Georgia Public Service Commission approves plan to reliably, economically meet the energy needs of a growing Georgia
Georgia Power (NYSE:SO) received approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission for its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), designed to meet growing energy demands in Georgia. The plan projects 8,500 megawatts of electrical load growth with approximately 2,600 MW increase in peak demand by 2030.
Key approvals include: 54 MW capacity increase at Vogtle Units 1 & 2, 268 MW additional natural gas capacity at Plant McIntosh, extended operation of coal and gas units through 2034, modernization of hydroelectric facilities, and procurement of up to 4,000 MW of renewable resources by 2035. The plan also includes transmission improvements across 1,000+ miles of lines and new customer-focused programs including solar-plus-storage solutions.
Georgia Power (NYSE:SO) ha ottenuto l'approvazione dalla Georgia Public Service Commission per il suo Piano Integrato delle Risorse 2025 (IRP), progettato per soddisfare la crescente domanda di energia in Georgia. Il piano prevede una crescita della domanda elettrica di 8.500 megawatt con un aumento di circa 2.600 MW della domanda di picco entro il 2030.
Le approvazioni principali includono: un aumento di capacità di 54 MW presso le unità Vogtle 1 e 2, 268 MW di capacità aggiuntiva a gas naturale presso l'impianto McIntosh, l'estensione dell'operatività delle unità a carbone e gas fino al 2034, la modernizzazione delle centrali idroelettriche e l'acquisto di fino a 4.000 MW di risorse rinnovabili entro il 2035. Il piano prevede inoltre miglioramenti nella trasmissione su oltre 1.000 miglia di linee e nuovi programmi orientati al cliente, inclusi soluzioni solari con accumulo.
Georgia Power (NYSE:SO) recibió la aprobación de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Georgia para su Plan Integrado de Recursos 2025 (IRP), diseñado para satisfacer la creciente demanda energética en Georgia. El plan proyecta un crecimiento de la carga eléctrica de 8,500 megavatios con un aumento aproximado de 2,600 MW en la demanda máxima para 2030.
Las aprobaciones clave incluyen: un aumento de capacidad de 54 MW en las Unidades 1 y 2 de Vogtle, 268 MW adicionales de capacidad de gas natural en la planta McIntosh, la extensión de operación de las unidades de carbón y gas hasta 2034, la modernización de las instalaciones hidroeléctricas y la adquisición de hasta 4,000 MW de recursos renovables para 2035. El plan también contempla mejoras en la transmisión a lo largo de más de 1,000 millas de líneas y nuevos programas enfocados en el cliente, incluyendo soluciones solares con almacenamiento.
조지아 파워(NYSE:SO)는 조지아 공공서비스위원회로부터 2025년 통합 자원 계획(IRP)에 대한 승인을 받았습니다. 이 계획은 조지아 내 증가하는 에너지 수요를 충족하기 위해 설계되었으며, 8,500메가와트의 전력 부하 증가와 2030년까지 약 2,600MW의 피크 수요 증가를 예상합니다.
주요 승인 사항에는 Vogtle 1, 2호기에서 54MW 용량 증가, McIntosh 발전소에서 268MW 추가 천연가스 용량, 2034년까지 석탄 및 가스 발전소의 연장 운영, 수력 발전 시설 현대화, 그리고 2035년까지 최대 4,000MW의 재생 가능 자원 확보가 포함됩니다. 또한 1,000마일 이상의 송전선 개선과 태양광+에너지 저장 솔루션을 포함한 고객 중심의 신규 프로그램도 계획에 포함되어 있습니다.
Georgia Power (NYSE:SO) a reçu l'approbation de la Georgia Public Service Commission pour son Plan intégré des ressources 2025 (IRP), conçu pour répondre à la demande croissante d'énergie en Géorgie. Le plan prévoit une augmentation de la charge électrique de 8 500 mégawatts avec une hausse d'environ 2 600 MW de la demande de pointe d'ici 2030.
Les approbations clés comprennent : une augmentation de capacité de 54 MW aux unités 1 et 2 de Vogtle, 268 MW supplémentaires de capacité au gaz naturel à la centrale McIntosh, la prolongation de l'exploitation des unités charbon et gaz jusqu'en 2034, la modernisation des installations hydroélectriques, et l'acquisition de jusqu'à 4 000 MW de ressources renouvelables d'ici 2035. Le plan inclut également des améliorations du réseau de transmission sur plus de 1 000 miles de lignes ainsi que de nouveaux programmes axés sur les clients, incluant des solutions solaires avec stockage.
