Funding focused on innovative approaches to
expanding transmission capacity and adding resiliency as company
works to meet the energy needs of a growing Georgia
ATLANTA, Oct. 21,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power, the state's
largest electric utility serving 2.7 million customers, has been
awarded more than $160 million
in funding by the Department of Energy (DOE) through its Grid
Deployment Office. As Georgia
continues to grow, the company is ensuring that customers have
access to clean, safe, reliable, and affordable power, and actively
pursued the funding available under the Grid Resilience and
Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program established by the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help reduce the costs of necessary
investments for the benefit of customers.
Investments under the GRIP Program are intended to enhance grid
flexibility, improve the resilience of the power system against
extreme weather and ensure American communities have access to
affordable, reliable electricity when and where they need it.
"We know our customers depend on us to make the investments
needed in the state's power grid to ensure that we provide the
energy resilience and reliability they value and expect, while
keeping energy prices affordable," said Fran Forehand, senior vice president of
Transmission for Georgia Power. "Leveraging federal funding and
working with the DOE to integrate innovative technology is a great
example of how we do this. Thanks to the robust and long-term
planning process we have in place with the Georgia Public Service
Commission (PSC), the investments we're making in a smarter and
more resilient power grid are showing value for our customers
during extreme weather events such as Hurricane Helene, and every
day."
Projects funded by the grant will be varied and will benefit
communities across Georgia. As
Georgia Power continues to transition to cleaner forms of energy
and transform its electric grid, investments in the state's
transmission system – the high voltage power lines that transport
electricity from generation sources to individual communities – are
critical.
Through funding from the GRIP program, Georgia Power will deploy
new grid-enhancing technologies including dynamic line rating
technology and reconductoring of high voltage power lines. Improved
conductor technology can be deployed on existing structures, placed
in service much faster than a traditional line build, and can help
maximize the amount of power that can be carried through existing
transmission lines and in existing rights of way. These investments
are important to not only serve existing and new customers but also
to help connect a growing amount of clean generation required to
serve Georgia's growing
electricity needs. For example, Georgia is a Top 10 state for solar growth
and, as renewable generation continues to come online, these
investments will unlock additional opportunities for renewable
generation deployment within critical locations and disadvantaged
communities. The investments also increase energy resilience,
including reducing outage frequency and duration.
Increasing collaboration, community and stakeholder engagement,
and industry improvement are also key elements of projects under
the GRIP Program. As the company invests in its system, Georgia
Power plans to share insights, lessons learned and best practices
with the broader industry through its work with the Edison Electric
Institute (EEI), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the
Association of Edison Illuminating Companies and others.
Many community organizations assisted the company in its
application such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers (IBEW), the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council,
Fort Valley State University, the
Savannah Economic Development Authority and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, among
others. Georgia Power is grateful for the support of these
organizations during the application process and will continue to
solicit input and expertise of these organizations and other
stakeholders throughout the state. For example, through the
project, Georgia Power will work with IBEW union crews to provide
training on the installation and configuration of new types of
transmission conductors being installed. The use of these new
technologies is expected to provide community benefits such as
decreased environmental impacts, increased clean enterprise
contracting for businesses majority owned or controlled by
underrepresented persons or groups, increased high-quality job
creation and job training.
Click here to access the full Georgia Power GRIP fact
sheet.
Over the past 10 years, Georgia Power has invested more than
$10 billion in strengthening the
power grid through programs and initiatives approved by the Georgia
PSC. Georgia Power continued this ongoing work on projects
throughout Georgia communities in
2023 resulting in a strong year for reliability performance. Read
more here.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern
Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value,
Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones
of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four
of Georgia's 159 counties.
Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable
energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation
mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as
renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power
focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every
day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry
leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
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SOURCE Georgia Power