Vogtle Unit 4 Milestone with Fuel Load Press Release                                        

08/17/23

 

For immediate release

Media Contact:
Kay Phillips
Dalton Utilities/OptiLink
kphillips@dutil.com
706-529-1032

 

Vogtle Unit 4 Marks Pivotal Milestone with Fuel Load

 

Dalton, Georgia – August 17, 2023 – Dalton Utilities, co-owner with Georgia Power, MEAG, and Oglethorpe Power, announced today that the process to load fuel into the Vogtle Unit 4 reactor core has begun at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga. Loading fuel marks a pivotal milestone toward the startup and commercial operation of the second new unit at Plant Vogtle. Vogtle Unit 3 – the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U.S. in more than 30 years – entered commercial operation on July 31 and is providing customers and the State of Georgia with reliable, emissions-free energy.

 

The start of Unit 4 fuel load comes after Southern Nuclear received the 103(g) finding from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in July, which signified that the new unit had been constructed and will be operated in conformance with the Combined License and NRC regulations.

 

During fuel load, nuclear technicians from Westinghouse and operators from Southern Nuclear are scheduled to safely install 157 fuel assemblies into the Unit 4 reactor core in the coming days. Startup testing will begin next and is designed to demonstrate the integrated operation of the primary coolant system and steam supply system at design temperature and pressure with fuel inside the reactor. Operators will also bring the plant from cold shutdown to initial criticality, synchronize the unit to the electric grid, and systematically raise power to 100%. Vogtle Unit 4 is projected to be placed in service during the late fourth quarter of 2023 or the first quarter of 2024.

 

The new Vogtle units are an essential part of the commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to its 2.7 million customers. Once operating, each of the new units can produce enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses. Southern Nuclear will operate the new units on behalf of the co-owners: Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power, and Dalton Utilities.

 

About Dalton Utilities

Dalton Utilities, in operation as a public utility since 1889, provides potable water, electrical, natural gas and wastewater treatment services to the City of Dalton and portions of Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Catoosa, and Floyd counties. Beginning in 1999, Dalton Utilities branched into telecommunications with broadband services to large industrial/commercial customers. With the 2003 launch of its OptiLink family of services, the company now provides broadband, cable TV, telephone, and internet services to area residents and businesses. Dalton Utilities serves approximately 78,000 customers and employs over 300 area residents. For more information, visit www.dutil.com.

 

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