Georgia Power (NYSE:SO) erhielt die Genehmigung von der Georgia Public Service Commission für seinen Integrierten Ressourcenplan 2025 (IRP), der darauf ausgelegt ist, die steigende Energienachfrage in Georgia zu decken. Der Plan prognostiziert ein elektrisches Lastwachstum von 8.500 Megawatt mit einem Anstieg der Spitzenlast um etwa 2.600 MW bis 2030.
Wichtige Genehmigungen umfassen: eine Kapazitätserhöhung um 54 MW bei Vogtle Einheiten 1 & 2, 268 MW zusätzliche Erdgas-Kapazität am Kraftwerk McIntosh, den verlängerten Betrieb von Kohle- und Gaseinheiten bis 2034, die Modernisierung von Wasserkraftanlagen und die Beschaffung von bis zu 4.000 MW erneuerbarer Energien bis 2035. Der Plan beinhaltet zudem Verbesserungen im Übertragungsnetz über mehr als 1.000 Meilen Leitung und neue kundenorientierte Programme, einschließlich Solar-plus-Speicher-Lösungen.
- Approval to add 54 MW of carbon-free energy through Vogtle Units 1 & 2 upgrades
- Planned addition of 268 MW natural gas capacity at Plant McIntosh
- Extension of 4,000 MW generating capacity through 2034 at Plants Bowen and Scherer
- Expansion of renewable resources to 11,000 MW by 2035
- Implementation of new grid technologies and 1,000+ miles of transmission improvements
- Base rates frozen through at least 2028
- Significant projected load growth requiring substantial infrastructure investment
- Continued reliance on coal-fired units despite environmental concerns
- Extended timeline for renewable resource procurement stretching to 2035
Insights
Georgia PSC approval of SO's IRP ensures revenue growth and regulatory certainty through significant expansion plans for meeting projected demand growth.
This regulatory approval represents a significant positive development for Southern Company, providing the utility with a clear path for substantial capacity expansion to meet Georgia's projected load growth of 8,500 MW over the next six years. The comprehensive approval package includes multiple favorable elements that strengthen SO's business outlook.
The approved plan allows for valuable life extensions of existing generation assets, including continued operation of coal units at Plants Bowen and Scherer through at least 2034. This maximizes return on these long-lived assets while ensuring system reliability. The approved nuclear uprates at Vogtle Units 1 & 2 will add 54 MW of highly profitable carbon-free generation with minimal capital investment compared to new construction.
Most notably, the IRP provides regulatory certainty through 2035, with a structured approach to meeting demand growth that includes quarterly reporting mechanisms and future load forecast updates. This regulatory visibility significantly de-risks SO's capital deployment strategy. The approved plan for adding up to 4,000 MW of renewable resources by 2035 will help diversify the generation mix while meeting growing corporate and residential demand for clean energy.
The approval also includes a 10-year transmission plan covering over 1,000 miles of new lines, creating a substantial regulated investment opportunity. These transmission investments carry favorable returns and typically face less execution risk than generation projects. The combination of base rate stability through 2028 (mentioned in the release) alongside this growth-oriented IRP creates an optimal regulatory framework for SO, allowing significant capital deployment while maintaining rate stability for customers.
The approval of Georgia Power's 2025 IRP reveals a dramatic upward revision in load growth projections compared to prior plans. The company now expects 8,500 MW of load growth over six years - an increase of 2,600 MW from projections in the 2023 IRP Update. This acceleration in demand forecasts reflects Georgia's continued economic development success, particularly in attracting energy-intensive industries.
The resource mix decisions show a pragmatic balance between existing assets and new resources. Rather than rushing to retire existing thermal generation, the plan wisely extends the life of 4,000 MW of coal capacity at Plants Bowen and Scherer through at least 2034, with new natural gas co-firing capabilities. This provides cost-effective reliability while the system transitions. The upgrades at Plant McIntosh to add 268 MW of natural gas capacity represent another efficient capacity expansion using existing infrastructure.
The renewable targets are substantial but measured - 4,000 MW by 2035 with an initial 1,100 MW procurement. This would bring total renewables to 11,000 MW by 2035. The plan intelligently leverages competitive RFP processes rather than committing to specific technologies, allowing flexibility as renewable economics continue to evolve.
Most significantly, the plan addresses transmission constraints that have plagued renewable integration in the Southeast. The 1,000+ miles of new transmission infrastructure will create the backbone needed for reliable renewable integration while supporting broader system resilience. The semi-annual review process with staff ensures accountability while allowing adjustments as conditions change - creating a dynamic rather than static planning framework.
