Georgia EMC

October 4, 6PM: EMCs are currently reporting approximately 122,700 outages primarily in South Central, Southeast and East Georgia. The peak number of outages caused by Hurricane Helene was 435,000, making it one of most destructive storms on record for EMCs in Georgia. EMCs currently estimate that within two weeks, 85% of all outages will be restored to locations that can take power. At the height of the storm, 117 high-voltage transmission lines serving EMCs were offline, with multiple segments damaged along each, as well as nearly 200 electrical substations. Georgia Transmission has made significant progress toward restoring service to these systems and final repairs are imminent. Their teams will now transition their focus to supporting member EMCs with their continued efforts to restore the local distribution systems, until every EMC member has their lights back on. The pace of member restoration on the distribution side will naturally slow down at this stage, as EMC linemen face a number of unique challenges: • Several EMCs are rebuilding as much as 100 percent of their distribution system, while others are repairing and replacing significant portions of their network as well. • EMCs have more than doubled their workforce with thousands of additional linemen, contractors and support personnel. Crews have and will continue to arrive in affected areas from out of state and from the unaffected and restored portions of Georgia throughout each day. • The currently affected EMCs serve enormous land areas and have far fewer members per mile of line (an average of five) compared with investor-owned utilities (average of 34) and publicly owned utilities, or municipal, (with an average of 48, nearly five times that of an electric co-op). • EMCs report historically high numbers of downed trees and power poles, surpassing previous records at many EMCs. Linemen are replacing thousands of broken poles---which requires as much as four hours per pole in ideal working conditions. Several base camps are set up across the affected areas for EMC linemen, providing food, housing and laundry services to meet the needs of lineworkers. These set-ups are continuously expanding as additional linemen and support personnel join the effort. EMC crews are currently working alongside linemen from 12 other states including Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama. Additional crews from Florida will be arriving as soon as their restoration concludes. Outage Information: A map showing current outages by region, updated every 15 minutes, can be found at https://lnkd.in/ePZv6Wjv. To report power outages and gain more detailed outage and restoration updates, customers should contact their local EMC provider. Read the Full Update: https://lnkd.in/euxGapPX

When #HurricaneHelene tore through Georgia, it destroyed crops, demolished barns, and left fields flooded and broken. Farmers lost not only the yield they had nurtured all year, but also their equipment, structures, and livelihoods. Entire seasons of work vanished overnight. The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau, and other ag industry partners, is raising funds to support our farmers. 100% of proceeds go directly to Georgia farmers and ranchers impacted by the storm. Donate at https://lnkd.in/gNgGWxa6

EMCs are currently reporting ~162,000 outages primarily in South Central, Southeast and East Georgia, down from a peak of 435,000. Read the latest as of 3:30 PM today: https://lnkd.in/ee8Xe4GU

Damage to high-voltage 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 with 80% of transmission restored from the peak damage at the height of the storm.

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. Read More... https://lnkd.in/eZKuYdix

EMCs continue to make progress, have restored power to nearly half of the affected meters statewide. Reporting ~217,000 members without power at 3PM Monday: https://lnkd.in/dNxnAwZz

As helicopters and fixed-wing planes fly Georgia Transmission’s high-voltage transmission lines to assess damage, they’ve encountered hundreds of trees on lines, toppled transmission towers, flooding and impassable roadways. The damage is unprecedented, but Georgia Transmission continues to make progress with 80 of more than 100 electrical substations knocked out by Helene now at full operation. Repairs to high-voltage transmission lines prove to be more challenging, but progress is still being made. Please treat all lines as energized and dangerous and keep a safe distance from crews working.

EMCs making progress in power restoration, significant repairs still ahead, report ~259,000 members without power at 12:30PM Sunday: https://lnkd.in/gy9Gcdu5

EMCs continue challenging restoration work, report ~334,000 members without power at 11 AM Saturday, down from 435,000 following the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene: https://lnkd.in/gPxxPJxR

EMCs in Georgia continue damage assessment & restoration, report ~393,000 members without power at 4:30 PM Friday: https://lnkd.in/ghf78k-Y