Creating a stronger power grid to weather the storms

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A big concern when a storm threatens the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry is power and losing it.

Georgia Power says Hurricane Helene in September of 2024 was the most destructive storm in their history. Georgia Power replaced more than 11,800 poles, 1,500 miles of power lines, and 5,800 transformers following the storm. Portions of the coastal grid were rebuilt from the ground up.

Aside from immediate response and months long restoration, Georgia Power has been working on a few major projects. One of those was completed just two weeks prior to this hurricane season.

In the Cloverdale and Carver Heights neighborhoods, along Mills B. Lane Boulevard and Liberty Parkway, Georgia Power upgraded 2.7 miles of high-voltage transmission line improving reliability for hundreds of customers in Savannah and on the islands. This work is the final phase of a project that spanned over seven miles through the heart of Savannah and began last year. The project replaced 32 aging poles originally installed in the 1970s with stronger composite poles along key power avenues.

Construction on a new substation is nearing the final phase in West Chatham. When completed, it will be one of the largest substations in the State handling multiple high-voltage lines coming from nearby power generation plants. The addition of this substation will create a new redundancy circuit in the coastal grid.

“This new substation will allow us to double our energy delivery capacity, which means we can power all this new growth that’s coming but also make a more reliable grid during the storm.” Said Joshua Peacock, the External Communications Lead for Georgia Power.

Last year, Georgia Power began rebuilding 20 miles of a high-voltage transmission line in Jesup, replacing the entire line with all new poles and conductor wire. Several of the wooden poles being replaced are over 30 years old while the conductor wire being upgraded dates to the 1950s. This project is slated to conclude in spring of next year and will include upgrades to a key substation along the route that will enhance service reliability to Offerman, Screven, and Jesup for years to come.

Locally, under the Grid Investment Program, over 267 new devices have been installed improving reliability for more than 34,000 customers. One key project last year replaced overhead lines with underground lines on Wilmington Island reducing exposure to the elements, helping to enhance reliability for customers.

Over the next few years, several key projects will focus on enhancing and replacing poles and lines servicing barrier islands, including St. Simons Island and Tybee Island, ensuring that the delivery system can better withstand any potential outages.