ATLANTA (AP) — The commercial launch of a new reactor at a nuclear power plant in Georgia has encountered another setback, pushing its operation by at least an additional month.
Georgia Power Co. announced on Friday that Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle, situated southeast of Augusta, is facing an issue with its hydrogen system, which is responsible for cooling the main electrical generator. The company now projects that the reactor will commence reliable electricity transmission to the grid in July, missing the most recent deadline set for June.
It’s important to note that the generator is not integrated into the reactor itself. Instead, it is housed in a separate facility where steam, produced by the heat generated through nuclear fission in the reactor, is channeled to spin a turbine, generating up to 1,100 megawatts of electricity.
According to the Atlanta-based Southern Co., the parent company of Georgia Power, the problem lies with a deteriorated seal. The reactor has been shut down temporarily to facilitate necessary repairs.
The reactor has already achieved its maximum power output during testing, which Georgia Power confirmed on Friday was 95% complete. However, the utility company cautioned that the commencement of commercial operation may be delayed again if any additional problems arise.
Vogtle, which has faced a significant seven-year delay, has experienced a substantial increase in costs for its owners, surpassing $31 billion. This figure does not even include the $3.7 billion paid by the original contractor, Westinghouse, to the owners following its bankruptcy, bringing the total expenditure to nearly $35 billion.
Any further delays are expected to escalate these costs. However, Jacob Hawkins, a spokesperson for Georgia Power, stated that he could not provide details on additional expenses as of Friday. In April, Southern Co., the parent company, informed shareholders that a three-month delay for Unit 3 at Vogtle would result in an additional $45 million in construction costs for Georgia Power Co., which currently possesses a 45.7% ownership stake in the plants. This estimation does not encompass the company’s financing costs or the expenses borne by other owners, including Oglethorpe Power Corp., Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and the city of Dalton.
The other owners of Plant Vogtle, including municipal utilities and electric cooperatives, have contracts to supply electricity and have customers in Florida and Alabama. Units 3 and 4 at the plant are notable as the first newly constructed reactors in the United States in several decades. The initial two reactors at Vogtle have been generating electricity for many years.
The fourth reactor at Vogtle has completed a crucial testing phase, and operators anticipate the loading of radioactive fuel to take place between July and October. The goal is for the reactor to achieve commercial operation between December 2023 and March 2024.
In Georgia, the financial burden of Vogtle is shared among nearly all electric customers. Georgia Power, with 2.7 million customers, already includes a portion of the financing cost in their bills. Additionally, the elected public service commissioners have approved a monthly rate increase of $3.78 for residential customers, effective once the third unit begins generating power. If the July operation date holds, this increase would reflect on bills starting in August. It is worth noting that residential customers are already experiencing a $16-per-month increase to cover higher fuel costs. Furthermore, Georgia Power implemented a 2.5% rate hike in January, following the approval of a separate three-year rate plan by the commissioners. Subsequent increases of 4.5% are scheduled for 2024 and 2025 under that plan.
The decision regarding the allocation of the remaining costs of Vogtle, including the fourth reactor, will be determined by the commissioners at a later stage.
