Georgia Nuclear Plant Shuts Down Suddenly in Electrical Glitch

A Georgia nuclear power plant shut down suddenly on Saturday, after an “electrical transient” tripped a turbine generator and the reactor tripped, according to a notification published this morning by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The shutdown at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant in Baxley, Georgia, was the plant’s third sudden shutdown this year, the most of any in the U.S. in 2026.

Plant operators told the NRC there was no impact to the public or plant workers during the shutdown.

According to the event notification Hatch sent the NRC: 

“At 1614 EDT, on 10/10/2026, with Unit 1 in mode 1 at 100 percent power, the reactor automatically tripped. The reactor protection system (RPS) actuated while critical, safety relief valves actuated, and a group 2 primary containment isolation occurred. The trip was not complex with all systems responding as designed. The cause of the trip is under investigation.

“Operations responded and stabilized the plant in mode 3. Reactor water level is being maintained by the feedwater system. Decay heat is being removed by discharging steam to the main condenser using the turbine bypass valves. Unit 2 is not affected.”’

On April 23, Hatch reported a sudden shutdown of its Unit 1 reactor after a valve malfunction. On Feb. 26, the plant also shut down while it was starting up from refueling when water levels went off balance and tripped the reactor. 

Last year, operator error caused a shutdown when human error caused pumps to trip during a test. 

Throughout the U.S. nuclear power fleet, there have been 15 reactor “scrams”—sudden, forced shutdowns—so far in 2026. 

The Hatch plant is owned in part by Georgia Power Co., Oglethorpe Power Corp., Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Dalton Utilities and its operator is Southern Nuclear Operating Co. The plant’s Unit 1 is 51 years old, having launched in 1975.

While originally built to run for 40 years, the NRC this year extended its operating life to 80 years.

Under NRC regulations, the plant operators must provide a fuller written report within 60 days.