Georgia EMC

Let’s keep the power and internet flowing this hunting season - #DontShootTheLines! Power lines often serve as roosting spots for doves, making them easy targets for hunters. However, firing at these lines poses significant risks and costs.

Our vice president of training and safety, Harry Reeves, was inducted into the International Lineman’s Hall of Fame in October. At our Annual Meeting last week, we were able to formally recognize him for this honor in a room filled with his EMC colleagues from across Georgia. We are so grateful for his dedication to linework and for the significant impact he has made on EMCs in Georgia. “Linework is more than a profession – it’s a calling,” said Dennis Chastain, president of Georgia EMC. “It’s a calling for people who, at their core, beats the heart of a servant. A heart filled with passion to serve other and help their fellow man. No one embodies that more than Harry Reeves.” Read the Full Story: https://lnkd.in/dEt4vvBN

At Georgia EMC's Annual Meeting held earlier this month in Savannah, we presented the 2024 Lifesaving Awards, which recognize EMC employees whose courageous actions were instrumental in rescuing someone from grave and immediate danger. These brave and heroic employees truly saved lives this year by assisting drivers of vehicle accidents, rescuing the pilot and passengers of an airplane crash, aiding choking victims, saving individuals from drowning and getting proper care for individuals in medical distress. Congratulations to each of these deserving recipients, who represent Central Georgia EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Coastal Electric Cooperative, GreyStone Power Corporation, Georgia Transmission, Okefenoke REMC and Washington EMC.

Representatives from Georgia’s EMCs and the Family of Companies, listed below, are among the 500 most influential Georgians in 2024 according to Georgia Trend magazine. We are proud of the work they do to enhance the energy & utility industry in Georgia to keep our state among the best of the best! Congratulations honorees! Dennis Chastain President and CEO Georgia EMC Greg Ford President and CEO Georgia System Operations Corporation Ray Grinberg CEO TRI-COUNTY EMC Barbara Hampton President & CEO Georgia Transmission Michael McMillan, President and CEO Southern Rivers Energy John Middleton General Manager Okefenoke REMC Gary Miller President & CEO GreyStone Power Corporation Jeremy Nelms President & CEO Flint Energies Jeff Pratt President Green Power EMC Mike Smith President & CEO Oglethorpe Power Corporation Read the Full Article: https://lnkd.in/eBFH7sfQ

Electricity isn’t just a commodity—it’s a necessity. No one knows that better than Georgia’s electric utilities. For more 50 years, Georgia has prioritized reliable, affordable electricity for all by maintaining a vertically integrated, regulated utility system. In a time when many states have deregulated their markets, resulting in higher rates and unreliable service, Georgia's commitment to long-term, diversified energy planning stands strong. As demand for electricity rises—driven by reshoring industrial manufacturing and technology growth—Georgia’s proactive, balanced approach to energy (nuclear, natural gas, coal, solar, and more) is more critical than ever. Learn more about how electric utilities are working to preserve Georgia’s competitive advantage in the Cooperative Concerns Column of the November issue of GEORGIA Magazine. https://lnkd.in/ezVuNBur

As the daughter of an Irwin EMC employee, Mercer University student Chloe Paulk knew how all-consuming power restoration efforts after a major storm can be. After Hurricane Helene passed through her hometown of Ocilla, she got to see those restoration efforts firsthand by spending several weekends as an Irwin EMC volunteer. She helped prepare and deliver meals for the 200 linemen and tree workers, log power outage reports, communicate with customers, coordinate laundry services and pick up necessary materials. “I am so glad that I get to see that side of storms,” said Paulk. “There’s a lot of damage around and a lot of bad things that have happened, but I get to see the flip side of that where the community comes together and provides for one another. I’m from a two-light town where everybody knows everybody there. I’m seeing community members come out left and right to help. It’s one of the situations where it’s been all-hands on deck.”

A fun day at the Sunbelt Ag Expo teaching kids about safety around electricity!

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