~540,000 customers remain impacted Saturday
morning as crews navigate treacherous conditions to repair damage;
potential additional outages possible due to saturated ground and
weakened trees
ATLANTA, Sept. 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power's response to
Hurricane Helene continues Saturday as the company marked the start
of the first full day of restoration efforts. Since the beginning
of the storm, Georgia Power has restored power to 440,000+
customers through the implementation of new "smart grid"
technologies and the quick work of pre-positioned teams who were
ready to respond as soon as conditions were safe to do so.
Unfortunately, treacherous conditions remain across the state with
crews navigating extensive tree damage, persisting flooding
conditions and many road closures. As of Saturday mid-morning,
approximately 540,000 customers remained impacted by Hurricane
Helene. The company is also managing the potential for additional
power outages that could occur due to the saturated ground and
weakened trees.
The company continues to utilize additional resources from
outside of its system and currently has 14,000+ personnel engaged
in response, including support from Alabama Power, Mississippi
Power and dozens of other companies. The response force currently
engaged is larger than the company's response to other major
hurricanes including Michael, Irma and Zeta.
Based on ongoing damage assessment, Georgia Power estimates that
there are thousands of broken power poles that must be replaced, as
well as many miles of down power lines, across the state. Damage
assessment is an essential initial step of efficient restoration
and helps the company identify where resources are best utilized to
return power to customers quickly. Damage assessment teams enter
the field and begin the restoration process as soon as conditions
allow. Given the inaccessibility of these areas, many teams are
utilizing drones and other technology to patrol damaged lines.
These damage assessment teams are then followed by repair
crews.
The company appreciates the importance of accurate information
for customers as they make plans for their families and is
committed to publishing up to date information throughout the
remainder of the restoration process. Friday afternoon, just hours
after the end of the storm in Georgia, the company published estimated
restoration times (ERTs) for multiple communities (read more).
Additional evaluation is underway across southern, coastal and
eastern Georgia, where communities
experienced hurricane force winds leading to extensive damage. New
ERTs will be posted to the company's Outage Map as they are
available.
Preparation, Industry Support Key to Response
Georgia
Power monitored the path of Hurricane Helene for more than a week
prior to the storm entering Georgia and currently has more than 14,000
personnel engaged in response. As part of its preparations, Georgia
Power mobilized additional staff from across the industry to
respond to Hurricane Helene. Mobilized crews across the state
pre-positioned restoration workers, equipment, and supplies near
areas of anticipated impact including extra transformers, poles,
cable and other equipment. All this is part of advance planning and
strategy to allow the company to restore power more quickly and
efficiently for its customers as soon as weather conditions
allow.
Georgia Power is also a member of a nationwide mutual assistance
network, which consists of hundreds of utilities from around the
country. Georgia Power has proactively mobilized crews from
over 35 companies from states as far away as Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. The company continues to acquire additional
off-system resources to aid in response.
As always, the company encourages customers to keep safety
first following Hurricane Helene:
- Watch for Georgia Power crews working across the state.
If driving, move over one lane for utility vehicles stopped on the
side of the road – it's the law in Georgia.
- Watch for downed wires. Downed power lines may be hidden
by debris or fallen trees.
- Never touch any downed wire or attempt to remove tree
branches from power lines – it can kill.
- Don't step in standing water or saturated ground where
downed lines may be present. They could be
electrified.
- Avoid chain link fences. They may be electrified by a
downed line out of sight and conduct electricity over great
distances.
- Never attempt repairs to electric service
connections. Customers should also note that if their
home, including the meter box or mast/connection point, is severely
damaged by the storm repairs may need to be made by an electrician
before Georgia Power can reconnect power.
Tools You Can Use to Stay Connected & Informed
- Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free
Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized
notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact
number is up to date to receive the latest information.
- Outage & Storm Center – Available
at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, customers can visit this site
to check their contact information is updated to receive Outage
Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful
safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check
the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power
at 888-891-0938.
- Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm
Center, Georgia Power's interactive Outage Map provides near
real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are
occurring across the state and track estimated restoration
times.
- Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia
Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices
to access storm and outage information on the go.
- @GeorgiaPower on X (Twitter) – Follow @GeorgiaPower
on X for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and
more.
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 2.7
million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to
delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia
Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes
nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar,
hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering
world-class service to its customers every day and the company is
recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer
satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power