Thousands cope with power outages in CSRA after storm
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Georgia Power said Friday its crews were prepared and responding to issues quickly after winter weather moved through the state.
Statewide, 84,379 Georgia Power customers were without power as of 11:50 p.m.
Most of those outages were around Atlanta, but some stretched into the CSRA, including:
- Columbia County: Nearly 980 customers
- Glascock County: More than 120 customers
- Jefferson County: More than 60 customers
- Lincoln County: More than 173 customers
- McDuffie County: More than 2,100 customers
- Richmond County: More than 800 customers
- Taliaferro County: More than 280 customers
- Warren County: More than 300 customers
- Wilkes County: More than 820 customers
All Georgia Power resources were engaged and well-positioned, the company said.
In addition to local crews, the company moved crews from south Georgia to reinforce efforts where needed, with additional personnel available from within the Southern Company system and Florida.
The company offered these safety tips:
- Watch for Georgia Power crews working across the state. If you must be on the roads, please move over one lane for utility vehicles stopped on the side of the road – it’s the law in Georgia.
- Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire. Warn those going out to play in snow or clear debris to watch for and avoid downed wires.
- Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with heavy snow, debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be concealed. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line.
- Take care if using a portable generator. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions, avoid using generators in enclosed spaces and be mindful of electrical safety. Click here for more safety ti
Also watching the situation was Jefferson Energy, an electric cooperative that serves a swath of the CSRA, including parts of Richmond County.
Jefferson had been actively preparing by stocking up on supplies, readying equipment and securing additional , including storm assessors, line crews, tree crews and a fully staffed call center.
“Our goal is to implement the most effective restoration plan for our ,” Jefferson said.
Here’s a list of warming shelters in Augusta to escape the cold
With the cold rolling in, Augusta is offering day and overnight warming shelters ready to keep you safe and warm.
The upside of the winter storm coming after Helene is that many of the weaker trees were brought down.
The downside is that there are still many trees with perilously hanging branches that could come down without much effort.
“We would also like to remind our about the debris still lingering in our areas from Hurricane Helene, including damaged trees, limbs, and brush,” Jefferson said in a statement. “This debris remains a concern as it could threaten our power lines during the storm.”
MORE FROM NEWS 12
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- What can renters do if pipes burst due to winter weather?
- Don’t get burned by cold-weather home repair scams
- Local fire crews warn of heating hazards in cold weather
- How to spot warning signs of frostbite, hypothermia
- Protecting your most precious plants from winter’s wrath
- Stay inside if you can during cold snap, experts say
- Winter weather myths debunked to keep you safe
- If your pipes freeze or break, follow this advice from experts
- How to get help with your heating bill in the CSRA
- What to know if you’ll be driving in subfreezing weather
- How to protect your heating system during freezing temperatures
- How to stay warm on a budget and beat the cold weather
- Trouble from burst pipes can linger well beyond a freeze
- Keep your pipes from bursting in freezing weather
- How to prepare your home for major freeze
Stay informed
- Georgia Power: Visit the outage and storm center at https://www.georgiapower.com/about/safety/outages-storm-center.html?cid=redirect_vanity_storm to check the status of outages and access safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by ing Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
- Jefferson Energy: Sign up for alerts by texting “JECOUTAGE” to 877-JEFFERSON (877-533-3377) to receive notifications and information. Visit the Facebook page at Jefferson Energy and outage map at www.jec.coop. can also reach member service representatives at 706-592-2167.
Tips
- Optimize heating – Heating can for 50% of a home’s typical winter energy usage. Enhance the efficiency of your heating unit by changing filters monthly, or every three months for pleated filters. Make sure heating vents and return air s are unobstructed by furniture or drapes.
- Check your insulation – Keep heat where it belongs by ensuring proper insulation in attics and walls. Replace any cracked or peeling caulk or weatherstripping around doors and windows to save up to 10 percent on energy usage and reduce cold air infiltration into your home.
- Adjust your thermostat – Set your manual thermostat to 68 degrees or lower. Each degree lower can result in a 3-4% decrease in energy consumption. Or take advantage of programmable thermostat features if available to save energy throughout the day.
- Utilize natural heat – Open blinds and shades on sunny days to naturally warm your home at no cost. Close them at night to minimize the chill from cold windows.
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