Hundreds of Georgia Power employees, community and business leaders gathered May 6 at the Georgia Power headquarters in Atlanta for a special event around a glistening new fleet of plug-in electric hybrid Chevrolet Volts.

Georgia Power Chairman, President & CEO Paul Bowers was joined by Commissioner Tim Echols of the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) and Michael Beinenson of the EV Club of the South to mark the addition of 32 new electric vehicles (EVs) to the company's fleet.

"Through constructive regulation, and partnerships with organizations like the EV Club of the South, we are growing the EV market in Georgia and helping our customers reap the overwhelming benefits of driving electric," said Bowers at the event. "The new, Georgia Power-branded Chevrolet Volts will be highly visible in local communities from Savannah to Columbus to Rome and will be driven daily by Georgia Power employees as they serve customers. The EVs will be used primarily by the company's energy efficiency experts as they travel to conduct energy audits at homes and businesses, a service provided to help Georgia Power customers save money and energy.

In 2014, Georgia Power launched a new electric transportation initiative to advance Georgia as an exceptionally EV-friendly state through its “Get Current. Drive Electric” program. The program currently includes an ongoing public education campaign, EV charger rebates for business and residential customers and special rates and charging options for EV customers.

Last month, Georgia Power announced a new rebate program offering qualifying residential customers a $250 rebate for installing a Level 2 charger (208/240-volt) and qualifying new construction builders a $100 rebate for each dedicated 240-volt plug-in ready circuit installed in new homes.