(BUSINESS WIRE)--TIO Networks Corp., (TSX.V:TNC), North America’s leading multi-channel expedited bill payment processor, and electric utility Georgia Power today announced the launch of a self-service automated bill payment program in select retail stores in metropolitan Atlanta. The self-service, cash-accepting automated kiosks will enable Georgia Power customers to make bill payments via TIO’s expedited bill payment processing system.
The kiosks are expected to be fully operational this winter. Using the touchscreen interface, customers will navigate through bill-pay applications in either English or Spanish, and insert cash directly into self-serve automated kiosks to securely complete transactions. All payments will be posted immediately to the customers’ account. The customers will have the option to either print or forward receipts to an email address of their choice. Users will pay a $2 convenience fee per transaction.
“We are thrilled to team up with Georgia Power in offering customers the convenience of real-time bill payment services,” said Hamed Shahbazi Chairman & CEO of TIO Networks Corp. “Our bill payment service has proven to be a hit with Utilites throughout the United States in providing their customers with last minute bill payment options to avoid late-fees and disruption of essential services.”
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009
TIO Networks to Launch Self-Service Bill Payment Program in Georgia
Friday, March 13, 2009
Georgia Power's ENERGY STAR(R) Program Wins National Award for Third Time
/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have named Georgia Power as a 2009 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award winner for its Lighting and Appliance program. This marks the third consecutive year that Georgia Power has been named an award winner in this category.
"Each year we strengthen our ENERGY STAR program to increase its effectiveness with our customers, so the fact that Georgia Power was selected again for this highly coveted award is both humbling and extremely gratifying," said Lamont Houston, senior vice president of customer service and sales for Georgia Power. "And with the current economic conditions, now more than ever consumers are looking to us to provide ways to be energy efficient and save money. We're honored that EPA and DOE have chosen to recognize Georgia Power's achievement."
An ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, Georgia Power has given away more than 330,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) through its lighting program over the last three years. The company promotes the "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign which encourages consumers to pledge to change at least one standard light bulb in their home to an ENERGY STAR CFL. Georgia Power currently ranks second in the nation for the number of pledges collected.
Georgia Power's Lighting and Appliance program included a multi-media advertising campaign, in-store consumer and awareness events, retail sales associate training, numerous community and corporate outreach events, as well as a refrigerator recycling program. In addition, Georgia Power was selected to host one of only six national stops for the ENERGY STAR Home Tour in October 2008, gaining national exposure for the southeast and escalating our customer outreach efforts.
Lamont Houston and Vicki Nichols will accept the award on behalf of the company at an awards ceremony March 31, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
The Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round. Take the "Change the World" pledge online at http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp.
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Georgia Power Announces Wireless Co-location on Select Transmission Towers
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Georgia Power and Southern Telecom, both subsidiaries of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), unveiled Georgia’s first wireless co-location program. The program allows wireless providers to co-locate communications infrastructure, such as antennas, on select Georgia Power electric transmission facilities.
“Rather than build costly new towers in congested areas, the co-location program allows wireless companies to take advantage of the hundreds of existing structures throughout Georgia Power’s footprint,” said W. Scott Hall, Georgia Power project manager. “Not only does this save time and improve coverage but it also avoids cluttering the skyline with additional wireless towers, thereby maximizing the available green space for our environment.”
In December 2006, Commissioner Stan Wise asked Georgia Power to investigate the feasibility of allowing wireless co-locations on Transmission towers. In February, Georgia Power and the Georgia Public Service Commission reached an agreement to launch the state’s first wireless co-location program. As part of the agreement, Southern Telecom will manage the requests from wireless carriers that choose to participate in the co-location program.
“With more than 260 million wireless subscribers in the United States today, wireless usage is at an all-time high,” said Ben H. Easterling, business development manager, Southern Telecom. “Thanks to the new co-location program, Georgia Power and Southern Telecom will be able to provide cellular carriers in Georgia with a viable and alternative way to improve coverage so that wireless customers can stay even more connected to friends, family members and business associates.”
