BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant operators safely took Unit 2 of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant offline Sunday, March 10, at 5 a.m. EDT for a scheduled refueling outage. Unit 2 completed a 522-day breaker-to-breaker run, remaining online for nearly 18 months of continuous operation.

Each of the two units at Plant Vogtle requires new fuel every 18 months. The most recent refueling outage for Unit 2 was completed in the fall of 2017.

In addition to refueling the reactor during the outage, workers will perform regular maintenance, testing and upgrades to plant equipment.

"I'm proud of our Vogtle team for keeping Unit 2 operating at the highest levels of performance during the latest fuel cycle to achieve operational excellence," said Darin Myers, site vice president for Vogtle units 1 and 2. "Safety is always our top priority, and during this outage our workers and supporting partners are committed to achieving it safely and successfully. Our comprehensive planning as one team has positioned us for excellence."

Southern Company subsidiary Southern Nuclear operates Plant Vogtle on behalf of Georgia Power and the plant's other Georgia co-owners. Employees from across the Southern Nuclear fleet as well as nearly 1,200 additional workers from Westinghouse, General Electric, Day & Zimmermann and other companies have come to the plant to assist the site employees in completing the multiple tasks required to ensure the unit will run safely and reliably for the next 18 months.

These additional workers provide considerable economic stimulus to surrounding communities during their stay in the area.

Vogtle Unit 1 will continue to safely generate electricity while Unit 2 is offline and refueling.

About Southern Nuclear:
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation's nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of Southern Company's energy portfolio, and its importance will continue to grow as America transitions to a low-carbon energy future. While the company produces clean, safe and reliable nuclear energy, it's also an economic engine powered by quality jobs and community service. Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga.; and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle that are the first nuclear units being constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. In 2017, Southern Nuclear won a Technology Transfer award from the Electric Power Research Institute, an Honor Roll award for superior performance in the global boiling water reactor fleet from GE/Hitachi, and the Drivers of Success Award from GT STRUDL. The company's headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala. Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com

About Southern Company:
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is nationally recognized as a leading energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries as of Dec. 31, 2017. We operate nearly 200,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines and more than 80,000 miles of natural gas pipeline as of Dec. 31, 2017. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers in 11 states across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. We are building the future of energy by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity and the No. 1 Company for Progress by DiversityInc and designated as one of America's Best Employers by Forbes magazine. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Nuclear