Electric Vehicles Drive Into Georgia

ATLANTA--May 31, 2011: By this fall, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) will begin making their way into Georgia and onto car dealer showrooms.

As a leader in the electric transportation industry since the early 1990s, Georgia Power can help consumers decide if an electric vehicle is right for them by giving them the tools they need to make an informed decision.

Before arriving home with an electric vehicle, customers will need to decide how often and quickly they will need to charge their vehicles and the electricity rate plan that best suits their lifestyle.  The next step will be to equip their home with the type of charger they want.

Georgia Power's new electric transportation website will help customers navigate through the process.  The site offers detailed information about the different types of plug-in electric vehicles entering the market, how to get ready at home, and the location of public charging stations around the state and country.  Customers will also learn about Georgia Power's three residential rate options, including a new PEV rate, and the impact charging is likely to have on their electricity bill.

"Georgia Power is committed to being an industry leader and expert resource for customers as they purchase their first electric vehicles," said Chris Bell, Georgia Power's vice president of energy planning and sales.  "With more than 20 years of experience researching, developing and marketing electric vehicles, our goal is to educate customers about this developing new industry and help get them up to speed on everything they need to incorporate an electric vehicle into their household."

Georgia Power offers a whole-home PEV rate plan for residential customers who are willing to shift their energy usage and charge their electric vehicles between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.  Customers who choose this plan and charge a vehicle overnight can save approximately 13 percent annually compared to Georgia Power's standard residential rate.

The typical residential customer uses 12,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.  Based on 12,000 miles of driving, an electric vehicle would add an additional 4,000 kWh annually to a customer's bill.

As Georgia consumers begin purchasing PEVs, Georgia Power will also be testing the new technology.  The company is expected to receive its first Chevy Volt plug-in electric vehicle in June.

Georgia Power will test the demo vehicle under a variety of conditions in order to evaluate its performance and better understand the impact PEVs will have on the electricity grid and the company's peak generation.

Georgia Power has also integrated a plug-in hybrid bucket truck into its fleet in Columbus and is collaborating with Alabama Power on an additional plug-in hybrid bucket truck for integration into its fleet operations.

Georgia college students will also have an opportunity to weigh in on the future of electric vehicles.  Through a partnership with Emory University's Goizueta Business School, Georgia Power is sponsoring a competition in which students are challenged to provide the best strategy for Atlanta to build the demand for 50,000 electric vehicles in the next two years.  Learn more at the competition website.

Call 1-888-660-5890 or visit Georgia Power's new EV website to learn how to save money on your electric bill and sign up for the new PEV rate.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates below the national average.  Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.