job-producing construction project with more than 6,000 construction workers now onsite and 800 permanent jobs expected 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 across Georgia. 

Now available on Georgia Power's YouTube Channel, the new timeline video includes: 

  • Construction progress through the second quarter of 2016, including the delivery of reactor coolant pumps from Pennsylvania, completion of the final "Big 6" modules (CA02 and CA03) and the completion of vertical construction of the Unit 4 cooling tower, which now stands at 601 feet. 
  • Insights from David Jones, nuclear development technical support vice president. Jones discusses the impact of the new One Team: Every Day Matters construction strategy, as well as collaboration with the contractor and improvements driving progress with a focus on critical path activities and schedule. Jones also highlights the hiring of more craft labor for the project and the opening of additional work fronts across the site. 
  • Comments from John Austin, Vogtle 3 & 4 training director. Austin provides an overview of operational readiness activities and transition to operations occurring at the site including the successful turnover of multiple systems and structures to Southern Nuclear. He also discusses areas of integration with the existing Vogtle plant site and the One Vogtle, One Site effort. 
  • Personal perspectives from employee Magali Koyo, Vogtle 3 & 4 engineering supervisor. Koyo shares the importance of the project to her family and her involvement in employee groups dedicated to community service such as Women in Nuclear and the Citizens of Georgia Power. 

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.