ATLANTA, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power today joined with Southern Nuclear Operating Company, representatives from multiple other Georgia electric utilities, community leaders and elected officials to mark 40 continuous years of licensed operation at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant. Since initial licensing by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1974, Georgia Power's Plant Hatch near Baxley has operated safely and reliably, providing clean and affordable energy to thousands of Georgia homes and businesses. Together with the state's other nuclear facility, Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Plant Hatch currently provides approximately 20 percent of Georgia's electricity.

Construction of Plant Hatch began in 1968 with Unit 1 entering service in 1975 and Unit 2 following suit in 1979. In January 2002, the NRC issued new, extended 20-year operating licenses for units 1 and 2 enabling them to continue operation through 2034 and 2038, respectively. 

Nuclear continues to be an important component of Georgia Power's diverse generation fleet, which also includes clean coal and natural gas, renewables such as solar and wind, and energy efficiency. This mix has created a strong energy foundation for Georgia, allowing Georgia Power to continue to offer customers competitive prices below the national average.

"Nuclear energy is an essential part of meeting Georgia's energy needs," said Georgia Power Chairman, President and CEO Paul Bowers. "As we work to complete new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle, Plant Hatch is a shining example of nuclear generation's safety, reliability and long-term value for our customers."

The anniversary of the plant's initial licensing was recognized at a special event at the plant during which Bowers joined Steve Kuczynski, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, and David Vineyard, Plant Hatch site vice president, to celebrate the history and envision the future of Georgia's first nuclear facility. Leadership from Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia (MEAG) and Dalton Utilities, all co-owners of Plant Hatch, were represented at the event as well.

"We are very proud of the contributions that each of the over 1,000 employees of Plant Hatch have made to continue to operate their plant in a safe and cost-effective manner over the past 40 years," added Southern Nuclear's Kuczynski. "Their focus on operational excellence demonstrates the commitment and quality that will ensure our ability to continue to provide clean and reliable energy for many years to come."

As Georgia's economy and population has grown rapidly over the past 20 years, Plant Hatch has operated at or near full capacity, with a "capacity factor" of approximately 90 percent. Over its nearly 40-year lifetime, Plant Hatch has: 

• Generated more than 415 million megawatt hours of electricity – enough to power the nearby city of Savannah for an estimated 155-plus years.
• Provided nearly 1,000 full-time positions in engineering, maintenance and other functions to safely and efficiently operate units 1 and 2 every day. Plant Hatch has also employed tens of thousands of additional part-time and temporary workers for refueling outages over the years.
• Contributed millions of dollars in taxes paid to Appling County. Georgia Power estimates that the company and co-owners have paid nearly $250 million in total taxes for Plant Hatch since the project began.

Georgia Power continues to report ongoing progress and milestone events in the construction of Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 near Waynesboro – among the first new nuclear units to be built in the United States in more than 30 years. The expansion of Plant Vogtle is the largest job-producing project in the state, currently employing more than 5,000 workers and creating 800 permanent jobs when the plant begins operating. Southern Nuclear is overseeing construction and, as it does with Plant Hatch and the existing units at Plant Vogtle, will operate the two new 1,100-megawatt AP1000 units for Georgia Power and the other co-owners.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 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, advanced coal and natural gas, renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind, as well as a variety of energy efficiency programs. Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. 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. Georgia Power Company 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 Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of facilities; ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses, to satisfy any operational and environmental performance standards, and to integrate the Plant Vogtle expansion into the Southern Company system upon completion of construction; regulatory approvals and actions related to the Plant Vogtle expansion; the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities; the direct or indirect effect on Georgia Power Company's business resulting from terrorist incidents and the threat of terrorist incidents, including cyber intrusion; and catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, hurricanes, droughts, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences. Georgia Power Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.

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SOURCE Georgia Power