Summer storm season is upon us, often bringing with it torrential rains, thunderstorms and other forms of severe weather.

When bad weather interrupts Georgia Power electrical service, customers should call the Customer Care Center at 1-888-891-0938.

This automated phone number is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date information about power outages and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Customers should not call 911 to report outages unless they have a life-threatening medical emergency. By calling 911 to report outages, customers tie up the line for others who may need it to report actual emergencies.

As with any storm in which there are downed power lines, poles or other damage to the electricity infrastructure, Georgia Power`s first priority is with the safety of its customers and employees.

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

Treat any wire on the ground as if it were energized and report it immediately to Georgia Power or local public safety authorities. Stay out of the immediate area.

Avoid debris laying on the ground which could conceal downed power lines.

Steer clear of Georgia Power crew work areas. Equipment and energized lines may be in the area that 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 you are 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 of lines.

Be patient. When a major outage occurs, Georgia Power crews must first restore power to transmission lines and distribution circuits before working on distribution lines that feed directly to homes and businesses. Hospitals, police and fire stations and other emergency facilities are the first priority for restoration of power. However, be assured that Georgia Power crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to customers.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility, serving customers in 57,000 of the state’s 59,000 square miles. Georgia Power’s rates are more than 15 percent below the national average and its 2 million customers are in all but six of Georgia’s 159 counties.