UPDATE: Coweta-Fayette EMC says Power Restored for Members Following Hurricane Helene

UPDATE (6:30 p.m., Sept. 27): As Hurricane Helene moves out of Georgia, Coweta-Fayette Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), along with support from PowerGrid Services, Pike Corporation, MasTec Utility Services, Asplundh, Palmetto Line Clearing, Thompson Construction Inc., Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative, Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative, Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, and New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative, has successfully restored power to nearly all of our members.

At the height of the storm, around 3,900 members were without power. Beginning early Friday morning, our crews responded to calls reporting downed trees, broken poles, and power lines tangled in debris. High winds and saturated soil were the primary causes of these outages. Thanks to our ongoing right-of-way maintenance throughout the year, damage was limited, with most issues coming from trees outside our right-of-way falling onto lines.

“We greatly appreciate the patience and support of our members during this time,” said CEO and President Chris Stephens. “Just as we carefully prepared for this storm, we know our members were also ready and have been busy cleaning up their own properties. Our team, along with the additional crews we brought in, worked tirelessly to restore power quickly and safely. I am very proud of them as they handled the tough conditions with the professionalism and dedication you expect.”

We anticipate that all power will be fully restored by late tonight. However, with lingering wind gusts, there is still a possibility of additional outages. Rest assured, our Emergency Operations Center remains in storm mode, and our crews will be available throughout the night and over the weekend to respond to any new issues. Regular operations will resume on Monday.

As a reminder, please stay cautious of any downed power lines you may encounter. Always assume they are live and dangerous. Stay clear, keep others away, and immediately report the situation to Coweta-Fayette EMC at 770-502-0226 or call 911.

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UPDATE (12:07 p.m., Sept. 27): Coweta-Fayette Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is making steady progress in assessing and repairing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. As of noon on Friday, we are addressing approximately 10 broken poles across our service area, leaving 880 members still without power. The primary cause of outages has been toppled trees entangled with power lines, combined with sustained winds of 15 mph and gusts over 30 mph.

While crews are working hard to restore power, the combination of strong winds and saturated soil means that additional outages may occur throughout the day. Our own line crews, along with teams from PowerGrid Services, Pike Corporation, MasTec Utility Services, Asplundh, Palmetto Line Clearing, Thompson Construction Inc., Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative, Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative, Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, and New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative, are responding as quickly and safely as possible to these outages.

“Our system has weathered the storm well,” said Clarence Wright, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations. “We were well prepared. Thanks to our automated systems, we were able to shift loads and restore power to many members quickly. This year, we’ve focused heavily on right-of-way maintenance, and we’ll continue this effort throughout the year. Most of the damage we’re dealing with now comes from trees falling onto the lines from outside of our right of way.”

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From Coweta-Fayette EMC Press Release – 7 a.m.

Early this morning, the wind and rain from Hurricane Helene reached the Coweta-Fayette EMC service area, with our crews fully prepared to begin power restoration as soon as conditions are safe.

As of 7 a.m., 3,652 members are without power. Our crews have already been dispatched to areas where it is safe to work. As Helene is moving quickly through our region, we expect all 200 linemen to be out in the field as soon as winds calm, which is expected around 9:30 a.m.

“We are well-prepared to handle the outages caused by Hurricane Helene,” said Chellie Phillips, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations. “Our system has withstood the initial storm bands and scattered outages well. In any outage situation, our priority is to safely restore power to as many members as quickly as possible.”

Before the storm, Coweta-Fayette EMC ensured we were fully stocked with the necessary supplies—poles, wire, transformers, and other essential equipment—to expedite the restoration process.

“We also have a fully staffed call center and encourage members to report outages through our website, by text, or through the app,” Phillips added. “By reporting your outage through these channels, we can better monitor the hardest-hit areas and efficiently plan restoration efforts.”

Stay Connected for Updates

We are continuously monitoring the situation and will provide updates as conditions change. Please check our website at www.utility.org and follow our social media channels for the latest information during and after the storm.

Important Safety Reminders

• If you see downed power lines or poles, treat them as if they are energized and dangerous. Do not touch or approach them. Immediately report downed lines to Coweta-Fayette EMC at 770-502-0226.
• Be cautious after the storm. Fallen debris can hide downed power lines, and any item in contact with a live line—such as metal fences or standing water—can become energized.
• If you’re using a portable generator, ensure it’s operated in a well-ventilated area. You can find generator safety tips at www.utility.org/storms.