Southern Company Restores Power to 420,000 Customers After Hurricane Isaias
Southern Company says its electric utilities have restored power to approximately 420,000 customers in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi after Hurricane Isaias, as of 6 p.m. ET on Oct. 10. Crews are still working to bring back service to about 80,000 remaining customers, according to the company.
- Southern Company's utilities had restored power to about 420,000 customers as of 6 p.m. ET on Oct. 10.
- About 80,000 customers remained without power, primarily in Alabama.
- More than 6,400 outside personnel joined the effort via the mutual assistance network, with crews from 25 states.
- The company says it used predictive analytics, real-time data and AI-based tools to position crews before landfall.
Restoration work focused on Alabama
Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power are leading the restoration effort across the three states. According to Southern Company, the hardest-hit communities are primarily in Alabama, where Hurricane Isaias crossed through the state.
The company says it is using the scale of its system and its experienced storm teams, together with advanced storm intelligence technologies, including AI, to return service to customers safely and as quickly as possible. The three utilities have worked together to move crews, equipment and resources to the places where they are needed most.
Outside crews from 25 states
Southern Company said its response has been strengthened by more than 6,400 outside personnel, including additional lineworkers, support roles and specialized equipment. These resources were secured through the electric industry's mutual assistance network. Combined with the company's own resources, utility crews and contractors from 25 states are supporting the coordinated restoration effort across its Southeast service territory.
The company describes the mutual assistance network as a nationwide partnership among hundreds of utilities that support one another after major storms and other emergencies. It allows utilities to quickly secure extra crews, equipment and resources from across the country.
The coordination also extends to the company's natural gas subsidiaries. Southern Company Gas, Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas are working closely with Georgia Power to support restoration as needed and emergency response.
Forecasting before landfall
Before Hurricane Isaias made landfall, Southern Company teams used advanced storm technologies to forecast potential impacts, identify the areas at greatest risk and position crews, equipment and materials across the Southeast. According to the company, combining predictive analytics, real-time operational data and decades of storm response experience let teams anticipate changing conditions, make faster decisions and begin restoration as soon as it was safe.
"Our customers are counting on us long before a storm arrives and long after it passes," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. He added that combining the technologies with the experience of storm teams and the scale of the company's electric and natural gas businesses allows it to "position resources ahead of severe weather, respond quickly as conditions change and restore service safely for our customers."
What it means for customers
For customers still without power, the company's message is that restoration is continuing, with the most work remaining in Alabama. Southern Company says it invests year-round in its grid, infrastructure, technologies, processes and people, including forecasting tools, resource planning, workforce training and infrastructure improvements, to prepare for extreme weather. The release does not give a timeline for completing restoration of the remaining 80,000 outages.
Southern Company serves 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond, and has electric operating companies in three states and natural gas distribution companies in four states.
