Georgia Power has restored power to 1 million+
customers over the last four days;
Restoration efforts progressing in hardest hit
areas including Valdosta,
Savannah and Augusta
ATLANTA, Oct. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power's
response to Hurricane Helene – the most destructive hurricane in
the company's history – has now grown to 20,000 personnel and
continues its work across the state. As of Tuesday afternoon, the
company has restored power to over 1 million customers impacted by
Hurricane Helene – approximately 80 percent of all customers
impacted by the storm. This rapid response 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 on Friday.
Efforts have intensified to restore power to approximately
278,000 customers who remain without power due to the storm as
damage has been cleared and access has improved. Crews continue to
converge on and deploy in the hardest hit areas in coastal, eastern
and southern Georgia and, as
restoration has progressed, crews are working their way through the
power system efficiently and effectively to repair extreme damage
and restore power to the most customers with every repair made.
Georgia Power's Outage Map illustrates the highest concentration
of power outages remain in areas such as Augusta, Valdosta, Savannah, and surrounding communities. 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 crews continue to face hurdles such as
impassable roads, cellular and communications issues, and tree
damage, progress is being made in the hardest hit areas with
thousands of customers being restored in and around Augusta, Savannah, Valdosta and elsewhere. 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.
Updated damage estimates illustrating the extensive destruction
of Hurricane Helene include:
- 8,000+ power poles that must be repaired or
replaced
- 21,000+ spans of wire equivalent to approximately 1000
miles
- 1,500+ transformers
- 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 storm. 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 the storm entering
Georgia. 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. 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
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).
Media Contact:
Georgia Power Media Relations
(404) 506-7676 or (800) 282-1696
www.georgiapower.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-restores-power-to-80-of-customers-impacted-by-hurricane-helene-across-the-state-302264750.html
SOURCE Georgia Power