Atlanta was one of the first cities in Georgia to demand electric lighting. In 1883, its citizens organized and promoted the formation of an electric company, Georgia Electric Light Company of Atlanta. In 1891, an Atlanta banker named Henry Atkinson became a shareholder in Georgia Electric Light Company of Atlanta, and a year later, he quietly accumulated enough stock to take control of the operation. Atkinson completely rebuilt the electric system of his new company, installing 800 arc lights and 2,000 incandescent lights and constructing a steam generating plant to provide more power. Half the plant’s output ran streetlights; the rest powered electric streetcars. As the industry and demand for electricity grew, it wasn’t long before Atkinson recognized the need for further consolidation. In 1902, he hired a young Atlanta lawyer, Preston S. Arkwright, to charter a company called Georgia Railway and Electric Company and consolidate many of the streetcar lines and their generating plants into the new firm. This company is the beginning of what came to be known as Georgia Power.
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service, and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal, and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day, and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction.