Georgia Power crews worked into the night Tuesday, restoring service to more than 75 percent of the 400,000 customers who were without power at the peak of Frances’ wrath.

“Tuesday was a productive day for our people, and I’m proud of them,” said Mike Garrett, Georgia Power president and CEO. “They restored service to 320,000 of the 400,000 customers knocked out by Frances, and we expect them to make significant progress today as well.”

Garrett and Warren Conoly, general manager of the company’s statewide storm restoration efforts, have monitored the company’s restoration efforts from the company’s storm command center in Atlanta, where crews and support personnel are tracked and dispatched throughout the state.

“We have 4,000 Georgia Power people working to get the majority of our customers back on today, and today we have nearly 1,500 crew members from our sister utilities here to help,” said Conoly.

Since Frances turned squarely onto Georgia, damage to neighboring states wasn’t as bad as in Georgia. Southern Company subsidiaries Alabama Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric finished work in their respective territories yesterday and traveled to Georgia to pitch in with Georgia Power crews.

“We have the help we need,” Conoly explained, “because as we finish work on lines that serve multiple customers, we start to work on the lines that serve single residences, and that means progress is house by house.”

In the event of major power outages, Georgia Power’s first priority is to restore electricity to emergency agencies, such as police, fire departments and hospitals. The next priority is to restore power to as many customers as possible with each repair.

Here are some safety tips for customers to follow when severe weather hits:

•Residents who have a life-threatening medical emergency should call 911.

•Always avoid downed power lines. Any downed line should be considered energized and therefore dangerous. Report downed lines immediately to local public safety authorities and stay out of the immediate area.

•Avoid debris lying on the ground that may conceal downed power lines, and make sure there are no downed lines before allowing children out to play.

•Steer clear of Georgia Power crew work areas. Equipment and energized lines may be in the area and could create a safety hazard.

•When driving, watch for crews working along the roadways, and obey all traffic signs and directions around work areas.

•If possible, when leaving your home and power is off, turn off the main breaker as a precaution to avoid a power surge once the power is restored.

•Don’t attempt to make repairs to Georgia Power’s electrical system or pull limbs off lines.

•Be patient. Be assured that Georgia Power crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to customers.

•Customers should use extreme caution if using candles during a power outage. Always keep candles away from flammable objects, and never leave them burning unattended.

If the weather interrupts electrical service, customers are urged to call the Customer Care Center at 1-888-891-0938. This line is answered by an automated system designed to handle power outage calls; however, customers may also talk directly with a customer service representative. The most efficient way for customers to report outages is to leave all information on this system.