On October 14, 2022, Georgia Power began loading nuclear fuel into its Vogtle Unit 3 reactor core.[1] The announcement marks a major milestone toward the startup and commercial operation of the first new nuclear units to be built in the U.S. in more than 30 years. The unit is one of two—Vogtle Unit 3 and Unit 4—being built at the Vogtle plant near Waynesboro, Georgia. The start of Unit 3 fuel load comes after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) signed off on a 103(g) finding in August 2022, certifying the unit was constructed and would operate according to Combined License and NRC regulations.

Nuclear technicians and operators are scheduled to transfer 157 fuel assemblies into the Unit 3 reactor core. Once this is completed, startup testing will begin. This will demonstrate the capabilities of the primary coolant and steam supply systems at design temperature and pressure with fuel inside the reactor. Before full operation, the plant will also be taken from cold shutdown to initial criticality. Operators will also synchronize the unit to the electric grid, and power will be gradually raised to full capacity. Unit 3 is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2023. Southern Nuclear will operate the new unit on behalf of the co-owners: Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power, and Dalton Utilities.

[1] https://www.georgiapower.com/company/news-center/press-releases.html