Georgia Power Continues Focus on Improving Reliability Through Grid Investment Program
Access to reliable and affordable electricity remains one of the most important foundations for economic growth and community development across the state of Georgia. As the state continues to experience strong population expansion, new industrial investments, and rising energy demand, Georgia Power is strengthening and modernizing the power grid to ensure customers have access to dependable energy.
Through its ongoing Grid Investment Program, the company has been systematically upgrading infrastructure across its service territory to enhance reliability, support economic growth, and improve service restoration during severe weather events. Over the last three years alone, Georgia Power has invested approximately $1.3 billion in grid improvements approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission. These investments are aimed at strengthening both the transmission and distribution systems that deliver electricity to homes, businesses, and industries across the state.
Major Progress in 2025 Grid Improvements
The year 2025 marked another significant milestone for Georgia Power’s Grid Investment Program. The company exceeded several key targets while continuing to modernize critical components of the electric grid. During the year, Georgia Power completed 104 distribution system projects, surpassing its original goal of 88 projects. These initiatives included improvements to local circuits, installation of advanced equipment, and structural enhancements designed to improve system reliability.
In addition to distribution upgrades, the company advanced 25 major transmission projects. These included five transmission line upgrades and 20 substation enhancement projects, all of which help strengthen the backbone of the state’s power delivery network. Transmission systems play a crucial role in transporting electricity from generation facilities to local distribution networks, and improvements in this area ensure energy can flow efficiently even during periods of peak demand.
As a result of these initiatives, more than 504,000 customers have experienced measurable improvements in service reliability. The upgrades are designed to reduce the frequency and duration of outages while also improving the grid’s resilience during severe weather events.
Improving Performance During Severe Weather
Extreme weather has increasingly tested the resilience of power infrastructure across the United States. Georgia is no exception, with storms, hurricanes, and winter weather posing challenges to power systems each year. Georgia Power’s investments in grid modernization have played a critical role in improving the company’s ability to respond quickly to these events.
One example came during Winter Storm Fern in January, which caused widespread disruptions across parts of the state. Despite challenging conditions, Georgia Power crews were able to restore electricity to approximately 175,000 customers within the first 24 hours following the storm. Rapid restoration was made possible through a combination of infrastructure improvements and advanced grid technology.
The value of these upgrades was also demonstrated after Hurricane Helene, which struck in September 2024 and became the most damaging storm in Georgia Power’s history. The storm caused extensive damage across large portions of the state, affecting transmission lines, substations, and distribution circuits.
Thanks to advanced smart-grid technologies and remote system monitoring tools, Georgia Power was able to restore service to more than one million customers within the first five days after the storm. Remote restoration capabilities allowed operators to reroute electricity and isolate damaged sections of the network without waiting for crews to reach every affected location physically. This not only reduced restoration times but also improved safety and efficiency for field crews working in difficult conditions.
Strategic Investments for a Growing State
Company leaders emphasize that these grid upgrades are not only about responding to storms but also about preparing for Georgia’s long-term growth. As industries expand and new businesses move into the state, the demand for reliable electricity continues to rise.
“Our priority is delivering clean, safer, and reliable energy for every customer we serve,” said Josh Stallings, vice president of distribution strategy and support at Georgia Power. “The progress made last year shows how strategic grid investments directly improve reliability and restoration speed, especially during severe weather.”
Stallings noted that the company will continue strengthening the electric grid to support Georgia’s economic expansion and ensure customers have consistent access to the energy they need. With population growth and increasing industrial activity across the state, maintaining a strong and resilient energy infrastructure remains a critical priority.
Local Projects Delivering Community Benefits
Throughout 2025, Georgia Power completed numerous local projects aimed at improving reliability in communities across its service territory. Each project was designed to address specific infrastructure needs and enhance performance during storms and other disruptive events.
Southwest Atlanta (Ben Hill)
In the Ben Hill area of southwest Atlanta, a grid improvement project incorporated several infrastructure upgrades to enhance system resilience. The initiative included the installation of stronger utility poles and updated equipment throughout the circuit. Pole strengthening projects are particularly important in areas vulnerable to high winds or severe weather, as they help prevent line failures and improve overall grid stability. These upgrades are expected to significantly improve reliability for customers in the surrounding community.
Stone Mountain
Another series of improvements took place in the Stone Mountain area. These projects focused on installing outage isolation equipment, which allows the power system to divide circuits into smaller sections. By isolating faults more quickly, operators can restore electricity to unaffected areas faster while repair crews address the damaged sections. Combined with stronger poles and upgraded hardware, the improvements help reduce outage duration and improve overall system performance for local customers.
Wilmington Island / Savannah
In the coastal region near Savannah, Georgia Power completed a major project on Wilmington Island that involved replacing overhead power lines with underground cables. Underground power lines are less vulnerable to damage from falling trees, strong winds, and vehicle accidents, making them a valuable solution in areas prone to storms or heavy vegetation. The project helps prevent outages and enhances reliability for residents and businesses on the island.
Large-Scale Infrastructure Achievements Since 2020
The Grid Investment Program, which began in 2020, has already delivered significant upgrades across Georgia Power’s system. Over the past several years, the company has completed a wide range of infrastructure improvements designed to strengthen both the transmission and distribution networks.
Key achievements since the program’s launch include:
- Upgrades to 364 circuits and substations across the state
- Installation of more than 5,500 advanced grid devices that enhance monitoring and automation
- Replacement or reinforcement of approximately 39,000 utility poles
- Installation of about 500 miles of underground power cable
These improvements not only enhance reliability but also enable the grid to support emerging technologies and future energy demands.
Measuring Reliability Improvements
Electric utilities rely on several key metrics to evaluate grid reliability. Two of the most important indicators are the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI).
SAIFI measures how often customers experience power interruptions, while SAIDI measures the total amount of time customers are without electricity during outages. Together, these metrics provide a comprehensive picture of grid performance.
In areas where Georgia Power has completed Grid Investment Program projects, the results have been significant. On average, these regions have seen up to a 50 percent improvement in both SAIFI and SAIDI metrics. This means customers in upgraded areas are experiencing roughly half as many outages and about half the outage duration compared with previous levels.
Preparing for the Future Energy Landscape
Looking ahead, Georgia Power plans to continue investing in grid modernization to meet evolving energy needs. As renewable energy sources expand, electric vehicles become more common, and electricity demand continues to grow, a more flexible and resilient grid will be essential.
By strengthening infrastructure, deploying advanced technologies, and implementing strategic improvements across its network, Georgia Power aims to ensure that the state’s power system remains reliable, efficient, and capable of supporting Georgia’s economic future.
Through continued investments in its Grid Investment Program, the company is helping build a stronger energy foundation for the communities, industries, and businesses that depend on reliable electricity every day.
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