The Georgia Public Service Commission today unanimously approved Georgia Power Company’s request to verify and approve the expenditures in the Combined Ninth and Tenth Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report for the period between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013, in Docket Number 29849.

The total amount approved today for the Vogtle expansion is $389 million, bringing the total construction cost verified to date to $2.599 billion.

The decision follows hearings on June 1, 2014, for the Company’s testimony and on July 1, 2014, for the Public Advocacy Staff’s testimony. According to the Company, Unit Three will begin commercial operation in late 2017, and Unit Four will begin operation during the fourth quarter of 2018.

The Commission on March 17, 2009, certified Georgia Power’s share of the cost for the Plant Vogtle Nuclear Construction Project as $6.114 billion. Plant Vogtle is co-owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, City of Dalton Utilities and the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia. More information about Plant Vogtle can be found on the Commission website, www.psc.state.ga.us, under Docket Numbers 29849 and 27800.

The Commissioners continue to acknowledge the benefits of this project. Commissioner Tim Echols noted, "Not only will this facility produce carbon-free energy for decades, but should the price of natural gas go up substantially, we will have a hedge against increased fuel costs."