Outside of Georgia, there are wireless co-location programs in 11 other states including California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.
“Using their robust network of facilities and fiber infrastructure, utilities are in the unique position to provide reliable support for commercial wireless carriers in the areas of antenna siting, backhaul and construction,” said Ron Bilodeau, Nevada Power Company and chairman of Utilisite Council (www.utilisite.org).
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Sunday, July 6, 2008
Nuclear Plant Co-Owners Move Forward
PRNewswire -- Co-owners of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant today (July 3, 2008) announced their intent to maintain their proportionate share of ownership in the proposed Units 3 and 4. As co-owners of two existing units at Plant Vogtle, the utilities had the rights to participate in the new Vogtle units but were required to make a final commitment by July 2, 2008.
Earlier this year, Georgia Power, acting for itself and for Plant Vogtle's co-owners (Oglethorpe Power, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia [MEAG Power] and Dalton Utilities), entered into an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract (EPC) with Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and The Shaw Group Inc.'s Power Group, for the development and construction of two AP1000 nuclear units.
Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power, and Dalton Utilities have informed Georgia Power that they will maintain the following existing ownership shares in the new units: Oglethorpe Power, 30 percent; MEAG Power, 22.7 percent; and Dalton Utilities, 1.6 percent. Georgia Power's proportionate share is 45.7 percent.
"Plant Vogtle's co-owners represent communities throughout Georgia, and we believe these collective decisions reflect the strong support our co-owners share in the proposed units," said Mike Garrett, Georgia Power president and CEO.
"Through our participation in this planned expansion of Plant Vogtle, Oglethorpe Power and our Member EMCs are taking action to help ensure that Georgians have the electricity they need for the future," said Tom Smith, president & CEO of Oglethorpe Power.
"The participants' level of cooperation and diligence as discussions moved forward was exemplary and underscores the value of joint action," states MEAG Power president and CEO, Bob Johnston. "They are to be congratulated for visionary leadership on behalf of the citizens they serve." Based upon contractual commitments made by 41 of the participants for which it provides wholesale electric power, MEAG Power will retain a 22.7 percent ownership interest in two new nuclear units.
"Although Dalton Utilities is the smallest co-owner participating in this project at 1.6 percent, our evaluation of all the factors that impact this project and our experience with Vogtle Units 1 and 2 lead us to conclude that it is an excellent investment in energy supply that will serve our customers well into the future," said Don Cope, Dalton Utilities president and CEO.
Georgia Power submitted its proposal to the Georgia Public Service Commission May 1, 2008 as a self-build option in connection with the company's plan to meet increased electric demand in 2016-2017. The company's self-build nuclear proposal will be reviewed by the Georgia PSC's Independent Evaluator before the company submits a final recommendation to the Georgia PSC on August 1, 2008 for approval. A final certification decision is expected in March 2009.
If certified by the Georgia PSC and licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the two Westinghouse AP1000 units, with a capacity of 1,100 megawatts each, would be constructed at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant site near Waynesboro, Georgia, and would be placed in service in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) , one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.
Oglethorpe Power Corporation is a $4.9 billion power supply cooperative serving 38 consumer-owned EMCs in Georgia. These EMCs provide retail electric service to approximately 4.1 million Georgians. Oglethorpe Power is the nation's largest electric cooperative in assets, annual kilowatt-hour sales, and ultimate consumers served.
The Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG Power) is a public generation and transmission organization providing power to 49 Georgia communities with annual electric sales of $736 million and 10.8 million megawatt-hours of delivered energy in 2007.
Dalton Utilities has operated as a public utility since 1889 and provides potable water, electrical, natural gas and wastewater treatment services to approximately 65,000 customers in the City of Dalton and portions of Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Catoosa and Floyd counties. In 2003, Dalton Utilities launched OptiLink and now provides broadband, cable TV, telephone and internet services to residential and business customers.
