Georgia Power begins splitting atoms inside a new Vogtle reactor

Once online, Georgia Power says Vogtle’s two new units will generate enough electricity to power 500,000 homes and businesses. And as the effects of climate change worsen, the facility’s electricity will come without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

But the project has been dogged by costly delays for years.

Unit 3 and its twin, Unit 4, are more than six years behind schedule, and their total price tag has climbed above $35 billion, more than double what was originally predicted.

In its earnings call last month, Georgia Power̵[ads1]7;s parent company, Southern Company, announced new delays in completing Unit 4. After previously projecting a commissioning date by the end of 2023, the company said Unit 4 is not likely to deliver power until the first quarter of 2024.

In a progress report recently filed with state regulators, Georgia Power also estimated that it will cost $200 million more than previously estimated to complete both units, bringing the company’s share of the total project costs to $10.2 billion, up from the the previous estimate of $10 billion.

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated.

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