How much will Plant Vogtle’s new reactors really cost us?
Southern Company’s chief executive has said the giant utility’s project to build two more nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle would be history-making. He may be right, but not in the way he meant.
Years behind schedule, billions over budget, and with a key contractor’s bankruptcy clouding its future, the troubled Vogtle project near Augusta is fast becoming Exhibit A for why no U.S. utility before Atlanta-based Southern had tried building a new reactor in 30-plus years.
Most Georgians who get electric bills could eventually pay for overruns on the project that are likely to grow. Customers of Southern subsidiary Georgia Power already pay a Vogtle-related surcharge that adds about $100 a year to the average residential bill, with the ultimate effect on ratepayers yet to be determined.
Also uncertain at this point is how — or even if — the project will get finished.
To find out more about the Vogtle expansion and what it could mean for you, READ OUR EXCLUSIVE REPORT ON MYAJC.COM.
About the Authors
Johnny Edwards, a member of the AJC’s investigative team, covers state and local government and private sector regulation.
