Georgia Power restoration efforts to be largely completed Sunday

ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power expects to have restoration efforts largely completed Sunday with crews in the field remaining focused on reconnecting all customers impacted by this weekend's severe winter weather which brought snowfall, freezing rain and ice throughout North Georgia. While weather conditions are improving today, many areas remain inaccessible due to heavy snowfall, fallen trees or blocked roads. Restoration teams are gaining access to some of the hardest-hit areas for the first time today to assess damage and will continue to concentrate on restoring as many customers as possible with each repair while addressing public safety concerns.

Restoration Update

• Since noon Friday, restoration crews have been in field and have safely restored power to approximately 320,000 customers. 
• As of 11:30 a.m. Sunday, approximately 35,000 customers are without power statewide according to Georgia Power's Online Outage Map. Local estimated restoration times (ERTs) customers are available on the Outage Map and the company will regularly update the Outage Map and other customer notification resources during the remainder of the restoration process with any changes in these ERTs.
• Approximately 1,700 individual cases of damage or trouble (including broken poles and lines) the company is working to repair.

Georgia Power reminds customers to keep safety first during severe winter weather and offers multiple tools and resources to stay connected and informed.

After the Storm Safety Tips

• Watch for downed wires. Downed power lines may be hidden by snow, 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.
• Winter Weather Prep Videos – Check out a series of informational videos on winter weather preparation at  GeorgiaPower.com/WinterPrep.

When severe weather strikes, Georgia Power has access to additional resources available as part of the Southern Company system, which includes multiple electric and gas companies serving more than 9 million customers nationwide. Additionally, Georgia Power is part of a national mutual assistance network consisting of dozens of utilities from around the country, and the company is able to tap into reinforcements when needed to restore power to Georgia customers following a storm. 

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 2.5 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, 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