The Georgia Public Service Commission took two actions related to the Plant Vogtle Nuclear Power Construction Project. Under one agenda item, the Commission approved $222 million in expenditures on the Project for the period July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016. Total capital costs of the project are $3.68 billion as of December 31, 2016. This amount remains within the Commission certified construction cost. This decision is not a ruling on whether the expenditures are reasonable and prudent but only acknowledges that the Company has spent the funds on the project. This decision closes out the Sixteenth Semi-annual Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report in Docket 29849.
 
In a related issue, the Commission approved on a vote of 4-1 a motion by Commission Chairman Stan Wise which requires Georgia Power Company to file in the Company’s next Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report the Company’s intention to proceed with the Plant Vogtle construction project. It also requires the Company to address 14 issues listed in the motion. Among the questions the motion asks the company to address are: 1. Should the Commission approve revisions to cost and schedule? 2. What is the company’s new estimate to complete the project and what is the new schedule for commercial operation of the two units if the Commission decides to go forward with one or both units? Georgia Power is expected to file its 17th Vogtle Construction Monitoring report later this month on August 31, 2017. The full text of the motion is listed at http://www.psc.state.ga.us/newsinfo/NewsReleases.aspx.
 
“This vote today sends a message to the Company, the Company’s partners, ratepayers, and Wall Street that the Commission continues to be supportive of this project provided it can be done economically. This information will help us in deciding the appropriateness of whether this project should go forward or not go forward,” said Chairman Wise.
 
The Commission also accepted an amendment to Chairman Wise’s motion authored by Commission Vice-Chairman Tim Echols that states the Commission can revise or rescind any future Commission order should the Company decide to abandon the construction project. “My concern is that if what happened in South Carolina with the partners voting not to go forward happens here, that without additional clarification our ratepayers could be put at a disadvantage. My amendment clarifies that this Commission can undo this or a future order and that everyone including Georgia Power are aware of that,” said Commissioner Echols.
 
The Company filed its 16th Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report on February 28, 2017. The Company filed testimony on April 28, 2017. The Commission held two hearings in this docket: one on May 11, 2017 on the Company’s direct testimony, and one on June 29, 2017 on Commission staff and interested parties testimony.
 
Plant Vogtle is a nuclear power electric generating plant near Waynesboro, Georgia. When fully operational, Units Three and Four now under construction will produce 2,200 Megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 500,000 homes. Plant Vogtle Units One and Two have been in commercial operation since 1987 and 1989 respectively.
 
The Commission certified Georgia Power’s share of the construction cost of Plant Vogtle Units Three and Four on March 17, 2009 at $6.114 billion. Georgia Power owns 45.7 per cent of Plant Vogtle with its partners, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the City of Dalton Utilities, who own the remaining 44.3 per cent.