In huge milestone, new unit at Vogtle goes into full operation

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The new Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers, Georgia Power said Monday.

Although it’s several years behind schedule and far over budget, this marks a milestone because Unit 3 is the first newly constructed nuclear unit in the U.S. in more than 30 years.

It s Units 1 and 2, which have been operating for decades, and goes online ahead of its twin, Unit 4, which is expected to fully online in a few months.

Unit 3 can power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses and is expected to have a 60- to 80-year life.

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“Bringing this unit safely into service is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our teams at Southern Company and the thousands of additional workers who have helped build that future at this site, as well as all of the partners who have helped make this day a reality,” said Chris Womack, president and CEO of Southern Company, the parent company of Georgia Power.

The final stages of construction and testing continue at Vogtle Unit 4, with the unit projected to be placed in service during the late fourth quarter 2023 or the first quarter of 2024.

The unit completed hot functional testing in May, in significantly less time than Unit 3 as the team continues leveraging best practices and learnings from the earlier unit.

The Vogtle site has also received nuclear fuel for Unit 4, with a total of 157 fuel assemblies necessary for the safe and reliable startup of the unit.

Nuclear power now makes up about 25 percent of the generation of Georgia Power, the largest unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co.

The Vogtle expansion project is seven years late and $17 billion over budget

In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle.

Georgia Power’s 2.7 million customers are already paying part of the financing cost and elected public service commissioners have approved a monthly rate increase of $3.78 a month for residential customers as soon as the third unit begins generating power. That could hit bills in August, two months after residential customers saw a $16-a-month increase to pay for higher fuel costs.

Commissioners will decide later who pays for the remainder of the costs of Vogtle, including the fourth reactor.

Georgia Power currently owns 45.7 percent of the reactors. Smaller shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electricity to member-owned cooperatives, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Some Florida and Alabama utilities have also contracted to buy Vogtle’s power.

Among the utilities getting power from VBogtrle is Jefferson Energy Cooperative, which serves a chunk of the CSRA.

“I am proud that Jefferson Energy Cooperative homes and businesses will be powered by reliable, emission-free nuclear energy for decades to come,” said Jefferson CEO Chris Dillard.

Georgia power says clean energy- sourced from Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 means zero air pollution.

While it may be a solution for cleaner air, better air quality is about to have you digging through your wallet.

According to Georgia Power, the operation of unit 3 will add an estimated $5.42 per month, or 3.2 percent increase, to the typical residential customer’s monthly bill using an average of 1,000 kwh per month.

Just under six dollars on top of your monthly bill that might already be rising as a result of the summer heat.

Despite the increase, Georgia Power says the plant vogtle units are economical and will serve the state of georgia for six to eight decades.

“Georgia power knows that energy is an important part of the budget for every family. throughout the construction of the new vogtle units, we have worked to minimize the impact of the project on customer rates and continue to do so,” they said.

They also say any additional increase to rates moving forward will be determined by the public service commission.

Saving energy

If the news of rate hikes to pay for Plant Vogtle is too much to bear, consider some of these money-saving tips to help save money as the weather heats up:

• Think thermostat – Heating and cooling costs make up nearly half of your average power bill. Set manual thermostats to 78 in the summer for peak efficiency and make the most of programmable thermostats, which help decrease energy use based on your lifestyle. If you’re going to be away from home for a long period of time, set your thermostat even higher, or turn it off completely.
• Insulate – An attic insulation of R-30 will help achieve lower heating and cooling bills.
• Seal ductwork – Leaky ductwork often s for 10-30% of total heating and cooling costs
• Use your fans – A ceiling fan costs only about $1.50 a month to operate and will help you feel cooler without having to adjust your thermostat.
• Clear air vents – To maintain consistent temperatures throughout your home, keep air vents and return-air s clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains and rugs.
• Trim plants and change filters – To ensure your unit receives proper air flow, change filters once a month, or every three months for pleated filters and trim plants around your outside units.
• Caulk and strip – Replace cracked or peeling caulk or weather stripping around doors and windows to save up to 10 percent on energy use.
• Use blinds and curtains – Cover sun-facing windows with blinds or curtains to help limit direct sunlight and heat from entering your home.
• Use double pane/storm windows – They provide additional insulation.
• Unplug certain electronics – Electronics for 5 percent to 10 percent of household electricity use. Save up to $100 a year by either using an advanced power strip or unplugging electronics when not in use.
• HVAC system tune-up – Hire a technician to ensure your HVAC equipment is working properly and schedule an equipment tune-up if necessary.
• Lighting – Customers can replace their incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs to use 90% less energy. Each bulb can save an average of $80 in electricity costs over its lifetime.
• Recycle your refrigerator – By recycling a secondary refrigerator or freezer, customers can save an average of $125 in energy costs per year. By recycling an old refrigerator through Georgia Power’s program, customers can earn $35 and have their old refrigerator picked up for free. Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/Refrigerator to learn more.
• Conduct a free, online energy checkup – Take a quick and easy online energy checkup that provides a customized energy usage report and ways to save money. Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyCheckUp to get started.
• Home Energy Improvement Program – The program helps customers reduce energy use, save on energy costs and improve the indoor air quality and comfort of their homes. Residential customers can earn rebates from Georgia Power for implementing and installing qualifying energy savings improvements.
• Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program – The program helps eligible income-qualified customers make free energy efficiency improvements in their single-family home. At no cost to the customer, a program contractor performs the recommended energy efficiency upgrades. Customers can learn more and apply at www.GeorgiaPower.com/HEEAP.

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