GULFPORT, Miss. – As another significant winter storm moves southward, Mississippi Power employees are prepared to respond quickly and safely to restore customers affected by any weather-related power outages.

“We will continue to monitor the forecast closely as a mixture of sleet, freezing rain and snow with possible accumulation is expected throughout our service territory,” said Randall Pinkston, distribution manager. “Our crews remain on standby and are ready to quickly respond to our customers should they be impacted by severe weather.”

If customers experience a power outage, Mississippi Power’s online Outage Map can be accessed using a phone, tablet or laptop anytime to allow customers to track utility crews as they work to safely restore power. More information, including safety tips on how to prepare your home and office for winter weather, can be found at the company’s Storm and Outage Center at www.mississippipower.com/storm.

Customers can also report power outages directly by calling the dedicated outage line at 1-800-ITS DARK. For all other inquiries, call the customer service line at 1-800-532-1502.

It is important to stay safe during winter storms whether at home or outside. If you come across a downed power line, never attempt to remove it. Call Mississippi Power’s customer service line or your police or fire department to have the downed line barricaded until it can be repaired. More winter safety tips are available here.

Extreme weather conditions can contribute to unexpected expenses for customers in need. The Mississippi Power CARES program offers several options – Project SHARE, Bill Discount, Budget Billing and Bill Extender – to assist our customers with their billing and energy needs. Mississippi Power partners with local nonprofit agencies that provide emergency bill payment assistance to individuals.

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for more than 186,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Recognized throughout the utility industry for excellence in storm restoration and recovery efforts, Mississippi Power is the 2013 winner of the Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Assistance Award. Visit our website at www.mississippipower.com, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.