SACE Statement: GA PSC Approves $448 million in Additional Expenditures in the Plant Vogtle Nuclear Expansion
Today the Georgia Public Service Commission approved $448 million in expenditures for Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion in the 18th semi-annual Vogtle Construction Monitoring docket, and further approved their Staff’s recommendation for Georgia Power to report more information in future proceedings on the risks associated with the project. Though we appreciate that the Commission supported this recommendation for additional information, the ruling is vague, and does not address the specific additional requirements SACE recommended. Whether this ruling provides any additional protection for Georgia Power customers remains to be seen in the details. Here is a statement from SACE’s Sara Barczak, Regional Advocacy Director on today’s decision:
“We are disappointed yet again by the Commission’s decision to reject our and others common-sense recommendations that could provide greater protections for Georgia Power customers as the Vogtle nuclear expansion continues to fall off the rails – most recently with the news of a $2.3 billion project cost increase. The Company must be required to file significantly more detailed information about the risks facing this failing project; otherwise we just continue with the lack of transparency that keeps the public unfairly in the dark over multi-billion dollar decisions that they could ultimately be on the hook for. Customers need to demand a change to the status quo in order to ensure that their interests are being protected, not just Georgia Power’s bottom line.”
Please refer to a recent blog here that documents our concerns regarding the recent multi-billion dollar surprise announced by Southern Company and Georgia Power last week.
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