ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
has restored power to more than 338,000 customers impacted by
Hurricane Matthew – more than 99 percent of all customers impacted
by the storm. 5,000 personnel from Georgia Power, as well as
assisting utilities from other states, were mobilized as part of
the company's restoration efforts for Hurricane Matthew and have
restored power for many customers earlier than expected.
"This was one of the strongest, most destructive hurricanes to
hit the Georgia coast in more than
a century and we're extremely proud of the tireless efforts of our
men and women to get service restored to customers as soon as
possible," said Paul Bowers,
chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "We want to thank our
customers for their patience, as well as crews from Georgia Power,
our sister operating companies and other assisting utilities, who
have worked around the clock to restore power for hundreds of
thousands of Coastal Georgia residents ahead of schedule."
The path of the storm and the prevalence of large trees caused
the most damage in and around Savannah. Less than 4,000 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.
Thousands of personnel will remain in the field until power to
these customers is restored. The company is also posting
regular updates with localized estimated restoration times for
these areas on the Outage Map at
www.GeorgiaPower.com/Storm.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Photo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161013/428683
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161013/428684
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-restores-power-to-more-than-99-percent-of-customers-impacted-by-hurricane-matthew-ahead-of-schedule-300344881.html
SOURCE Georgia Power