Georgia Power, Georgia’s largest electric utility, serving 2.7 million customers, has been awarded more than $160 million in funding by the US Department of Energy through its Grid Deployment Office. The funding is focused on innovative approaches to expanding transmission capacity and adding resiliency as the company works to meet ‘the energy needs of a growing Georgia’.
As Georgia continues to grow, the company is seen to be actively pursued the funding available under the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships programme established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help reduce the costs of necessary investments for the benefit of customers.
Investments under the GRIP Program are intended to enhance grid flexibility, improve the resilience of the power system against extreme weather and ensure consumers have access to affordable, reliable electricity when and where they need it.
Projects funded by the grant will be varied and should benefit communities across the state. As Georgia Power continues to transition to cleaner forms of energy and transform its electric grid, investments in the state’s transmission system are critical. Through this funding, Georgia Power will deploy new grid-enhancing technologies including dynamic line rating technology and re-conductoring of high voltage power lines. Improved conductor technology can be deployed on existing structures, placed in service much faster than a traditional line build, and can help maximise the amount of power that can be carried through existing transmission lines and in existing rights of way. These investments are important to help connect the growing amount of generation required to serve Georgia’s growing electricity needs. For example, Georgia is a Top 10 state for solar growth and, as renewable generation continues to come online, these investments will unlock additional opportunities for renewable generation deployment within critical locations and disadvantaged communities. The investments also increase energy resilience, including reducing outage frequency and duration.
Increasing collaboration, community and stakeholder engagement, and industry improvement are also key elements of projects under the GRIP Program. As the company invests in its system, Georgia Power plans to share insights, lessons learned and best practices with the broader industry through its work with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies and others.
Over the past 10 years, Georgia Power has invested more than $10 billion in strengthening the power grid through programmes and initiatives approved by the Georgia PSC.
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