ATLANTA, Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has
restored power to more than 308,000 customers impacted by Hurricane
Matthew – more than 90 percent of all affected customers. The
company originally estimated that it would not reach this milestone
until midnight Wednesday. Less than 34,000 customers remain without
power including those in some of the coastal areas with the most
severe damage such as Burnside, Dutch Island, Isle of Hope, White
Bluff, Windsor Forest, and surrounding communities.
The path of the storm and the prevalence of large trees caused
the most damage in and around Savannah. As restoration enters the final
days, approximately 5,000 personnel remain engaged in the
restoration effort and are concentrating all efforts and resources
in Savannah and other remaining
affected areas. Georgia Power estimates there are more than 1,500
individual cases of severe damage remaining from Hurricane Matthew,
including broken poles, many of which are located in remote or
challenging locations. At this stage of restoration, work can be
tedious as each case of damage may only impact service to a small
number of customers.
Georgia Power estimates that damage from Hurricane Matthew could
include:
- Approximately 1,000 power poles broken or damaged.
- Nearly 120 miles of wire (3,000 spans) needing to be
replaced.
- More than 3,500 fallen trees causing damage to
electrical equipment.
The company estimates that thousands of customers in some of the
hardest hits areas of the coast may not be able to reconnect to
Georgia Power service due to extensive damage. Property owners
should contact a qualified electrician to make repairs to private
property prior to reconnecting to service.
As part of Southern Company, as well as a national mutual
assistance network, Georgia Power is able to receive assistance
from other utilities not impacted by the storm to aid in
restoration efforts. Utilities from other states, including
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, are currently in Georgia working alongside Georgia Power crews
to restore service for customers.
Georgia Power reminds customers that dangerous conditions exist
following a storm. Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire,
including telephone or cable wires that touch a power line. Never
pull tree limbs off power lines yourself or enter areas with
debris, downed trees or standing water as downed power lines may be
buried in wreckage. If using a generator, follow all
manufacturers' connection and safety instructions and shut the
generator down before reconnecting to Georgia Power service.
The company also offers the following tools you can use to stay
informed during restoration efforts:
- 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. The
company is also posting regular updates with localized estimated
restoration times on the Outage Map.
- 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.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
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, 21st century 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) and Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
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SOURCE Georgia Power