Employees safely return Plant Vogtle unit 2 to service following planned refueling outage

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Apr 04, 2013, 09:31 ET

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Unit 2 of the Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant near Waynesboro, Ga., has safely resumed generating electricity following completion of a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage.

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Plant operators safely took the unit offline on March 10. Electricity production resumed on April 3 at 12:32 p.m. ET. The last refueling outage for unit 2 was completed in fall 2011.

Each unit at Plant Vogtle requires new fuel every 18 months. In addition to refueling the reactor and performing regular maintenance and testing, workers made upgrades to plant systems and components. "Safety is our top priority, and our team is to be commended for completing this outage safely and efficiently," said Tom Tynan, site vice president for Vogtle units 1 and 2.

Among the activities completed during the outage was the installation of a digital feed water control system that replaced analog technology original to the plant. An identical digital system was installed on unit 1 during its refueling and maintenance outage in October 2012.

"The work performed during this unit 2 outage is a significant investment in this facility," Tynan said. "The unit is positioned not just for the next 18 months – but for years of continued safe and reliable electricity production."

Employees from across the Southern Nuclear fleet assisted Vogtle's staff of more than 900 in the refueling effort. Over 800 additional workers from Williams Plant Services, Westinghouse, General Electric and other partners performed specialized tasks. These supplemental workers provided economic stimulus to surrounding communities during their stay in the area.

Vogtle unit 1 continued to safely generate electricity while unit 2 was offline for the refueling.

About Southern Nuclear:
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is one of the nation's leading nuclear energy facility operators. Producing safe, reliable and environmentally friendly nuclear energy, Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle, which will be the first nuclear units constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear employs more than 3,500 skilled and dedicated professionals who are committed each day to nuclear and personal safety and the health and safety of the public. The company's headquarters is based in Birmingham, Ala. Twitter: @SouthernNuclear.

About Southern Company:
With 4.4 million customers and more than 43,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer and listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks. The company received the 2012 Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company