Georgia Power continues to work with all stakeholders to develop and execute plans that help ensure that the state can meet future energy demand, make investments needed for reliability and resiliency of the power grid, and keep energy costs affordable for customers. The approval of the 2025 IRP is the latest step in this continued, constructive regulatory process and follows other significant regulatory actions such as the 2023 IRP Update, the recently revised and PSC-approved rules and regulations, and a new plan to freeze Georgia Power's base rates through at least 2028.
"As our state continues to grow and thrive, the approval of this comprehensive plan helps to ensure we have the resources and programs we need to reliably and economically meet the future energy needs of our customers," said Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "The IRP is an incredibly complex and detailed process that brings together people from many backgrounds who are vested in our state's energy future. I'm grateful to everyone who helped develop this plan and participated in the process over the last six months, and to the Georgia PSC for its careful consideration and approval of a strategy that will help us deliver the energy Georgians need and deserve."
Over the next six years, Georgia Power projects approximately 8,500 megawatts (MW) of electrical load growth – an increase of approximately 2,600 MW in peak demand by the end of 2030 when compared to projections in the 2023 IRP Update. As this projected growth continues, the approved 2025 IRP outlines continued processes with the Georgia PSC to monitor growth, including quarterly filings of Large Load Economic Development Reports and additional load forecast updates in the coming years.
The approved 2025 IRP includes necessary investments in the company's generation fleet and transmission system to help ensure Georgia Power can continue to provide its customers with reliable and resilient energy, as well as demand-side and customer-focused renewable and resiliency programs. Additionally, the approved plan includes appropriate "reserve margins" for the company, a critical element of the planning process focused on ensuring sufficient reserve generation necessary to deliver reliable electric service for customers during periods of temporary high demand such as extremely cold or extremely hot days.
Expansion of a Diverse Energy Mix
Throughout its more than 140-year history, Georgia Power has built, maintained and improved power plants across the state to reliably serve customers and a growing
With the approval of the 2025 IRP, Georgia Power will continue to invest in existing power plants already in operation today to serve the needs of a growing
Approved economical extensions and enhancements to existing generating units include:
- Extended power uprates to reliable, emission-free nuclear units. With the completion of the Plant Vogtle expansion last year,
Georgia is now home to the largest generator of clean energy in theU.S. , and Georgia Power continues to recognize the importance of additional nuclear capacity forGeorgia's energy future. In this IRP, the company received approval to reinvest in Vogtle Units 1 & 2 upgrades to enable those units to deliver an additional 54 MW of carbon-free energy to Georgia Power customers. The company also received approval to proceed with preliminary planning, licensing and engineering for potential future capacity uprates at Hatch Units 1 & 2. - Extensions and upgrades to existing power plants. The company's integration of cleaner natural gas – which has helped reduce overall carbon emissions by more than
60% since 2007 – into its fleet continues with the approval of the 2025 IRP. Key elements of the final plan include upgrades at Plant McIntosh nearSavannah that would add an additional 268 MW of natural gas capacity, as well as extended operation of certain coal and natural gas units through at least 2034, with additional upgrades and compliance activities planned at multiple facilities. The company has received approval for the continued operation of coal-fired units at Plants Bowen and Scherer, which have served customers reliably for decades with 4,000 MW of generating capacity, and new pursuit of natural gas co-firing at those plants which will aid in continued compliance with federal environmental regulations. The units are among the most advanced coal-fired units in the world and, over time, have added and now operate state-of-the-art technology to reduce the environmental footprint of those facilities, including scrubbers, selective catalytic reduction systems and baghouses. These advancements have resulted in reductions in main air emissions by more than95% over the past few decades. - Continued investment to modernize and operate
Georgia's hydro fleet. Georgia Power's fleet of hydroelectric generating units is another source of emission-free energy, with some units serving the state ofGeorgia for more than 100 years. The approved 2025 IRP furthers the company's efforts to modernize its hydro fleet with additional investments and upgrades at the Tallulah, Yonah, Bartlett's Ferry and North Highlands hydro facilities. Units at these plants have not been previously approved for modernization and these improvements are expected to allow them to operate for at least another 40 years while improving the efficiency and integrity of the hydro fleet and preserving valuable, dispatchable carbon-free resources for the long-term benefit of customers. Additional hydro investments are expected to be submitted in the 2028 IRP.
