Mr. Network Moves On: Catching up with Pete Risse

Pete Risse started with Georgia Power as a co-op student from Georgia Tech working in the transformer repair shop at Atlanta’s Davis Street Steam Plant on March 28, 1955. A naturalized American Citizen from East Germany, Pete and his mother fled war-torn Europe in the 1940s after his mother married an American G.I. and eventually settled in Atlanta – graduating from Grady High School before finding his way to Georgia Tech. 

Pete joined Georgia Power’s Network Underground division about 10 years into his employment and stayed there for the next six decades. Pete’s 70 years with the company saw a transformation of the industry and the world, much of which Pete helped to usher in. As the group’s principal engineer, Pete literally wrote the book on Network Underground, and the spec books that Pete created for Georgia Power’s network have found life even beyond our company and are still in use today. 

June marks three months of retirement for Pete, who, at 90 years old, is still as passionate and enthusiastic about engineering as he was when his co-op advisor at Georgia Tech asked him the fateful question “Do you like to swim in oil?” before assigning him to repair transformers in mid-century Atlanta. 

Pete has had a monumental impact throughout his remarkable career, not only on Georgia Power but the state of Georgia, and the energy industry as a whole. We’re thrilled to honor and celebrate Pete, whose tenure has impacted generations of Georgia Power employees and retirees, and whose legacy will live on for decades to come. 

We caught up with Pete shortly before his official retirement to ask about his incredible career and what he’s looking forward to now. If you’re interested in reading more, you can also check out Pete’s journey as featured in a front-page Atlanta Journal-Constitution story.

The below excerpts have been edited for space. 

What are you most looking forward to in retirement?

I’ll have to find out! I’ve got some things to do around the house, and I enjoy yard work. I’ll do what I can, though I’ve slowed down a bit. I also have hobbies—one of them used to be square dancing, but I had to give that up a couple of years ago. I still do clock and watch repair as a hobby, just by word of mouth, and I also enjoy listening to shortwave radio. I’ve got a room in my house dedicated to that. 

What was your proudest moment at Georgia Power?

One of my proudest moments was being nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award at one of our Christmas engineers’ meetings. I didn’t expect it, but in 2002, I was chosen. I’ve also been recognized as an “Experienced Leader Over 60” at a ceremony hosted by Jocelyn Dorsey from Channel 2. I was in Savannah for a meeting when my supervisor told me to come back for an award presentation. Out of about 100 nominees, I was selected. It didn’t register that my name had been called. My wife had to tell me, “You won it!” because I was so surprised.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Georgia Power?

I loved the work—every part of it. I got involved in materials, system design, and even created a specification book for Network Underground that crews still use today. The job just got in my system. I also had a great mentor, though I didn’t realize it at the time. He assigned me major projects early in my career, like designing an underground transmission line through downtown Atlanta and installing submarine cables across Peachtree Creek. He was preparing me to replace him. 

Can you share your secrets to success?

My advice is simple: enjoy what you do. When you love the work, it becomes part of you. I’ve also learned that staying in one place and gaining deep knowledge is invaluable. Network Underground is highly specialized—it’s not like distribution, where you set up a transformer on a pole and move on. Our projects can take years and require careful planning. I’ve seen a lot of change over the years, from materials to technology, but the key to success has always been the same: dedication, learning, and taking pride in what you do. Really, just keep up the good work.

As Pete settles into retirement, his impact on Georgia Power and Network Underground will be felt for generations to come.