EMCs Continue Rebuilding Power and Transmission Lines in Hardest Hit Areas
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Posted by: Kim Broun
TUCKER, Ga. – Georgia’s EMCs are reporting 184,000 members without power as of 4:30 p.m. today. This is down from approximately 435,000 following the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene. In Georgia’s hardest his areas on the eastern side of the state, the effort is a rebuild, not just restoration. EMCs ask for your patience as many more days of outages are expected in highly impacted areas.
EMCs maintain more than 196,000 miles of electric line in Georgia – enough to travel from California to Maine 62 times. Nearly all 41 EMCs in Georgia reported damage in the aftermath of Helene, with several EMCs on Georgia’s eastern side seeing total devastation. In affected areas, EMCs must ensure debris is removed from every mile of line and all broken poles and wires must be replaced before power is restored.
Georgia Transmission continues to restore and rebuild the high-voltage transmission system reporting more than 150 substations are now reenergized out of the nearly 200 taken out of service during the height of Hurricane Helene.
Out of the estimated 117 transmission lines serving EMCs that were damaged, close to 90 have been restored. Damage to transmission lines was extensive and widespread and may not even be visible near homes and businesses. It often requires more time and specialized equipment to reach the remote impacted areas. While EMC members may not see Georgia Transmission crews on their street, they can be assured work to restore the power grid in their area is progressing.
Georgia’s EMCs continue work to repair the main distribution and tap lines, with additional crews arriving to assist in the rebuilding efforts. States that have sent crews to aid in Georgia’s restoration include Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama. In addition, EMCs from Georgia’s western side are sending crews to fellow EMCs on the eastern side to aid in restoration.
EMCs are doing everything possible to restore power, but for those that require electricity for medical needs, EMCs continue to recommend temporary relocation. If relocation is not an option, EMCs recommend securing a generator from a friend or neighbor or seeking help at a local medical facility.
Safety Tips:
Safety continues to be a top priority in the restoration process. We recommend individuals keep a safe distance from crews working and stay away from downed power lines. Those that are using a generator as a temporary power source should follow the recommended generator safety tips, listed below, for the duration of the outage.
Generator Usage and Safety
• If using a generator, follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and all safety guidelines.
• Never operate a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors, such as in your home, crawlspace, basement, or garage.
• Never connect generators to another power source, such as power lines. The reverse flow of electricity or "backfeed" can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.
Outage Information:
A map showing current outages by region, updated every 15 minutes, can be found at http://www.georgiaemc.com/outages. To report power outages and gain more detailed outage and restoration updates, customers should contact their local EMC provider.
About Georgia EMC:
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 electric cooperatives, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned co-ops 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 X.
About Georgia Transmission:
Georgia Transmission Corp., a not-for-profit cooperative owned by 38 Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs), owns more than 5,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 780 substations. These facilities deliver power to Georgia’s EMCs providing electricity to more than 4.5 million Georgians. For more information, visit gatransmission.com.
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