PSC Sets Schedule for Review of Georgia Power Company Nuclear Power Plant Certification Request 

ATLANTA, September 2, 2008 – The Georgia Public Service Commission (Commission) today set the schedule for public hearings and a decision on the Georgia Power Company (Company) filing seeking certification of two new nuclear power generation units at Plant Vogtle in southeast Georgia and updates to its 2007 Integrated Resources Plan. 

   The schedule as adopted by the Commission is as follows:

· November 3, 2008 – Public witness testimony
· November 4, 2008 – No hearings
· November 5-7,10 2008- Company testimony
· January 12-16, 2009 – Staff and intervenor testimony
· February 9-13, 2009 – Company rebuttal
· March 17, 2009 – Commission decision

   The public is also invited to comment during these hearings. November 3, 2008 has been set aside for public witness testimony. As required by law, the Commission will set a fee amount reasonably necessary to defray the Commission’s expense in reviewing the filing.

   Georgia Power’s 2007 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which the Commission approved on June 16, 2007, stated that Georgia would need an additional 1,100 Megawatts of new baseload electric power generation in the 2016 and 2017 timeframe to meet the state’s growing energy needs. Under the IRP statute, new power generation cannot be added to the system without a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued by this Commission.

   Georgia Power issued a request for proposal (RFP) in late 2006, seeking baseload generation from both self build generation and third party bids. The bid deadline was extended until May 1, 2008 seeking additional bids. The only bids received were the Company’s self build for nuclear power generation. 

   More information on this issue can be found on the Commission web site, www.psc.state.ga.us under Docket Number 27800.