1.2 million+ customers reconnected following
most destructive storm in company's history;
Intense
restoration in hardest-hit areas underway with personnel working
around the clock
ATLANTA, Oct. 3, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has restored power to more than 1.2
million customers following Hurricane Helene – more than 90% of all
customers impacted by the most destructive hurricane in the
company's history. Progress is ongoing and the company expects to
reach 95% total restoration by this Saturday.
More than 20,000 personnel remain engaged in the company's
response. Rapid response to Hurricane Helene has been possible
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. Over the last few days,
efforts have further intensified to repair damage and restore
service in the hardest hit areas with crews converging on
communities across coastal, eastern and southern Georgia.
Crews continue to work their way through the power system
efficiently and effectively to repair extreme damage and restore
power to the most customers with every repair made. In many
cases, the damage to infrastructure is so severe that teams are
essentially rebuilding parts of the grid and not just repairing
specific elements. While damage and treacherous conditions remain,
teams are working around the clock and will remain in the field
until every customer who can accept power is restored.
As of midday Thursday, the company has restored power to 95
percent of impacted customers in the Savannah area, and approximately 85 percent of
impacted customers in the Valdosta
and Macon areas. Augusta remains the most heavily impacted by
Hurricane Helene with extensive flooding and tree damage.
Currently, approximately 65 percent of customers impacted by the
storm in the Augusta area have now
been reconnected and teams continue to work around the clock to
reconnect all customers.
Updated damage estimates illustrating the extensive destruction
of Hurricane Helene include:
- 8,300+ power poles that must be repaired or
replaced
- 21,000+ spans of wire damaged equivalent to
approximately 1,000 miles
- 1,600+ transformers damaged
- 3,200+ trees on power lines that must be removed
or addressed to restore power
Restoration Status Being Regularly
Updated
Georgia Power appreciates the importance of
accurate information for customers as they make plans for their
families following this historic hurricane. As the company
anticipated and announced before the arrival of the storm,
restoration efforts are taking multiple days in many areas due to
the extensive damage from Helene. Georgia Power continues to post
updated estimated restoration times (ERTs) for
communities on its Outage Map.
The company will continue to post updated information throughout
the remainder of the restoration process and will make every effort
to return power to customers sooner than expected. However, as new
damage in previously inaccessible areas becomes apparent,
restoration efforts may take longer than originally estimated.
Customers are encouraged to check the Outage Map often for the
latest information and not rely on possibly inaccurate details they
may see from non-company sources.
Preparation, Industry Support Key to
Response
Georgia Power monitored the path of Hurricane
Helene for more than a week prior to Hurricane Helene entering
Georgia. As part of its
preparations, Georgia Power mobilized additional staff from across
the industry to respond. Mobilized crews across the state
pre-positioned restoration workers, equipment, and supplies near
areas of anticipated impact including extra transformers, poles,
cables, wires and other equipment. Hurricane Helene had a statewide
impact and Georgia Power matched that with a statewide response,
including engagement of every Georgia Power crew at the beginning
of the storm and thousands of additional lineworkers
from outside of Georgia. 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.
The company continues to utilize additional resources from
outside of its system 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.
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
dozens of companies from states including California, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, New
Jersey, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as Canada. The company continues to acquire
additional outside 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 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