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COMMUNITY EVENT

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Facebook Live Panel Discussion

We held an enlightening conversation with prominent community leaders like Younghoo Choo, Atlanta Falcons placekicker, during our Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Facebook Live Event, moderated by 11Alive Reporter Chenue Her.


STORM PREPAREDNESS

A Tale of Preparedness: Newnan family rebuilds after severe tornado

Few weather events are more dangerous and terrifying than tornadoes—especially here in Georgia. During the spring storm season between March and April, the state records approximately 30 tornadoes annually according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A tornado seemingly shows up in the blink of an eye, destroys, then disappears into thin air before anyone has been able to process the life-changing experience.

Such was the case with the tornado that swept through Newnan, Georgia just before midnight on Thursday, March 25. At a force of approximately 170 mph and just over a mile wide, this tornado will forever be etched into Newnan’s history.

“Caring folks have dropped off tarps, food, supplies, and others have been texting and checking in on us and our neighbors regularly since the tornado.
We have been overwhelmed by the support of our neighbors.

– Newnan Homeowners, Leslie and Ty Thurman

Leslie and Ty Thurman as well as two of their three daughters were home that evening. Fortunately, they signed up for Coweta County emergency alerts and designated their basement as a place of refuge during times of emergency – a preventative action that likely saved their lives.

Shortly after receiving a notification, the tornado tore the roof completely off the Thurman’s home. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the family is now looking for a short-term rental while their home is being repaired.

The Thurman’s are a great example of why it’s important to be informed and prepared before and during severe storms. We encourage all customers to have a plan in place and sign up for our free outage alerts by texting REG to GAPWR (427-97). It’s the quickest way to get updates when severe storms like a tornados strike.


POWER QUALITY & RELIABILITY

Power restoration after a storm

When the storm has passed, safety remains our highest priority.

Before we can get your power back on, these are the steps we take to ensure that:

  1. Before electricity can power our homes and businesses, it travels through large feeders, or transmission lines, into our communities. If these are damaged in a storm, crews must repair these first before any other work can be done.

  2. Once it’s safe for crews to enter the field, they will arrive on scene to identify the cause and severity of the damage, and the tools needed to fix it.

  3. Crews will begin working to restore the greatest number of outages in the shortest amount of time. Depending on the severity of damage, some outages are more complex and might require more time and resources.

For more information about outages and our restoration process visit:

georgiapower.com/storm


ENERGY EFFICIENCY SOLUTIONS

Real Talk with energy-efficiency tips expert Terrilyn

Real talk? Georgia gets blazing hot in the summer! We asked energy-efficiency tip expert Terrilyn Simmons, what advice she could provide to help save energy and money at home this summer.

GP: Hey Terrilyn, what can customers do right now to save energy?

TS: Hi! Four easy, money-saving tips come to mind ...
  1. Recycle your old, secondary fridge or freezer.
    If you have an older refrigerator unit or freezer in your basement or garage, it could be costing you up to $125 per year to run it! Consider recycling your old fridge and we’ll give you $35 and pick it up for free!
    Learn more about recycling your old appliance

  2. Check your air vents!
    Make sure they are clear of blockages including furniture, curtains, etc. Blocking your air vents can prevent the proper air flow of warm and cool air throughout your home.

  3. Change your air filter!?
    Changing standard air filters once a month or pleated filters once every three months can lower your cooling system’s energy consumption by up to 1%. A dirty filter can slow down the air flow in your home which makes your system work harder to keep you comfortable.

  4. Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs.
    ENERGY STAR® qualified LED bulbs can light up your home as well as traditional bulbs while using 90% less energy.
GP: Where can customers find products to assist with reducing their energy consumption?

TS: Great question! Our Georgia Power Marketplace offers a variety of energy-efficient options.

There are rebates available for products customers can use now, such as LED bulbs and smart thermostats.
Visit georgiapowermarketplace.com to shop — it’s that easy.

For more energy-efficiency tips and resources visit:

georgiapower.com/energyefficiency


SAFETY TIPS

Georgia Power celebrates National Electrical Safety Month

May marks National Electrical Safety Month – a time to spotlight the importance of electricity in everyday life, as well as electrical safety in and around the house.

  • Consider the Cord – Don’t place appliance cords where they will come into contact with stoves or other heated surfaces, over countertops or areas where they could be pulled. Look for frayed appliance cords, inspect them regularly and never substitute an extension cord for permanent wiring.

  • Ladders Matter – Exercise caution when using ladders around the house, painting, pruning or cleaning near a service drop as all ladders can conduct electricity.

  • Watch for Wires – Keep balloons, kites, fishing lines, aluminum poles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) away from overhead lines every day and as line crews work in the field.

  • Prep Poolside – Don’t use electrical appliances near pools and never route extension cords around pools.

  • Focus on Fire Prevention – Avoid storing combustibles such as paint, cardboard, sawdust and flammable liquids near electrical equipment or fuse boxes.

For more electrical safety information, as well as a home appliance amp reference chart and information on circuits and wiring visit:

georgiapower.com/safety


PAYMENT OPTIONS

Affordable Rate Plans

We offer several rate plans to fit your needs. Not sure which plan is right for you? We're here to help you understand your options.

A HELPFUL NEIGHBOR

Energy Assistance Programs

We are committed to giving back to the communities we serve. We work with several organizations and community partners to help customers in need.

SURGEDEFENDER

Safeguard Your Appliances

We can help protect your home’s motor-driven appliances like washers, refrigerators, dishwashers and air conditioners from power surges.

Check out other issue of Electric Living

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