ATLANTA, March 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With
higher temperatures arriving in Georgia, and families spending more time at
home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia Power encourages
customers to minimize the impact of increased energy use on
electric bills using the multitude of efficiency resources and tips
available at no cost to customers.
Tips, Tools & Resources
Whether customers
own a home or rent, tailored tips are available at
www.GeorgiaPower.com/Save, which also includes access to a free
online energy checkup and a variety of rebates and incentives for
both homes and businesses.
Additionally, Georgia Power's My Power
Usage program, a free service connected to many Georgia
Power online accounts, allows customers to track their daily energy
use, project their monthly bill, and set daily or monthly usage
alerts.
Simple tips focused on savings as customers spend increased time
at home, include:
- Set it for the season: Set thermostats to 78 degrees
during warm weather months. With each degree higher you set your
thermostat, you can see a 3-4% decrease in energy use. Don't
forget, you can use fans to help you feel cooler, even with a
higher thermostat setting.
- Phase out phantom energy loss: To avoid phantom loss,
unplug devices when not in use, or use a smart power strip and turn
off the strip when equipment or devices are not in use.
- Choose wisely with appliances: Avoid using appliances
that produce heat during the hottest times of the day and avoid
frequent opening of refrigerators and freezers. Also, consider
using your outdoor grill to help save additional energy.
- Feel the flow; free your filters: Clean or change air
conditioning filters each month. A dirty filter can make your
equipment work harder, resulting in higher bills. Make sure
furniture, curtains, rugs and other items do not block vents and
return air registers.
- Follow on and off advice: Turn off TVs, computers and
other electronic devices when not in use. Consider energy-saving
settings, which are often available on newer equipment and
appliances.
- Save with LEDs: Save energy and money by changing a
standard light bulb in your home to an ENERGY STAR®-qualified LED
bulb. LEDs use 90% less energy than standard bulbs and can last up
to 15 times longer. You can visit our Georgia Power
Marketplace for instant savings on LED lighting, and have them
delivered directly to your home.
The company announced several weeks ago that it would
temporarily suspend residential disconnections for 30 days
beginning Saturday, March 14, 2020,
and will reevaluate the decision and time frame as the situation
develops. In addition to using energy efficiently, Georgia Power
highly encourages all customers to continue making payments to
avoid large balance due amounts when the suspension ends.
Assistance when you need it
Georgia Power partners
with nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations to offer
assistance programs to those in need. Programs include:
- Georgia Power's Senior Citizen Discount – Georgia Power
customers 65 years of age or older who meet the income requirements
for eligibility can receive up to $24
a month off their bill.
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) –
Georgia Power supports the Division of Family & Children
Services to help qualifying, low-income households pay their home
energy bills.
- The Salvation Army's Project SHARE: Established in
partnership with The Salvation Army, Georgia Power customers can
provide assistance to residents in the same community for expenses,
such as utility bills, housing, food and medical necessities.
Georgia Power has also developed public service announcements
(PSAs) to highlight the various assistance and energy efficiency
programs available to customers. The PSAs encourage customers to
explore www.GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyAssistance to find the best
solutions for their individual need. The PSAs can be viewed on the
company's YouTube channel.
Customer Scam Warnings
Additionally, Georgia Power is
urging customers to be aware of scammers during the COVID-19
pandemic. Customers should beware of phone calls demanding payment
via phone. Georgia Power will never ask for a credit card or
pre-paid debit card number over the phone. If a customer receives a
suspicious call from someone claiming to be from Georgia Power and
demanding payment to avoid disconnection, they should hang up and
contact the company's customer service line at 888-660-5890.
Georgia Power works with law enforcement agencies throughout the
state to identify and prosecute criminals who pose as Georgia Power
employees in order to defraud customers. Additional information
about frequent scams and how the company works to protect customers
is available at www.GeorgiaPower.com/Scams.
Georgia Power Employee Safety
Georgia Power has been
closely monitoring the potential threat posed by COVID-19 since
January. Proactive actions have been taken to both prevent the
spread of the illness and protect the safety and health of
employees, including:
- Implementing telecommuting for those who can perform their
duties remotely
- Cancelling facility tours and external meetings
- Increasing cleaning frequency at company locations
- Aggressively sanitizing work areas
- Cancelling all non-essential business travel – both domestic
and international
- Asking employees to self-identify, if they have or plan to
travel internationally
- Using technology for meetings
The company regularly provides information and updates on the
virus to employees, including prevention recommendations from the
Centers for Disease Control, and is following the latest
developments and updates from public health officials and medical
professionals.
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 2.6
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