History of Georgia Power in Timeline

Georgia Power, an electric utility based in Atlanta, Georgia, traces its roots back to the Georgia Railway and Power Company, established in 1902. Initially, it operated streetcars in Atlanta, succeeding the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company. Over time, Georgia Power has evolved into a major electricity provider in the state.

1902: Georgia Railway and Power Company's Start

In 1902, the Georgia Railway and Power Company began operating streetcars in Atlanta, succeeding the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company.

1902: Georgia Railway and Power Company Begins Operations

In 1902, the Georgia Railway and Power Company began operations, running streetcars in Atlanta. This was a successor to the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company.

1937: Georgia Power Operates Trolleybuses

From 1937 until 1950, Georgia Power also operated trolleybuses in Atlanta.

1950: Atlanta Transit Company Takes Over Operations

In 1950, after the Atlanta transit strike, the Atlanta Transit Company took over operations from Georgia Power.

2006: Plant Scherer Ranked as Largest Single Point-Source for CO2 Emissions

According to Natural History Magazine, in 2006 the Robert W. Scherer Power Plant (Plant Scherer) was the largest single point-source for carbon dioxide emissions in the United States.

2006: Savannah Electric & Power Company Merged into Georgia Power

In 2006, the Savannah Electric & Power Company, which was a separate subsidiary of Southern Company, was merged into Georgia Power.

November 2007: Plant Scherer Ranked Among World's Top CO2 Producers

In November 2007, the Robert W. Scherer Power Plant was ranked 20th in the world for carbon dioxide emissions by the Center for Global Development. It was the only U.S. power plant among the top 25 CO2 producers.

2011: Georgia Power Seeks Approval to Convert Plant Mitchell

In 2011, Georgia Power requested approval to convert the coal-fired Plant Mitchell to run on wood fuel. If approved, the retrofit would have begun in 2011.

2012: Projected Operation Start of Biomass Plant

If the conversion of Plant Mitchell to wood fuel was approved, the biomass plant was projected to start operating in mid-2012.

2014: Georgia Power Decertifies Plant Mitchell

In 2014, Georgia Power announced it was decertifying Plant Mitchell and intended to close its operations by April 2015.

April 2015: Planned Closure of Plant Mitchell

Georgia Power intended to close the operations of Plant Mitchell by April 2015.

2016: Plant Mitchell Shut Down

Plant Mitchell was shut down in 2016.

August 2018: Moody's Downgrades Georgia Power's Credit Ratings

In August 2018, due to cost increases for building additional nuclear reactors at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Moody's downgraded Georgia Power's credit ratings from A3 to Baa1.

September 2018: Georgia Power Agrees to Cover Additional Vogtle Costs

In September 2018, Georgia Power agreed to pay an additional proportion of the costs of the smaller project partners if completion costs for the Vogtle project exceeded $9.2 billion, in order to sustain the project.

2019: Georgia Power Seeks Rate Increase

In 2019, Georgia Power's CEO, Paul Bowers, testified before state regulators seeking approval to add approximately $200 a year to the average residential customer's bills.

June 2021: Georgia Power Seeks Additional Rate Increase

In June 2021, Georgia Power sought a $235 million a year rate increase once Vogtle unit 3 starts operation, which is an overall 10% increase in rates, to recover capital construction costs and operating costs.

August 2022: EPA Fines Georgia Power for Oil Spill Prevention Violations

In August 2022, the EPA fined Georgia Power $1,906 after an Atlanta facility failed an audit for oil spill prevention. The violations included a lack of a method for predicting potential oil spills, no containment plan, and inadequate facility drainage.