Georgia Power using an automated system to restore electricity faster

The Georgia Power Region External Affairs Manager, Theresa Robinson, has been working at the company for 30 years. Robinson says they are using the Automatic Fault Location Isolation and Service Restoration system to restore residents’ service quicker.

“We’re able to use this automated grid technology to re-route power through the undamaged lines so that we can restore service to the majority of customers as quickly as possible,” explains Robinson.

The automated system has been around for nearly five years.

“We’ve just enhanced it by adding 1.1 million customers to be able to receive this new technology,” adds Robinson.

Traffic had to be re-routed Thursday afternoon after a huge tree fell on a power line at the intersection of Pierce Lane and Ingelside Avenue.  Ed Cell is the homeowner who’s tree fell blocking Ingelside Avenue.  He described it as a Sugarberry tree that was more than 100 years old.

“I walked down to see what was happening and they were having to turn because the tree was across the road,” he tells 41NBC.

Robinson confirms the Ingelside Community does not have the automated system yet.  Their power was not restored until early Friday morning.

“What takes so long is getting the tree off the line, and also to reset the pole and then get the lines restrung,” comments Robinson.

Robinson adds Georgia Power is looking to expand the system into more neighborhoods.

“By the end of the year we will roll out another 150,000 customers to this new technology,” states Robinson.

Georgia Power says the automated technology is part of a statewide project, funded through the Smart Grid Investment Grant from the Department of Energy.