Utility says latest delays to Georgia nuclear plant to cost additional $1B

Southern Co. (NYSE:SO) subsidiary Georgia Power estimates that the 18-month delay in construction of the 2,400-megawatt Plan Vogtle nuclear expansion will cost a little more than $1 billion in construction costs and financing.

The escalating costs could prove an issue as other utilities, including Charlotte-based Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), weigh whether to go ahead with new nuclear construction they have proposed, but not committed to. Duke currently plans to build its proposed $11 billion W.S. Lee…