History of Georgia Power in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 12, 2026

Georgia Power is an electric utility company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded as the Georgia Railway and Power Company in 1902, its initial operations involved running streetcars in Atlanta, succeeding the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company. It has grown to become a major provider of electricity in the state.

1902: Georgia Railway and Power Company Started Running Streetcars

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

1902: Georgia Railway and Power Company Begins Operations

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

1937: Georgia Power Started Operating Trolleybuses

In 1937, Georgia Power began operating trolleybuses in Atlanta.

1950: Atlanta Transit Company Takes Over Operations After Strike

After the Atlanta transit strike of 1950, the Atlanta Transit Company (ATC) took over operations from Georgia Power.

2006: Plant Scherer Ranked Largest Single Point-Source for Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the US

According to Natural History Magazine, in 2006, 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, 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 Carbon Dioxide Producers

In November 2007, Plant Scherer was ranked 20th in the world in terms of carbon dioxide emissions by the Center for Global Development.

2011: Georgia Power Requested Approval to Convert Plant Mitchell to Wood Fuel

In 2011, Georgia Power requested approval from the state's public service commission to convert the coal-fired Plant Mitchell to run on wood fuel.

2012: Planned Start of Biomass Plant Operation

Georgia Power planned to begin operating the biomass plant converted from Plant Mitchell in mid-2012.

2014: Georgia Power Announced Decertification of Plant Mitchell

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

April 2015: Intended Closure Date for 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 Downgraded 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 Additional Cost Payments for Vogtle Project

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

2019: Georgia Power CEO Testifies on Rate Increase Request

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

June 2021: Georgia Power Seeks Rate Increase for Vogtle Unit 3

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

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. Violations included a lack of a method for predicting oil spills, no containment plan, and inadequate facility drainage.