BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Unit 1 of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant was safely taken offline at 3:03 a.m. CT in accordance with plant processes and procedures, while employees safely conduct post-maintenance testing on a diesel generator.  

On July 20, during routine maintenance activities for the 1B diesel generator, Plant Farley employees discovered that the diesel generator did not perform as expected. While investigating the issue, workers learned that an engine cooling valve did not function correctly. Employees have since completed the diesel generator repairs and are in the process of post-maintenance testing.

All personnel are thoroughly following Nuclear Regulatory Commission processes and procedures for testing and safe operability, as they return the diesel generator to service.

"The Farley team took the unit offline in a secure and efficient manner to service the generator," said Plant Farley Vice President Tom Lynch. "The 1B diesel generator is one of the five redundant back-up generators designed to safely operate our units in the event of power loss to the site. All Plant Farley systems are operating as designed, and we are working to bring unit 1 back online safely."

Plant Farley unit 2 continues to produce electricity safely and reliably at 100 percent power.

About Southern Nuclear:

Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is one of the nation's leading nuclear energy facility operators. Producing safe, reliable and environmentally friendly nuclear energy, Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units in Alabama and Georgia 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 proud licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle, which will be the first nuclear units constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear employs more than 3,500 skilled and dedicated professionals who are committed each day to nuclear and personal safety and the health and safety of the public. The company's headquarters is based in Birmingham, Ala. Twitter: @SouthernNuclear. Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear.
www.southerncompany.com/southernnuclear

About Southern Company:

With 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company was named the World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility by Fortune magazine in 2011, and is consistently listed among the top U.S. electric service providers in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Nuclear Communications