Company Response to COVID-19

An Installment Payment Plan is a special program we’ve initiated to help customers who had self-identified to Georgia Power that they were covered by the Governor’s extended shelter in place order that ended April 8, 2021, and who may need assistance paying for their electric service. We understand many of our customers have been impacted by COVID-19, so we want to ensure we’re taking extra steps to keep your lights on.

The Installment Payment Plan is designed to help you to better manage your outstanding bill. The Installment Payment Plan bills any outstanding dollars in smaller increments over a six-month timeframe with your new monthly bill, beginning immediately upon enrollment.

You will be billed an installment amount along with any new monthly bill from May/June 2021 through October/November 2021. Billing will begin in the next cycle after your enrollment.

Some charges such as late payment fees, deposits, and merchandise fees are not eligible for the installment plan. Only eligible dollars will be included in the installment plan. Ineligible charges will remain outstanding on your bill until paid.

Customers that self-identified with the company as covered under the Governor’s extended shelter in place order can enroll in Installment Payment Plans beginning Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Customers can do so by responding to the communications received from Georgia Power with their account number and either 6 digit access code, social security number or email address associated with their online account or by calling Georgia Power Customer Service at 1-888-660-5890. .

Customers are encouraged to enroll in an Installment Payment Plan as soon as possible and will be able to do so from April 20, 2021 through June 14, 2021.

Once the Installment Payment Plan is established, normal collections will be followed for future bills. From May/June 2021 through October/November 2021, installments will be due along with your current bill. If payment in full is not received by the due date, service could become eligible for disconnection. All remaining installments will be due based on the agreed-upon terms of the installment payment plan.

Georgia Power partners with nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations to help those most in need make their monthly bill payments. Customers that need additional assistance during this time can learn more by visiting www.GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyAssistance.

You will be offered only one Installment Payment Plan. Any unpaid balances accumulated after the installment plan is in place will be subject to normal operating procedures, including possible disconnection. This will not impact any dollars placed in the Installment Payment Plan.

You can establish another Installment Payment Plan. Please note - dollars previously associated with the first Installment Payment Plan that launched in the summer of 2020 cannot be rolled into a new Installment Payment Plan. Only customers who self-identified with the company as being covered under the Governor’s extended shelter in place order can enroll in the current Installment Payment Plan.

Another option available is to enroll in the PrePay rate. This rate plan provides flexibility  to set aside unpaid dollars into a deferred account. The PrePay rate puts you in control  of when you pay for your electricity. As you use electricity, your balance is reduced. This flexibility allows you to better manage your budget and energy usage. And best of all, there is no deposit  requirement, no credit check, and no reconnect fees when you participate in the PrePay plan. 

Customers on, or switching to, PrePay plan can make payments for current energy usage with 25 percent of their payments going toward their outstanding balance. No late fees will be charged on outstanding balances paid at this time.

For more information about our PrePay rate, and to see if you are eligible, please visit georgiapower.com/prepay.

Service is not free at this time. Customers are encouraged to continue making payments to avoid large past-due balances and potential disconnection of service.

Yes, everyone that can pay their bill should continue doing so by their due date. The temporary disconnect moratorium for customers that have self-identified under the Governor’s extended shelter in place order will be lifted on June 15, 2021. We are encouraging those who can pay their bill to do so in order to avoid accumulating a large balance or face potential disconnection. If you need assistance, we encourage you to sign up for the Installment Payment Plan beginning April 20, 2021.

Effective June 15, 2021, if you are unable to make your payment and your service is past due, you be may be subject to disconnection. We encourage customers to make payments and to enroll in an Installment Payment Plan.

Ending the suspension of disconnections for nonpayment means the extra time we gave customers to pay if they needed it has ended. If you are in an unusual situation and need assistance, we’ll work with you on payment needs through the Installment Payment Plan or Energy Assistance team. Please enroll in an installment plan by June 14, 2021.

PrePay service has resumed normal operations. We encourage our customers to keep a positive balance on their account to avoid interruption of service. If you accumulated negative balances greater than $5 on your account through June 13, 2021, this amount will automatically be added to your deferred balance as the repayment option. This will allow you to reduce the accumulated balance over a period and allow you to better manage your budget.

