Georgia Power to close 100 local offices this week

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — More than 100 local Georgia Power offices are closing this week.

The utility said the number of customers paying electronically has tripled in 10 years, making the company's pay-in-person locations costly and obsolete.%

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"We took a hard look at the numbers, the customer's changing needs, and we made some adjustments around that," spokesman Craig Bell told Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland.

A dozen locations will close in metro Atlanta, including Roswell and Lawrenceville.

"It hits me pretty bad, because now I'm going to have to go to Kroger or someplace else to pay the bill," customer Evelyn Springer told Strickland outside the Douglasville office.

The company will have 5,000 authorized payment locations assisting customers by year's end.

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Places like grocery stores and Walmart will accept payments, but will not take checks or credit cards. Paying at an APL will cost $1.50.

Some 270 employees affected are being offered other positions within the company -- but especially in rural Georgia -- the available spots may be too far for employees to drive. Another 27 offices will remain open.

"We will still have customer service locations throughout the state. You may just have to drive a little further to get there," Bell said.

Customers seeking information on their nearest payment location can call 1-888-660-5890 or go to www.georgiapower.com/contactus.

Customers can check which locations are open on Georgia Power's website.

Cox Media Group