Utilities

Electrical

Georgia has one of the lowest industrial electrical rates in the United States. Our state has a modern integrated electrical transmission system and Thomson has the ability to supply industrial demands. Coal accounts for 84 percent of fuel used by the state’s power generating plants, compared to 47 percent for the U.S. This assures long-term continuity.

There are also two nuclear production facilities in Georgia, one of which is Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, Plant Vogtle has the fifth lowest cost of generation in the United States with an average of 1.33 cents/kwh.

Electric power is distributed in McDuffie County by:

Georgia Power building and sign

Georgia Power Company - A Division of the Southern Company
993 Thomson East Bypass
Thomson, GA 30824
888-660-5890

Jefferson Energy Cooperative building and sign

Jefferson Energy Cooperative
3077 Highway 77 North
PO Box 457
Wrens, GA 30833
Tel: (706) 547-2167
Fax: (706) 547-5075
Office Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

If a new customer requires over 900 kw connected load, and is outside the 1973 municipal limits, according to state law, the customer has a choice of supplier. Rate information can be provided by the McDuffie County Industrial Development Authority.

 

Natural Gas

The City of Thomson supplies natural gas for most of McDuffie County. The rates are competitive and usually lower than most other areas of the country. Natural gas is available in industrial quantities on both a firm and an interruptible basis. For more information on natural gas rates and capacities, contact the Thomson Natural Gas Department at (706) 595-1781.

 

Water

  • Plant capacity: 4,600,000 gallons per day.

  • Consumption: 1,715,000 gallons per day average, 2,100,000 gallons per day maximum.

  • Storage capacity: 1,800,000 gallons above ground and an additional 1,250,000 gallons at the production plants.

  • Ground Source: Usry's Pond, Sweetwater Creek and Clarks Hill Lake.

 

Sewage

  • Plant capacity: 2,790,000 gal/day including Mattox Creek and Dearing

  • Plant load: 1,650,000 gal/day average in all three treatment plants (one primary and two secondary, Dearing and Mattox Creek)

  • Primary and secondary treatment plant.

 

Communication Systems Overview

  • Digital networks including state of the art digital central offices throughout Richmond, Columbia and Burke Counties

  • 100% interoffice facilities are on redundant fiber

  • Multiple fully redundant fiber optic networks

  • High-capacity digital trunking for security, reliability and efficiency

  • Packet switching services, such as ATM and Frame Relay

  • Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) rings in service

  • Analog and digital video services

  • Work-at-home services for telecommuters - MSA uniquely offers high-speed broadband internet service through Comcast and BellSouth via DSL.

  • Video conferencing, telemedicine and distant learning applications

  • ISDN basic and primary rate - DSL services

  • Local Area Network (LAN) & Wide Area Network (WAN) interconnection

  • DS1/DS3 and other fiber optic private line services