ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
has restored power to 99 percent, or more than 385,000 customers,
impacted by Hurricane Michael. More than 5,800 personnel were
mobilized as part of the company's restoration effort, including
all of Georgia Power's resources, as well as assistance from other
Southern Company operating companies and more than a dozen
assisting utilities from as far away as Illinois, New
York, Pennsylvania and
Texas. While work is nearly
complete, all personnel in the field remain focused on reconnecting
those customers who remain without power in the hardest hit areas
of Southwest Georgia.
"The damage Hurricane Michael caused across the state was
extensive and impacted hundreds of thousands of Georgians. We had
more than 5,800 people working around the clock in challenging
conditions to restore service for our customers as safely and
quickly as possible, and I'm extremely proud of their work and
dedication," said Paul Bowers,
chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "I want to thank our
customers for their patience and support during restoration. I also
want to personally thank our sister operating companies, public
safety and governmental partners, and utilities from around the
country who came together to help in response to Hurricane
Michael."
Georgia Power continuously monitored the path of Hurricane
Michael prior to the Category 4 storm entering Georgia. The historic hurricane crossed
through Georgia leaving vast
damage in its path with the hardest hit areas in Southwest Georgia. Hurricane Michael was the
third-strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. in modern
recorded history.
Georgia Power estimates that damage from Hurricane Michael
includes:
- More than 3,500 spans of wire down (or over 130 miles)
- Approximately 1,000 broken or damaged power poles
- More than 900 fallen trees
- More than 200 transformers damaged
Customers in some of the hardest hit areas of Georgia may not be able reconnect to Georgia
Power service due to extensive damage. Georgia Power reminds
customers that the electrical service entry point on their home or
business, including the meter box and other components, must be
repaired before Georgia Power can reconnect service. The company
cannot, by law, connect power to a damaged meter box, or other
non-Georgia Power components, and property owners should contact a
qualified electrician to make repairs in order for the company to
reconnect service.
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