ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
expects to have restoration efforts largely completed Sunday with
crews in the field remaining focused on reconnecting all customers
impacted by this weekend's severe winter weather which brought
snowfall, freezing rain and ice throughout North Georgia. While weather conditions are
improving today, many areas remain inaccessible due to heavy
snowfall, fallen trees or blocked roads. Restoration teams are
gaining access to some of the hardest-hit areas for the first time
today to assess damage and will continue to concentrate on
restoring as many customers as possible with each repair while
addressing public safety concerns.
Restoration Update
- Since noon Friday, restoration crews have been in field
and have safely restored power to approximately 320,000
customers.
- As of 11:30 a.m. Sunday,
approximately 35,000 customers are without power statewide
according to Georgia Power's Online Outage Map. Local estimated
restoration times (ERTs) customers are available on the Outage Map
and the company will regularly update the Outage Map and other
customer notification resources during the remainder of the
restoration process with any changes in these ERTs.
- Approximately 1,700 individual cases of damage or
trouble (including broken poles and lines) the company is
working to repair.
Georgia Power reminds customers to keep safety first during
severe winter weather and offers multiple tools and resources to
stay connected and informed.
After the Storm Safety Tips
- Watch for downed wires. Downed power lines may be hidden
by snow, 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.
- 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.
Tools You Can Use
- Outage Alerts – Subscribe to the free Georgia Power
Outage Alert service to receive personalized notifications and
updates via text message.
- Outage & Storm Center – Available at
www.georgiapower.com/storm, customers can visit this site to sign
up for Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and
access useful safety tips and information. Customers can 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 Twitter – Follow @GeorgiaPower on
Twitter for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and
more.
- Winter Weather Prep Videos – Check out a series of
informational videos on winter weather preparation
at GeorgiaPower.com/WinterPrep.
When severe weather strikes, Georgia Power has access to
additional resources available as part of the Southern Company
system, which includes multiple electric and gas companies serving
more than 9 million customers nationwide. Additionally, Georgia
Power is part of a national mutual assistance network consisting of
dozens of utilities from around the country, and the company is
able to tap into reinforcements when needed to restore power to
Georgia customers following a
storm.
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 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to
delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates
below the national average, 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 consistently recognized by
J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer
satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and
connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower),
Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power