Tens of thousands of Georgians remain without electricity as Winter Storm Elliott moves through the state. Severe, high winds downed trees and powerlines, interrupting service to customers overnight. Damage and outages are primarily concentrated in North Georgia and metro Atlanta.
“Our teams are working safely and as quickly as possible to restore service in these extreme winter conditions as we continue to deal with high winds and icy roads,” says Georgia Power Manager of Storm Center Operations Ryan Poole.
By noon Friday, Georgia Power had restored service to approximately 120,000 customers statewide, and EMCs had restored service to over 23,000 members. Outage maps are posted online to keep customers updated on restoration efforts.
Habersham EMC has been updating its members through social media, thanking them for their patience and reminding them of the extreme conditions their line crews face.
Georgia Power, too, acknowledges the hardships on crews and customers.
“To our customers directly affected by this winter storm, we recognize it’s extremely cold and that we’re in the midst of the holiday season. On behalf of the Georgia Power team, we thank you for your patience and understanding,” says Poole.
The state’s largest utility says its crews are working “around the clock” at power generation plants to ensure their ability to meet increased demand in these extremely low temperatures.
Subfreezing temperatures are expected through Christmas. Wind chill warnings and advisories remain in effect through Christmas Eve. Public safety officials urge people to remain indoors if possible. If you must go outside, make sure to dress warmly in layers, fully covering your skin with hats, gloves, face masks, and scarves to prevent hypothermia.
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