ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has marked another year of safe construction, steady progress and significant milestones at the Vogtle nuclear expansion site near Waynesboro, Georgia. The recently released Q4 2016 Vogtle Timeline video on Georgia Power's YouTube channel showcases the work accomplished last year at the country's first new nuclear units in more than three decades.

2016 by the Numbers

Consistent, quality welding, rebar, steel and concrete placement take place every day at the Vogtle site and are essential to long-term safety and reliable operation. In 2016, more than 6,000 workers completed more than 27 million safe work hours without a lost-time accident:

• Completed nearly 10.8 miles of on-site module welding to exact design specifications, with every inch being inspected and approved for safety.
• Installed more than 3,396 tons of rebar.
• Erected more than 5,714 tons of structural steel.
• Poured more than 30,798 cubic yards of concrete.

Major 2016 Milestones

• February – The safe placement of eight new shield building panels for Unit 3. The shield building will encapsulate the containment vessel and is comprised of more than 160 individual steel panels.
• May – The last of the "Big 6" modules – CA02 and CA03 are placed. The modules, weighing 52 tons and 237 tons, respectively, are critical components and part of the In-Containment Refueling Water Storage Tank.
• June – The safe placement of the CA05 module jumpstarted activities in June as the 90-ton module is a key component that provides critical structural support for the containment building. Crews also completed vertical construction of the 600-foot Unit 4 cooling tower.
• August – One of the heaviest lifts of the project took place when the 2 million-pound or 1,000 ton, CA20 module was placed.
• October – The first class of Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear operators passed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing exam, ensuring that licensed, qualified operators are in place prior to nuclear fuel loading and the plant start up.
• November – With the receipt of the final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), or water discharge, permit by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, all major permits are now in place for the new units.
• November /December – The nuclear construction team concluded the year on a high note with the placement of the second containment vessel ring for Unit 3. Other major lifts included the setting of both the 612,000-pound Unit 3 reactor vessel and 2-million pound Unit 4 CA01 module.
• December - The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) unanimously approved an agreement between Georgia PSC staff and Georgia Power, confirming the prudent investment of $5.68 billion by the company in the Vogtle nuclear expansion. Under the agreement, all capital costs incurred by the company up to $5.68 billion, including $3.3 billion invested through the end of 2015 and the $350 million settlement agreement with the project's contractors will be presumed to be reasonable and prudent. The agreement fairly balances the company's contribution with customer benefits and is expected to deliver approximately $325 million in savings to customers during the construction period, while keeping the project's overall projected rate impact to customers at 6 to 8 percent.

The expansion at Plant Vogtle, located near Waynesboro, Georgia, is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic plan for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for Georgians. Once units 3 and 4 join the existing two Vogtle 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. Southern Nuclear is overseeing construction and will operate the new units on behalf of Georgia Power, which owns 45.7 percent of the facility, and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. 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 the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, expected savings for customers and the expected impact on customer rates. 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 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.

SOURCE Georgia Power