Catching Up with Garnett and Peggy Grubb
Keeping Current
Catching Up with Garnett and Peggy Grubb
One of Georgia Power’s most enduring legacies is its history of multi-generational employee families, but few of those have been more influential than the Grubbs. Garnett Grubb joined the company in 1969 and spent nearly forty years in the Georgia Power system building strong and lasting relationships with people in every corner of the state, while his wife Peggy joined the Women of Georgia Power (now Citizens of Georgia Power) in 1970 as a volunteer and served in that capacity for two decades before officially joining the ranks as an employee and serving for two more decades.
Both Garnett and Peggy have retired, he in 2006 and she in 2013, but the legacy of their family remains strong. Their son Jeff Grubb is currently Director of Resource Policy & Planning for Georgia Power, a pivotal role as we navigate the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). You can read more about the 2025 IRP via the link at the bottom of this email.
We spoke to Garnett and Peggy about their time with Georgia Power and their lives beyond the office.
The following excerpts have been edited for space.
What are you up to now?
Peggy
Garnett and I stay active with the Ambassadors group—we’re visiting 18 chapters across the state this year. We also spend time with our five grandchildren, attend their games, and take care of our yard. Oh, and we feed deer. It’s a good life.
Garnett
I started a retirement social group called Gurus because I missed the people. After 30 years working with someone, you build connections. Now that I’m retired, I needed a way to keep up those connections. These days it’s gotten so big we’re having to turn people away because the venue can’t hold them.
What are some of your proudest moments from your time here?
Peggy:
Getting Electric Kids approved in 1991 stands out. We had two employees pass away in one week, leaving five children without their primary breadwinner. It took three years of effort, but we got that charity in place to support the children of employees and retirees. That program, along with the Georgia Power Family House and the educational loan fund, are some of my proudest legacies.
I became the first Volunteer Services Manager in 2002, and I helped unify scattered volunteer efforts across the state. It wasn’t just a title; it was about creating a community—bringing together Ambassadors, Citizens, and statewide initiatives. The goal was simple: to ensure we were working in synergy for our employees and communities.
Another standout moment was working with the opening and closing ceremonies teams during the Atlanta Olympics. We spent weeks rehearsing in the summer heat, coordinating the events, and supporting the athletes. It was a proud moment—not just for me, but for everyone at Georgia Power who played a role.
When I retired in 2013, they named one of the Georgia Power Family Houses* after me. That meant everything. It’s a tangible reminder of the work we’ve done to help employees and their families. I still feel connected to that mission today.
Garnett:
Working alongside my wife Peggy in 1991 was one of my proudest moments. You might expect me to say it was one of the big projects, but no, it was Peggy. We were a team, and that’s something I’ll always treasure.
My career wasn’t just about work. I moved eight times in 22 years, working from Tyrone to Eastman to Atlanta. Each move was a new challenge—relocating lines, coordinating construction at Hartsfield Airport, or helping Georgia Power navigate customer choice. It wasn’t just a job; it was an adventure.
The oil embargo in 1974 was a turning point. We couldn’t pay our bills. Georgia Power’s district managers, myself included, had to go out and secure multiple $25,000 loans from local banks to keep the company afloat. Imagine that! All of us in the regions were asking for checks from bank presidents to keep the lights on. The company is in a much better place now – you don’t hear about that kind of thing happening today.
I created the Industrial Communications Council in 2000 to give our big industrial customers a voice. They were using as much energy as we were producing. I figured instead of letting them hear only from their advocates, they should hear our side of the story too. It’s one of the best things I did.
*Georgia Power Family Houses are homes owned by the company that are reserved as temporary dwellings for families within the system that need to travel long distances for medical treatment. They are available for Georgia Power and Southern Company employees, retirees, and immediate family members to use for overnight or extended stay for the family of a patient in and Atlanta hospital. The Peggy M. Grubb Family House is located near Emory Hospital in northeast Atlanta.
Can you share your secrets to success at Georgia Power?
Peggy:
Be ready to serve. Whether you’re volunteering time, giving blood, or pitching in wherever needed, Georgia Power thrives because its employees care. And that’s a lesson that holds true in any part of life.
You can talk about programs all day long, but it’s the employees who make Georgia Power special. Whether it’s responding to disasters like Hurricane Katrina or doing things like pulling together Christmas gifts for Mississippi Power children after the storm, it’s the people who step up and make it happen. That’s what sets this company apart.
Garnett:
Here’s my advice: you’ll have ups and downs. That’s life. But if you can survive the downs, the ups are just around the corner. Even when it feels like you’re getting knocked down, your rewards are coming. You just have to hang in there long enough to see them.
I started at Georgia Power on my birthday in December 1969, and I felt like I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. That was a long time ago, and things were different then. I was thrown into the fire, relocating distribution lines for the construction of I-75, doing stuff I’d never done before. They say experience is the best teacher, and I learned quickly. Sometimes you feel like you’re surrounded by alligators, so you figure out how to swim.
