ATLANTA, Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric service to
nearly 490,000 Georgia Power customers has been restored following
Hurricane Zeta. As of 8 p.m.
Thursday, approximately 280,000 customers are without power
across Georgia. The company
expects power to be restored to 95% of customers impacted by
Hurricane Zeta by Sunday night.
While the company continues to assess damage, customers in the
hardest hit areas should plan ahead for the potential of extended
outages, possibly days, due to the vast damage from the storm.
Based on the impact of Hurricane Zeta across the Southeast and
other storm activity in the country, the availability of additional
resources from other utilities to assist with restoration efforts
in Georgia is limited.
"This storm caused an incredible amount of damage across the
state that we are working as quickly and safely as possible to
assess," said David Maske, Georgia
Power Storm Center manager. "Multiple storms impacting the
Southeast have strained assistance resources usually available to
us, but our crews are working around the clock to get the lights
back on. We appreciate our customers' patience and their support in
the coming days."
Damage from Hurricane Zeta is similar to the damage seen after
Hurricane Michael impacted the state in 2018. Damage includes
broken poles, damaged transformers and numerous spans of wire down.
Teams are also experiencing challenges including downed trees and
roads blocked that must be cleared to enter certain areas. Damage
assessment following widespread impacts from Hurricane Zeta
continues across impacted areas around Georgia and must be completed as an essential
step to efficiently and effectively allocate resources.
Regional restoration estimates will be available as soon as
assessment work is completed.
Restoration progress since the beginning of the storm has been
largely possible thanks to Georgia's advanced electric grid, which allows
the company to reroute and restore power even when weather
conditions prevent work in the field, as well as early work of
crews. All of Georgia Power's teams are in the field today working
to assess damage and restore power.
In the field, the power restoration process includes these key
steps:
- Assessing Conditions – Responding crews – or in
major storms, damage assessment teams – work to identify trouble
spots and the resources needed to fix them, which could involve
coming onto customers' property. Crews will employ appropriate
distancing efforts and customers are asked to keep children and
pets indoors and maintain safe distances from crew members as
well.
- Making Repairs – Georgia Power crews focus
on repairs that return power to the greatest number of customers in
the least amount of time.
Damage Update – As of 8 p.m.
Thursday
- Power has been restored to nearly 490,000 Georgia Power
customers across the state.
- There are approximately 280,000 Georgia Power customers
currently without power.
- Approximately 4,000 cases of individual damage or
trouble (including broken poles and lines) the company is
working to repair.
- Damage and outages are widespread and across much of the
state.
The company encourages customers to keep safety first following
Hurricane Zeta:
- Watch 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 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.
Storm Response Pandemic Preparations
Georgia Power
constantly monitors changing weather conditions and
is prepared to respond to service interruptions that might
occur because of severe weather while taking proactive actions
including special "distancing" and other precautions to help
protect customers and employees from the spread of the virus.
In addition, the company's comprehensive pandemic plans help
ensure readiness of the critical personnel and facilities necessary
to continue providing the safe and reliable energy customers expect
and deserve.
Ways you can help keep workers safe while they work in the
field:
- If you see utility crews, please stay back a minimum of six
feet – much more if they are working.
- Please, no cookies or treats for workers during this time. Give
a wave or thumbs up to workers you see. They'll understand your
gratitude as they work to keep the lights on.
- Don't touch utility trucks or equipment. Electric providers are
operating under modified conditions to keep workers safe, which
includes additional cleaning and sanitation of tools and
equipment.
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