Georgia Power has restored power to more than 1.2 million customers following Hurricane Helene, where more than 90% of all customers were impacted by the most destructive hurricane in the company’s history.
According to a press release from Georgia Power, progress is ongoing and the company expects to reach 95% total restoration by this Saturday.
More than 20,000 personnel remain engaged in the company’s response.
“Rapid response to Hurricane Helene has been possible through the implementation of new ‘smart grid’ technologies and the quick work of pre-positioned teams who were ready to respond as soon as conditions were safe to do so,” stated a press release from Georgia Power.
Over the last few days, Georgia Power’s efforts have further intensified to repair damage and restore power to the most customers with every repair made.
“In many cases, the damage to infrastructure is so severe that teams are essentially rebuilding parts of the grid and not just repairing specific elements,” stated the company’s press release. “While damage and treacherous conditions remain, teams are working around the clock and will remain in the field until every customer who accepts power is restored.”
As of midday Thursday, the company has restored power to 95% of impacted customers in the Savannah area, and approximately 85% of impacted customers in the Valdosta and Macon areas.
“Augusta remains the most heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene with extensive flooding and tree damage,” stated a press release from Georgia Power. “Currently, approximately 65% of customers impacted by the storm in the Augusta area have now been reconnected and teams continue to work around the clock to reconnect all customers.”
Updated damage estimates illustrating the extensive destruction of Hurricane Helene include:
- 8,300+ power poles that must be repaired or replaced
- 21,000+ spans of wire damaged equivalent to approximately 1,000 miles
- 1,600+ transformers damaged
- 3,200+ trees on power lines that must be removed or addressed to restore power
Restoration status being regularly updated
“Georgia Power appreciates the importance of accurate information for customers as they make plans for their families following this historic hurricane,” stated a press release from Georgia Power.
As the company anticipated and announced before the arrival of the storm, restoration efforts are taking multiple days in many areas due to the extensive damage from Helene. The company will continue to post updated estimated restoration times (ERTs) for communities on its outage map.
“The company will continue to post updated information throughout the remainder of the restoration process and will make every effort to return power to customers sooner than expected,” stated a press release from Georgia Power. “However, as new damage in previously inaccessible areas becomes apparent, restoration efforts may take longer than originally estimated.”
Customers are encouraged to check the outage map often for the latest information and not rely on possibly inaccurate details they may see from non-company sources.
“Hurricane Helene had a statewide impact and Georgia Power matched that with a statewide response, including engagement of every Georgia Power crew at the beginning of the storm and thousands of additional lineworkers from outside of Georgia,” stated a press release from Georgia Power. All this is part of advance planning and strategy to allow the company to restore power more quickly and efficiently for its customers as soon as weather conditions allow.”
The company continues to utilize additional resources from outside of its system including support from Alabama Power, Mississippi Power and dozens of other companies. The response force currently engaged is larger than the company’s response to other major hurricanes including Michael, Irma and Zeta.
The company continues to acquire additional outside resources to aid in response.
As always, the company encourages customers to keep safety first following Hurricane Helene:
- 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.
- 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.
Never attempt repairs to electric service connections. Customers should also note that if their home, including the meter box or mast/connection point, is severely damaged repairs may need to be made by an electrician before Georgia Power can reconnect power.
