A new nuclear reactor is delayed in construction due to a vibrating pipe, costing Georgia Power customers more in surcharges. WUGA’s Mary Ryan Howarth has more.
Georgia Power Co. said Thursday that the new nuclear reactor is delayed in generating power due to vibrations found in the cooling system during testing.
Utility workers said to investors that the pipe vibrations were due to a lack of bracing in construction. While Georgia Power said the problem in Plant Vogtle Unit 4 has been fixed, various tests remain to be done before the initial March 30 deadline.
If Georgia Power can’t make its deadline, The Georgia Public Service Commission said that the company can’t earn an additional return on equity through construction surcharges levied on their customers. Customers have been paying around $1,000 in surcharges over time to finance construction costs.
The Unit 4 reactor is now not expected to begin commercial use until April or June of 2024, and Georgia Power said it’s likely to lose $30 million in profit for each month after March that Unit 4 isn’t running.
