Georgia Power just recently announced completion of their final concrete placement inside Vogtle Unit 3’s containment vessel.  In addition, they have also notified the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) of their intentions to load fuel into Unit 3 later this year, perhaps as early as late November, and have detailed their inspection plans prior to the fuel load. 

Consequently, the NRC set an April 13, 2020 deadline for anyone petitioning for a hearing on whether Vogtle Unit 3 should be allowed to commence operations – Georgia Power has plans to commission Unit 3 around November 2021 with Unit 4 to follow, one year later.

Currently there are ~9,000 workers involved at the construction site for Vogtle Units 3 & 4.  Work began in 2013 but several problems resulted in delays on module (equipment) delivery and ultimately Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the original contractor, Westinghouse. In 2017, the Georgia Public Service Commission reaffirmed the project when Southern Company, parent company of Georgia Power, took charge of the project.  As a result, numerous construction milestones have been accomplished and one of significant importance was accomplished during the summer of 2019 – energization of Unit 3 with the main control room beginning operations at the end of the year.  The project now appears to be on target for the revised commissioning dates of 2021 and 2022.