Georgia Power
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| Georgia Power | |
|---|---|
| Name | Georgia Power |
| Type | Public utility |
| Industry | Electricity generation, Electricity transmission, Electricity distribution |
| Founded | 0 1902 |
| Founder | Henry M. Atkinson |
| Hq location | Atlanta |
| Hq country | United States |
| Area served | Most of Georgia |
| Key people | Kimberly Greene (Chairman and CEO) |
| Parent | Southern Company |
| Website | https://www.georgiapower.com |
Georgia Power. It is the largest electric utility subsidiary of the Southern Company, one of the largest energy providers in the United States. The company provides electricity to millions of customers across most of the state of Georgia, excluding areas served by electric membership cooperatives and some municipal utilities. Its operations encompass power generation, a vast transmission and distribution network, and extensive customer service functions regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission.
History
The company's origins trace back to the Georgia Electric Light Company, founded in Atlanta by Henry M. Atkinson in 1883. Following a period of consolidation among various Streetcar and lighting companies, the modern entity was formally incorporated in 1902 as the Georgia Railway and Electric Company. A pivotal moment came in 1927 with the formation of the Commonwealth & Southern Corporation by Wendell Willkie, which brought the utility under a larger holding company structure. After the breakup of such holdings under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the company emerged as a core subsidiary of the newly formed Southern Company in 1949. Significant milestones in its development include the construction of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant and the Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion, alongside the acquisition of the Savannah Electric system.
Operations and service area
The company's service territory covers over 57,000 square miles, encompassing 155 of 159 counties in Georgia. Major metropolitan areas served include Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, and Savannah. Its operations are divided into transmission, which uses high-voltage lines to move power from plants, and distribution, which delivers electricity to homes and businesses through a network of substations and poles. The company maintains critical infrastructure, responds to outages caused by events like Hurricane Michael and tornadoes, and manages grid modernization efforts under directives from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
Power generation portfolio
The company operates a diverse mix of power generation facilities with a total capacity exceeding 17,000 megawatts. Its nuclear fleet includes units at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant and the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, home to the first new reactors built in the U.S. in decades. A significant portion of its electricity comes from coal-fired plants such as Plant Bowen and Plant Scherer, though several units have been retired. The portfolio is supplemented by natural gas facilities like Plant McDonough and a growing array of renewable resources, including solar farms and purchases from the hydropower facilities of the Southeastern Power Administration.
Environmental record and initiatives
The company's environmental profile has evolved, marked by settlements with the Environmental Protection Agency over Clean Air Act violations at its coal plants. In response to regulatory and economic pressures, it has retired several older coal units and invested in emissions control technology, known as scrubbers, at facilities like Plant Bowen. Current initiatives focus on expanding renewable energy, with major investments in utility-scale solar and a commitment to add significant new solar and battery storage capacity. The company also administers energy efficiency programs like the Home Energy Improvement Program and is involved in the cleanup of coal combustion residuals ponds as mandated by state and federal rules.
Rates and regulation
As a regulated monopoly, its retail electricity rates, financing for major projects like Plant Vogtle, and integrated resource plans must be approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission. The commission reviews the company's requests for base rate adjustments and fuel cost recovery through the Fuel Cost Recovery mechanism. Major proceedings have included contentious debates over the cost recovery for the Vogtle nuclear expansion, with decisions impacting customer bills for decades. The company also offers various tariffs and programs, such as time-of-use rates and the PrePay plan, under the regulatory oversight of the commission.
Corporate structure and leadership
The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary and the largest operating company within the Southern Company system. Its leadership is headed by a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, a position held by Kimberly Greene since 2022, who also serves as President of Southern Company. The executive team includes senior vice presidents overseeing divisions such as External Affairs, Customer Service, and Generation. The company's corporate headquarters are located in downtown Atlanta, and it is a significant contributor to the state's economy and philanthropic efforts through the Georgia Power Foundation.
Category:Electric power companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Atlanta Category:Southern Company