ATLANTA, March 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vogtle 3 and 4 nuclear expansion project continues to progress with multiple milestones achieved over the past 30 days. Major recent construction achievements include the placement of 200 cubic yards of concrete to fill the walls of new shield building panels for Unit 3; placement of more than 1,800 cubic yards of concrete to fill the walls of the CA20 module; installation of component cooling water pumps on the Unit 3 turbine building; placement of concrete for the elevated roof slab on the southwest corner of the Unit 4 turbine building and the completion of vertical seam welds on placed shield building panels for Unit 3.

Now more than 60 percent complete based on contractual milestones, workers complete hundreds of activities at the site each day. The company has posted several new videos on the Georgia Power YouTube Channel  including a time lapse video of the placement of the Condenser C Upper Shell for Unit 4, with new photos now available in the Vogtle 3 & 4 Photo Gallery.

Newly released photos and videos highlight:

• An elevated view of the progress at the site including Unit 3 containment and the cooling towers for Unit 3 and 4.
• A look inside the Unit 4 containment area, which will house the reactor vessel and other critical components, as well as new images of the Unit 4 turbine building.
• Unit 3 construction progress including the annex building, CA20 module in place and the containment area.
• New images and footage of workers on the site safely completing various activities.

Expanding Plant Vogtle is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic plan for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy to meet the growing energy needs of Georgia. The Vogtle expansion is the largest construction project in Georgia with more than 5,000 workers onsite today and 800 permanent future jobs. When the new units join the existing two units already in operation, 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.  

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 and other benefits the company has proactively pursued, and the fuel savings of nuclear. The project's remaining projected customer rate impact is still approximately 2.5 percent, an average of less than 1 percent per year through the expected completion dates of June 2019 for Unit 3 and June 2020 for Unit 4. 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, 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 related legal proceedings involving the commercial parties; 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.

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SOURCE Georgia Power