ATLANTA, Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power customers are starting 2014 with increased reliability due to the recent completion of a statewide smart grid improvement project conducted through a multiyear Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE). The $109 million project, which includes $52.5 million in funds from the DOE and $56.5 million from the company, is part of a larger $165 million agreement between Southern Company and the DOE under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for improvements throughout the company's four-state service territory.

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Through the project, Georgia Power has been able to create 73 self-healing networks made up of 174 feeders.  Self-healing networks that can automatically isolate problems and restore power to unaffected areas have helped decrease service disruptions. Overall, the improvements have had a direct impact on customer reliability including faster recognition of outages and outage locations, improved restoration times when service is interrupted, increased efficiency of the grid and optimized grid operations.

Additionally, two key reliability measures, System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), have improved approximately 35.7 percent and 37 percent, respectively, for upgraded circuits through September 2013.

"These enhancements to our grid and processes are allowing us to work smarter across our system and better serve all of our customers throughout the state," said Leslie Sibert, vice president of distribution for Georgia Power. "Although our customers are already seeing a positive impact on reliability and service, this project will continue to provide economic and environmental benefits for the growing state of Georgia for years to come."

The project has helped Georgia Power defer the need for an additional 200 megawatts of generation and avoid 61,000 truck trips for service calls, totaling more than 635,000 saved miles, through September 2013. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by more than 4,000 tons, including generation reduction, and nearly $3.5 million in costs for the company have been avoided.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.  Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

SOURCE Georgia Power