Georgia Power continues its massive effort to restore power to its customers following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, which has been declared the most destructive hurricane in the company’s history. As of midday Monday, the company has successfully restored power to over 840,000 customers who were affected by the storm. This rapid response was made possible by the implementation of new “smart grid” technologies and the swift action of pre-positioned teams who were ready to respond as soon as conditions allowed on Friday.
The company is working tirelessly to restore power to the remaining 370,000 customers who are still without power. The widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene has required a statewide response from Georgia Power, mobilizing every single one of its crews and thousands of additional lineworkers from across the nation.
As restoration efforts have progressed over the past few days, crews are methodically working their way through the power system to repair extensive damage and restore power to the maximum number of customers with each repair. Having completed their work in initial staging areas, crews are now focusing on the hardest hit areas in coastal, eastern, and southern Georgia. The highest concentration of power outages is currently located in areas including Augusta, Valdosta, Savannah, and surrounding communities.
The severity of the damage to infrastructure is so significant that crews are essentially rebuilding portions of the grid rather than simply repairing specific elements. The damage estimates highlight the immense destruction caused by Hurricane Helene:
* Over 7,000 power poles need repair or replacement.
* More than 15,000 spans of wire, equivalent to over 700 miles, need to be repaired.
* Over 1,200 transformers have been damaged.
* Over 3,000 trees on power lines need to be removed or addressed to restore power.
Georgia Power’s president, chairman, and CEO, Kim Greene, has been working alongside crews in the field to ensure they have the necessary resources to restore power. A video message from Greene to customers illustrating the damage she is witnessing in the field can be found on Facebook and Instagram. The company also continues to use social media to keep customers informed and highlight the progress of teams working in communities across the state.
Georgia Power understands the importance of accurate information for customers as they plan for their families following this historic storm. Restoration efforts are taking multiple days in many areas due to the extensive damage caused by Helene. Georgia Power continues to post updated estimated restoration times (ERTs) for communities on its Outage Map. Restoration efforts have been largely completed in areas such as Metro Atlanta, Athens, Columbus, Macon, Rome, and Albany, while work continues in the hardest hit areas across the state. The company will continue to provide updated information throughout the remainder of the restoration process and will work diligently to return power to customers sooner than expected. Customers are urged to check the Outage Map frequently for the latest information and avoid relying on possibly inaccurate details from non-company sources.
Georgia Power’s proactive approach to the storm was key in its ability to respond efficiently. For over a week before the storm entered Georgia, the company monitored the path of Hurricane Helene. As part of its preparations, Georgia Power mobilized additional staff from across the industry to respond to the storm. Crews were pre-positioned across the state, along with essential equipment and supplies, including extra transformers, poles, cables, and other equipment in areas anticipated to be impacted. This strategic planning and preparation allowed the company to restore power more quickly and efficiently as soon as weather conditions permitted.
Georgia Power is continuing to utilize additional resources from outside its system and currently has over 15,000 personnel involved in the response, including support from Alabama Power, Mississippi Power, and dozens of other companies. This response force 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 across the country. The company 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 the response.
As always, Georgia Power encourages customers to prioritize safety in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene:
* Be aware of Georgia Power crews working across the state.
* When driving, move over one lane for utility vehicles stopped on the side of the road—it’s the law in Georgia.
* Watch out 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 be fatal.
* Avoid stepping 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 be aware 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 and Informed:
*
Outage Alerts:
Customers subscribed to the free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized notifications and updates via text message. Ensure your contact number is up to date to receive the latest information.*
Outage & Storm Center:
Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm to check that your 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:
Located 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 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 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).
