Plant Vogtle Unit 1 begins planned refueling and maintenance outage

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Sep 21, 2015, 09:34 ET

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant operators safely took Unit 1 of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant offline on Sunday, Sept. 20, for a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage.

Each unit at Plant Vogtle requires new fuel every 18 months. The most recent refueling outage for Unit 1 was completed in the spring of 2014.

In addition to refueling the reactor during the outage, workers will perform regular maintenance and tests, and upgrade plant equipment.

"Safety is our number one priority during the outage," said Keith Taber, site vice president for Vogtle units 1 and 2. "A safe and successful outage is achieved through the focus of the entire organization – our employees and our supporting partners."

Nearly 1,300 additional workers from Westinghouse, General Electric, Day & Zimmermann and other companies have come to the plant to perform special tasks. Employees from across the Southern Nuclear fleet also are assisting Vogtle's team in the refueling effort.

These additional workers provide considerable economic stimulus to surrounding communities during their stay in the area.

Vogtle Unit 2 will continue to safely generate electricity while Unit 1 is offline and 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; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear;
www.southerncompany.com/southernnuclear

About Southern Company:
With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 46,000 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 excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company earned the 2014 National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development, 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.

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SOURCE Southern Company