ATLANTA – Oct. 22, 2015 – Georgia Power this week is joining with other utilities across the country to emphasize the importance of nuclear energy as part of annual national Nuclear Science Week. Nuclear Science Week, which occurs every October, is a week-long celebration to raise awareness of nuclear history and science and recognizes the work of people who work in the nuclear field and power plants such as Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro and Plant Hatch near Baxley.

Throughout the week, Southern Nuclear, which operates Plants Hatch and Vogtle, and Georgia Power are offering local students opportunities to learn about nuclear science and energy and highlighting future career opportunities in the nuclear industry. Local events include tours of Plants Hatch and Vogtle, community presentations, lunch and learn events and more. On Tuesday, more than a dozen local Boy Scouts from BSA Augusta Troops 8 and 413 earned their Nuclear Science Merit Badges by spending a day at Plant Vogtle and learning about key areas of nuclear energy including safety processes, atomic principles and radiation monitoring.

Georgia Power places a year-round focus on education at both of its nuclear facilities and reaches thousands of students and teachers each year through an extensive public education and engagement program. Since 2007, more than 80,000 people have learned about nuclear energy through programs and events coordinated by the plants. In addition to nuclear education programs, Georgia Power’s statewide in-classroom Learning Power program has engaged nearly 300,000 Georgia students over the past five years by offering science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons on energy basics such as simple circuits and energy efficiency, as well as power generation and delivery, at no cost to schools.

In 2014, Plants Vogtle and Hatch generated more than 20 percent of the energy used by Georgia Power customers. Nuclear energy, including the expansion currently underway at Plant Vogtle, continues to be an important part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic plan for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for customers in the future. Once units 3 and 4 join the existing two Vogtle units already in operation, Plant Vogtle is expected to generate more electricity than any U.S. nuclear facility, enough to power more than one million homes and businesses.

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 2.4 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, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.  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).