As a severe winter storm threatens parts of Georgia with the potential for destructive ice and snow, both Georgia Power and North Georgia EMC (NGEMC) have announced temporary suspensions of service disconnections to help keep customers safe during the event.

Georgia Power says it is suspending service disconnections for all customers beginning Friday, January 23, with normal operations expected to resume on Thursday, January 29. The company also encourages customers who need financial support to explore assistance programs and resources available in their area.

North Georgia EMC says it is suspending all service disconnections for past-due accounts through this weekend due to the expected winter storm, citing member safety as the reason for the move.

In Chattooga County, the two primary electric providers are Georgia Power and North Georgia EMC, and both companies are urging residents to stay warm and take precautions as winter weather moves into the region.