By ATLANTA — Georgia Power today filed its 2016 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). The company files an IRP every three years to outline how it can best meet Georgia’s changing energy needs for the next 20 years.
“As we navigate the changing energy and environmental landscape, striking the right balance between reliability and affordability is crucial to protecting our customers,” said John Pemberton, senior vice president and senior production officer for Georgia Power. “We remain committed to best meeting customers’ needs today while maintaining the flexibility to provide a secure energy future for Georgia.”
The IRP process includes projections of future fuel costs; load and energy forecasts; an analysis of currently available generation technologies; the 10-year transmission plan; and an economic assessment of potential and proposed energy efficiency and demand response programs. The company also evaluated the cost-effectiveness of its generating fleet in light of increasing environmental regulations.
As part of today’s filing, Georgia Power is requesting approval of its Renewable Energy Development Initiative, a program that will bring an additional 525 MW of renewable generation to the company’s portfolio and is expected to deliver energy savings for customers. In addition, outlined in the IRP is a comprehensive and detailed analysis that provides the framework for determining and allocating the projected benefits and costs of integrating additional renewable resources in Georgia, while maintaining reliability and affordability.
The 2016 plan also proposes energy efficiency targets similar to those approved in the previous IRP, while adding new, innovative energy-saving programs for both residential and commercial customers. By 2019, these programs are designed to reduce peak demand approximately 1,900 MW, which is 12 percent of the company’s current load.
Finally, the company is requesting the decertification of certain generation assets, including one coal unit and two small oil-fired combustion turbines at Plant Mitchell near Albany, Georgia, as well as a combustion turbine (CT) at Plant Kraft on the Georgia coast. Georgia Power is also seeking to decertify and sell the company’s ownership in an oil-fired CT located in Intercession City, Florida to majority owner Duke Energy Florida.
Today’s filing initiates a series of additional filings and public hearings with the PSC. Following this process, the PSC is expected to vote on the company’s IRP request this summer.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates.
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