SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Whether it’s a light rain or a strong storm, Georgia Power is upgrading their energy network to better serve their 2.7 million customers.

According to Georgia Power spokesperson Matthew Kent, this effort involves implementing smart grid technology. The objective is to lessen power outages when severe weather strikes.

“The technology can remotely restore power in the event that a line is down if there’s an available way to reroute that power,” Kent said.

“Additionally, at your residence, smart meters and other advanced technologies on the lines are being integrated to ensure that power outages are minimized after a storm,” Kent stated. “The main focus is to reduce any disruptions, as we understand the challenges of being without electricity.”

In 2023, the company reported customers were seeing up to 50% improvement. According to Kent, Hurricane Helene last year gave the company an opportunity to upgrade damaged technology.

“We had something like 11,000 poles, 1,000 miles of wire down and 3,000 transmitters. It was a lot of work to restore that,” Kent said.

The Public Service Commission is voting this month on whether or not to freeze the base rate for three years. Your rate is dependent on the plan you have.

Georgia Power sent the following statement on the rate freeze:

“At Georgia Power, customers are at the center of everything we do.  As costs around the country rise, Georgia Power remains committed to providing our customers with clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy.  We are well-positioned to balance mutual benefits that are available as a result of the extraordinary economic growth taking place in our state.

This stipulated agreement helps balance the affordability needs of our customers while ensuring Georgia Power remains equipped to continue its support of our state’s incredible growth – which is good for all of our stakeholders. We’re always working to keep energy reliable and affordable for customers, and this stipulated agreement means no base rate increases for three years – that’s great news for every customer.

Reaching this agreement is just the start of an open and transparent process, leading up to a vote by the Georgia PSC, which will include opportunities for comment and input from intervenors and the public.”