Georgia Power has signed a proposed agreement with Georgia Public Service Commission staff and several intervening parties on the total amount the utility can recover from ratepayers for remaining costs tied to the Vogtle Units 3 and 4 nuclear expansion. The deal moves the long-running cost proceeding toward resolution and sets terms for how the project's final expenses are shared.
Plant Vogtle, located near Waynesboro, Georgia, is one of Georgia Power's two nuclear facilities and part of the Southern Company system. The plant is co-owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and Dalton Utilities. Units 1 and 2 began operating in the late 1980s, while Unit 3 entered commercial operation in July 2023 and Unit 4 in April 2024.
The completed expansion made Vogtle the largest generator of carbon-free nuclear energy in the United States. The plant is expected to produce more than 30 million megawatt-hours of electricity each year, adding substantial firm generating capacity to Georgia's grid at a time when state demand is climbing.
The cost recovery agreement is significant for ratepayers across Georgia, since the Vogtle expansion ran well over its original budget and timeline. By settling the remaining recovery amount, the utility and commission staff aim to provide certainty for customers and close out one of the largest nuclear construction projects in recent US history. The outcome will shape electricity bills for Georgia Power customers in the metro Atlanta region and statewide.
Source: American Nuclear Society - https://www.ans.org/news/article-5327/georgia-power-psc-staff-reach-deal-on-vogtle-project-recovery-costs/