New filings with the Georgia Public Service Commission outline how Google’s subscription from proposed or planned nuclear uprates at Plants Hatch and Vogtle will benefit all customers, news release says
Georgia Power and Google are seeking state approval for an agreement that would increase nuclear generating capacity at Plants Vogtle and Hatch while providing what the company says is an estimated “$900 million in benefits to Georgia Power customers over the life of the units.”
Under the agreement, Google would support upgrades to Georgia Power’s ownership share of the nuclear units at both plants, adding approximately 96 megawatts of generating capacity to the state’s electric grid.
The proposal is subject to approval by the Georgia Public Service Commission and was filed Monday as part of PSC Dockets 44280 and 56002.
The filings include a proposed Nuclear Uprate, or NU-1, tariff and a request for approval of an extended power uprate for Hatch Units 1 and 2. Similar uprates for Vogtle Units 1 and 2 were previously approved as part of Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.
From the press release:
An Extended Power Uprate (EPU) is a proven process that increases the electrical output of a nuclear generating unit through targeted modifications and upgrades to key plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, motors, and cooling systems. These enhancements enable the reactor to operate at a higher licensed thermal power level, producing additional heat that increases steam flow to the turbine generator. As a result, the unit generates more electricity while continuing to utilize the existing reactor fuel design and plant infrastructure.
“Many of our large customers have specific clean energy goals, and we continue to work with the Georgia PSC to create programs that not only help them meet their goals, but align with our Customer Protection Pledge, enhancing the reliability and resiliency of the power grid and creating savings for all customers,” said Aaron Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth for Georgia Power. “We appreciate Google’s continued leadership in this space and partnership in developing this program, which we see as the latest example of how large-load growth can benefit all electric customers.”
“Google data centers are long-term investments in the communities we call home, catalyzing local economic development and accelerating clean energy deployment. They also serve as a proof point for how we can unlock the significant opportunity to bring online new nuclear power through expanding the capacity of the existing nuclear fleet,” said Lucia Tian, Director, Advanced Energy Technologies, Google. “This collaboration with Georgia Power ensures that digital infrastructure growth goes hand-in-hand with positive local impact, helping to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in direct customer benefits and supporting a more affordable, clean, and reliable energy system for all Georgia residents.”
The subscription-based program is an innovation on longstanding, successful renewable energy programs that Georgia Power has offered for years. As part of this transaction, Google will subscribe to the new NU-1 tariff and receive the Zero-Emission Credits (ZECs), which represent the carbon-free attributes of nuclear energy, associated with the power generated by the nuclear unit uprates. This structure, which also helps protect non-participating customers from incremental costs related to the uprate work, was originally contemplated as part of the 2025 IRP.
Under the proposed subscription program, Google would participate in the NU-1 tariff and receive Zero-Emission Credits associated with the additional nuclear generation. Those credits represent the carbon-free attributes of the electricity produced through the uprates.
Georgia Power says the structure is intended to prevent non-participating customers from bearing the incremental costs associated with the upgrades while using Google’s subscription to generate approximately $900 million in projected customer benefits.
The agreement comes as Georgia experiences continued growth in electricity demand, including from large-load customers such as data centers. Google said the arrangement is intended to pair its digital infrastructure investments with expansion of carbon-free generating capacity.
Nuclear power accounted for more than 25% of the electricity generated by Georgia Power last year. Plant Vogtle, located near Waynesboro, includes four nuclear units, while Plant Hatch operates two units near Baxley.