Growing Renewable Energy
As a part of the approved 2025 IRP, Georgia Power will continue to focus on economical new renewable energy procurements through competitive request for proposal (RFP) processes, which help maintain flexibility amid changing market conditions and enable the company to continue to provide more carbon-free energy to customers. The company's approved long-term plan highlights the procurement of a total of up to 4,000 MW of renewable resources by 2035 approved in this IRP, with an initial target of 1,100 MW of new renewable resources sought through competitive Utility Scale and Distributed Generation procurements. These new resources would expand the company's renewable resource portfolio to approximately 11,000 MW by 2035.
Procurement of energy and capacity from new battery energy storage (BESS) projects is also expected to be a part of all-source capacity RFPs, building on the company's current plans to add more than 1,500 MW of BESS in the coming years (read more).
Enhancing the Power Grid to Increase Reliability and Resiliency
Georgians continue to benefit from a more reliable and resilient power grid, thanks in large part to strategic investments Georgia Power has made over the last decade. In recent years, the company has provided exceptional reliability with fewer and shorter power interruptions (read more), and the state's growing "smart grid" is showing value for customers by reducing service impacts of severe weather from events like Hurricane Helene and Winter Storm Cora.
A large factor in maintaining reliable electric service every day, as well as during severe weather events, is Georgia Power's continued investment in the state's integrated transmission system. The transmission system moves high-voltage energy from generation plants to local distribution power lines to serve customers.
The approval of the 2025 IRP includes a 10-year transmission plan with transmission improvements needed to maintain a strong and reliable transmission system to move energy from new and existing power plants to customers across the state. The 10-year plan includes new transmission resources across more than 1,000 miles of transmission lines, improving the system's efficiency and resiliency, and providing the energy infrastructure needed for a growing state. Pursuant to the stipulated agreement and as approved by the PSC, the company will meet semi-annually with PIA Staff to provide updates on various projects and will continue to identify and consider alternative solutions for each project, and the associated costs and benefits. Additionally, the company will implement a formal process to evaluate new grid enhancing technologies to help meet increasing grid capacity needs and enable further reliable integration of the state's growing amount of solar generation and BESS.
Diverse, Customer-Focused Programs
Georgia Power's portfolio of customer programs is continually evolving to offer innovative options that help customers meet their sustainability and resiliency goals, as well as enhance energy efficiency and provide customers with more control over their energy usage. In addition to investments in transmission and generation systems and other assets, the approved 2025 IRP includes demand-side resources, such as energy efficiency programs and demand response programs, that bring value to the company's resource mix and improve customers' overall experience.
Highlights of the approved 2025 IRP include:
- Solutions to meet increasing customer demand for emission-free, sustainable, and resilient energy including a new solar plus storage program for residential and small commercial customers; a new distributed energy resource (DER)-enabled demand response program aimed at meeting the capacity and resiliency needs of large customers; and expanding existing renewable customer subscription programs to facilitate the addition of more renewable resources to meet customer needs. Additionally, the approved 2025 IRP includes a new Electric Transportation "Vehicle to Everything" pilot, which will include a partnership with public school systems to study how underutilized electric vehicle batteries can be used to benefit the grid.
- Increased initiatives for customers in the most need. The final 2025 IRP includes a focus on demand side management offerings specifically for customers in the most need. With the approval of the PSC, the company will continue and expand successful programs including Energy Assistance for Savings and Efficiency (EASE) and HopeWorks, among other adjustments to various customer programs.
- New tools to help customers save money and energy. Georgia Power will further enhance its portfolio of tools for customers with a new online residential energy audit tool, a team of residential energy experts and other technologies that can help customers understand their energy usage and address and alleviate affordability concerns.
To learn more about how Georgia Power is meeting the needs of customers through a diverse, balanced energy portfolio, and the IRP process, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.8 million customers in all but four of
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning projected economic growth and load growth and planned capacity additions. Georgia Power cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Georgia Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: variations in demand for electricity; available sources and costs of natural gas and other fuels and commodities; transmission constraints; the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction, and operation of facilities or other projects due to challenges which include, but are not limited to, changes in labor costs, availability, and productivity, challenges with the management of contractors or vendors, subcontractor performance, adverse weather conditions, shortages, delays, increased costs, or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor or supplier delay, the impacts of inflation and tariffs, delays due to judicial or regulatory action, nonperformance under construction, operating, or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, engineering or design problems or any remediation related thereto, design and other licensing-based compliance matters, challenges with start-up activities, including major equipment failure or system integration, and/or operational performance, challenges related to future pandemic health events, continued public and policymaker support for projects, environmental and geological conditions, delays or increased costs to interconnect facilities to transmission grids, and increased financing costs as a result of changes in interest rates or as a result of project delays; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to past, ongoing and proposed construction projects, including Public Service Commission approvals and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and
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SOURCE Georgia Power
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