EMCs Work Overnight to Restore Power

TUCKER, Ga. –  At 4:30 a.m., EMCs are reporting 144,000 customers without power, down from 177,000 last evening. Hurricane Michael caused significant damage to both the electric transmission and distribution infrastructure, something Georgia has not experienced in decades. 

Since yesterday, EMCs have been battling tough conditions and working to repair severe damage to high voltage transmission lines, substations, distribution lines, power poles and other equipment. Local crews have been joined by hundreds of out-of-state crews, and more are expected. They will work side-by-side with local EMCs to make outage repairs as quickly as safety practices and conditions allow.

Despite their best efforts, due to the level of damage to both the transmission and distribution system, EMCs warn there will be extensive delays in total restoration. Some EMC members in the most damaged parts of the state—especially those who are medically fragile—may wish to make temporary arrangements.

Customers should report power outages by contacting their local  EMC and stay away from downed lines and report them immediately to their local utility or call 911.

Note to media: Updated outage information can be found throughout the day on Georgia EMC’s web site at https://georgiaemc.com/page/outages. The next written update will be provided late today.

 Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp.  Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to 4.4 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit  www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter.

Georgia Transmission Corporation plans, builds and maintains more than 3,100 miles of high-voltage powerlines and 650 substations that deliver electric power to 38 electric membership corporations (EMCs) across the state. Georgia Transmission and our member EMCs are not-for-profit cooperatives that serve approximately 4.1 million people in nearly 70 percent of the state’s land area. See www.gatrans.com

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