Customers on, or switching to, PrePay plan can make payments for current energy usage with 25 percent of their payments going toward their outstanding balance. No late fees will be charged on outstanding balances paid at this time. For more information about the PrePay rate, please click here.

Georgia Power partners with nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations to offer assistance programs to those in need. These programs include:

• Georgia Power's Senior Citizen Discount – Georgia Power customers 65 years of age or older who meet the income requirements for eligibility can receive up to $24 a month off their bill.
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – Georgia Power supports the Division of Family & Children Services to help qualifying, low-income households pay their home energy bills.
• The Salvation Army's Project SHARE: Established in partnership with The Salvation Army, Georgia Power customers can provide assistance to residents in the same community for expenses, such as utility bills, housing, food and medical necessities.

Visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyAssistance for more information. 

In addition, we have developed an Installment Payment Plan to assist eligible customers who are behind on their bills. Please review the Installment Payment Plan section for more information.

Customers may also be interested in the PrePay rate, which puts you in control of when you pay for your electricity. This program allows you to pay as you go with your PrePay account. As you use electricity, your balance is reduced. This flexibility allows you to better manage your budget and energy usage. And best of all, there is no deposit requirement, no credit check, and no reconnect fees when you participate in the PrePay plan. For more information, please click here.

Yes, you will continue to receive these notifications if you are signed up for bill alerts and reminders. You will still receive the following alerts if enrolled:

• Bill Notification Alerts
• Bill Due Reminder Alerts
• Bill Past Due Alerts
• Payment Arrangement Reminder
• Daily Usage Summary & Usage Alerts
• Monthly Usage Alerts
• Enrollments (Project Share, Flat Bill, Auto Pay)
• Service Orders Confirmations (Connect and Disconnect)

Click here to sign up online for bill alerts.

Yes, you can still make payments at thousands of APLs statewide. Payments are accepted as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. Additionally, payments can be made using kiosks within some of these stores requiring no person-to-person contact.

To find an APL near you visit https://www.georgiapower.com/residential/payment- options/authorized-payment-locations.html or text GPPAY to 99123.

Georgia Power is urging customers to be aware of scammers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Georgia Power will never ask for a credit card or pre-paid debit card number over the phone. If a customer receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from Georgia Power and demanding payment to avoid disconnection, they should hang up and contact the company's customer service line at 888-660-5890.

As part of our efforts to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, we’re taking extra steps before any direct interactions with our customers or others in the public. If an in-person meeting is necessary, our employees may ask a series of questions before entering a home or facility. They may also wear special protective clothing and ask that you help them maintain a distance of at least 6 feet. We will also try to resolve issues by phone or other communication methods to avoid the need for direct interactions when possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Georgia Power has been closely monitoring the potential threat posed by COVID-19 since January. Proactive actions have been taken to both prevent the spread of the illness and protect the safety and health of employees, including:

• Implementing telecommuting for those who can perform their duties remotely
• Cancelling facility tours and external meetings
• Increasing cleaning frequency at company locations
• Aggressively sanitizing work areas
• Cancelling all non-essential business travel – both domestic and international
• Asking employees to self-identify, if they have or plan to travel internationally
• Using technology for meetings

The company regularly provides information and updates on the virus to employees, including prevention recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, and is following the latest developments and updates from public health officials and medical professionals.

While the majority of our employees are now teleworking from their homes, we do have employees who work in business-critical functions that cannot be performed remotely. All Georgia Power offices and operating headquarters have been deep cleaned and hand sanitizer or wipes are available throughout the buildings and on each company truck. Our employees and crews are also taking extra precautions including staggering arrivals and departures at company locations, practicing social distancing, taking all meetings via conference call and receiving job assignments electronically. 

Georgia Power’s Customer Service team is available to answer questions regarding your residential account Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at 1-888-660-5890. They are also available via chat. Georgia Power also encourages customers to download the company’s free mobile app.

As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread, Georgia Power wants to assure customers that the company has comprehensive plans and procedures to ensure a continuation of operations and service.

As a part of your community, we are determined to continue delivering the safe and reliable power you need while helping to protect the health and safety of our employees and our customers.

We’re taking steps to ensure the stability and continuity of our operations, including resource and supply chain planning. Delivering reliable power is our responsibility – and it’s our commitment to you.