ATLANTA, Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today the successful placement of the basemat structural concrete for the nuclear island at the Vogtle Unit 4 nuclear expansion site near Waynesboro, Ga. Unit 4 is the second of two units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle. This latest milestone marks a significant accomplishment in the construction of the project, among the first new nuclear units to be built in the United States in three decades. When complete, Plant Vogtle will be the only four unit nuclear facility in the country. 

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While maintaining focus on safety, quality and compliance, the basemat concrete placement was completed in just under 41 hours. The efficiency of this placement matches the best time achieved worldwide for this AP1000 activity. The Unit 4 placement encompassed approximately 7,000 cubic yards of concrete, which will serve as the foundation for all of the nuclear island structures, including the containment vessel and the shield building. It covered an area approximately 250 feet long and 160 feet wide at its widest point, and the concrete measured six feet in thickness.

Approximately 600 workers, including 500 craft workers representing the Building and Construction Trades, participated in this milestone as part of a coordinated effort between Georgia Power, Southern Nuclear, Westinghouse and CB&I. 

The Unit 4 nuclear island has been fully formed and backfilled to grade elevation. The containment vessel bottom head (CVBH) and supporting CR10 cradle are completed and will be placed on the Unit 4 nuclear island following concrete curing. In parallel, the Unit 4 turbine building foundation has been completed and wall sections are currently being placed that also will take the turbine building to grade elevation.  

"As we reach the midpoint in the historic construction of units 3 and 4, the visible progress at the site is setting the stage for a secure energy future for Georgia and the rest of the country," said Buzz Miller, Georgia Power Nuclear Development Executive Vice President and President of Southern Nuclear Development. "The success today exemplifies the strong coordination as one team consisting of Georgia Power, Southern Nuclear, Westinghouse and CB&I.  The efficiencies across the project are evident as we achieve significant milestones which boost the local economy and will bring value to Georgia Power customers for decades."

The Vogtle 3 and 4 project is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic vision for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for Georgians for decades to come.  It is the largest job-producing project in the state, employing approximately 5,000 people during peak construction and creating 800 permanent jobs when the plant begins operating.

Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is overseeing construction and will operate the two new 1,100-megawatt AP1000 units for Georgia Power and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Georgia Power owns 45.7 percent of the new units.

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).

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 completion of construction, benefits of ongoing construction projects and job creation. Georgia Power Company cautions that there are certain factors that can 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 Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, 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; ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of the Plant Vogtle expansion, to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses, and to satisfy any operational and environmental performance standards; regulatory approvals and actions related to the Plant Vogtle expansion, including Georgia Public Service Commission approvals, Nuclear Regulatory Commission actions, and potential U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantees; the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities, including environmental, health, regulatory, natural disaster, terrorism, and financial risks; and the ability of counterparties of Georgia Power Company to make payments as and when due and to perform as required. Georgia Power Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.

SOURCE Georgia Power Co.