ATLANTA, April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
today joined dozens of linemen, as well as representatives from the
state's electric membership corporations (EMCs), municipal electric
providers and elected officials for a special event at the Georgia
Capitol. During the event, attendees marked April as Lineman
Appreciation Month in Georgia and
recognized the importance of thousands of line workers who work day
and night, rain or shine, to keep the lights on.
As a fitting tribute to the line workers in attendance and
across the state, Governor Nathan
Deal signed House Bill 767 into law Tuesday. The legislation
adds utility vehicles and workers to an existing law which requires
drivers to "move over" one lane. The law previously applied
primarily to stationary law-enforcement vehicles, ambulances,
wreckers and garbage trucks. The addition of utility workers to the
law will help to ensure safety for linemen who may be working on
the roadside at night or following severe weather to repair damaged
equipment or restore power for customers.
"We are honored to unite with Governor Deal and our other
utility partners to recognize the work of line crews in communities
throughout Georgia," said
Paul Bowers, chairman, president and
CEO of Georgia Power. "Safety is our top priority in everything we
do, and we would like to thank the Governor and the members of the
legislature for passing this important legislation that will keep
our workers safe in the field."
As a part of the Lineman Appreciation Month celebration, Georgia
Power and the state's other electric utilities are inviting all of
Georgia to say "thank you" to
linemen for their work. Since April
1, hundreds of Georgians have signed the digital "thank you"
card at www.ongeorgia.org/lineman and are sharing their stories on
social media using #ThankALineman.
Line crews function seamlessly as part of a larger Georgia Power
power delivery team, which also includes logistics teams and
generation teams at power plants statewide, to keep reliable energy
flowing to thousands of homes and businesses. In addition to
serving the company's 2.5 million customers in Georgia, Georgia Power linemen are often
called away from their families to help restore power to
neighboring states when major storms or disasters occur. Georgia
Power linemen can travel thousands of miles each year and can spend
weeks in the field helping restore power to customers as far away
as New York and Houston.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's
largest generators of electricity. 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