County commissioners seek to delay SGI electric system switch

County commissioners have issued a request to progress Energy asking that the company delay the date it switches St. George Island electrical service from the old system to the new one.

Over the past few months Progress Energy has been installing new power poles and lines to St. George Island that will help insure a more stable electrical service to the island.

Progress Energy said it would like to switch to the new lines on July the 9^th.

The switch could have the island without power for up to eight hours.

The outage would be at night but Commissioner Pinki Jackel said anything could go wrong and the island does not need to be in the dark during the peak of the tourist season.

County commissioners feel that would have a big impact on restaurants and rental companies on the island especially in the weeks around 4^th of July which are historically the busiest weeks of the year for tourism.

Last week the board agreed to ask that the switch date be moved to August 15^th or later to let the tourist season slow down.

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