Gray has been invaded by Georgia Power trucks for the past few weeks, and their mission is upgrading power lines in the city and beyond.

Local Georgia Power manager Lynward Lindsey said the project began Sept. 8, and the plan is to have the lines completed by mid-December.

The increased use of electricity has created a need for another feeder, which is a term that means electrical circuit to those not in the power business.

Lindsey said Gray had two feeders at the substation in Old Clinton, and another has been added. Now lines are being installed to connect the additional power to Jones County businesses and residences.

The lines came out of the historic district underground and went overhead in the area of Clinton Methodist Church, according to Lindsey.

“We are getting taller poles down Pulaski Street to the shopping center, and new poles will go out Gray Highway. We’ll have a double circuit to Highview,” the manager said.

Lindsey said the old circuit will feed the downtown area to Haddock, and the other circuit will take care of some of Gray and out to Round Oak, Bradley, and Wayside.

“This project will consist of 2,650 man hours, and we are sitting right at 20 new poles,” he said. “Where one circuit has been feeding down Pulaski, now there are two.”

Lindsey said the additional lines will allow more flexibility to restore power sooner when there is an outage.

“Depending, of course, on where the problem is,” he added.

Some minor outages can be expected as the new lines are installed, but for the most part, the lines are changed without cutting the power. Lindsey said the linemen doing the work are experienced.

“It’s a dangerous job, but the men are well trained. Typically, they have been apprentices for three to five years before they make lineman,” he said.

Georgia Power serves 2.25 million customers in 155 of Georgia’s 159 counties and has been providing electricity to the state for over a century.