Georgia Power Seeking Dozens of Additional Changes to Nuclear Expansion Plan
According to ratepayer advocates, Georgia Power customers have another cause for concern about the nuclear expansion project at Plant Vogtle near Augusta.
Georgia Power officials confirm at least 30 additional changes will need to be made to the original construction plan. One involves increasing the size of one of the turbine buildings.
Amendments to the original construction plan are reflected in a recent filing to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Company spokesman Mark Williams maintains the changes will not affect the cost or schedule of the project.
“We do not right now anticipate any increased costs.”
But ratepayer advocates, who are already concerned about a recently-disclosed foundation issue at the reactor site, say it’s another troubling sign for Georgia Power customers. Arnold Gundersen is a former nuclear engineer who now works as a consultant.
“The cost that they estimated for this plant is going to go up as a result of all those because they don’t represent just paper changes, they represent physical problems that they found in the plant.”
In testimony given in December, the project inspector for the state said Georgia Power and its partners already faced “significant challenges” to come in on time and at budget, citing “poor performance” by project management.
Currently the total cost of the project is $14 billion. Georgia Power customer are expected to pay $6 billion of that in financing and capital costs.
A state utility analyst estimates any type of delay would cost $15-$20 million per month in financing charges alone.
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