Atlanta, September 3, 2014: Site Selection magazine has selected its annual Top Utilities in Economic Development, based on the following mix of objective and subjective criteria: Analysis of corporate end-user project activity in 2013 in that company’s territory based on the Conway Data New Plant Database and submitted materials from utilities; website tools and data; innovative programs and incentives for business, including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and the utility’s own job-creating infrastructure and facility investment trends.

                The winning utilities, in alphabetical order, are Alabama Power, Birmingham, Ala.; American Electric Power, Columbus, Ohio; Duke Energy, Charlotte, N.C.; Entergy, New Orleans, La.; FirstEnergy, Akron, Ohio; Florida Power & Light, Juno Beach, Fla.; Georgia Power, Atlanta, Ga.; Gulf Power, Pensacola, Fla.; LG&E-KU, Louisville, Ky.; and Tennessee Valley Authority, Nashville, Tenn.

                Those qualifying for Honorable Mention include Ameren, St. Louis, Mo.; CenterPoint Energy, Houston, Texas; ComEd (Exelon), Chicago, Ill.; Hoosier Energy, Bloomington, Ind.; National Grid, Syracuse, N.Y.; Nebraska Public Power District, Columbus, Neb.; NV Energy, Las Vegas, Nev.; Omaha Public Power District, Omaha, Neb.; Santee Cooper/South Carolina Power Team, Columbia, S.C.; and Southern California Edison, Rosemead, Calif.

                “This year's Top Utilities feature some familiar names,” says Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection. “That's because they not only continue to turn in the numbers year after year, but continue to invest in doing more, and in innovative new approaches to partnering with both companies and communities. In other words, despite regulatory concerns, prices of fuel and a host of other mitigating factors, they mean what they say when it comes to their mission to serve.”

                "Utilities play a key role as participants in the economic development efforts of cities, regions and all areas working to improve their local business climate," says Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. “This year's Top Utilities were particularly successful in this endeavor in 2013."

                The entire Top Utilities article, entitled “The Shape of Success,” appears in the September 2014 edition of Site Selection and online at www.siteselection.com. Also featured in the issue are related reports on solar energy, infrastructure, logistics, and rural economic development. The issue also contains Site Selection's annual Canada’s Best Locations Report; international, regional and state spotlights; industry reports; and several of the magazine's popular Investment Profiles.

                Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 49,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online. The publication also publishes or co-publishes e-newsletters, including The Site Selection Dispatch, Life Sciences Report, Aerospace Report and Energy Report; Site Selection International; The FDI Report; Trust Belt.com and the OnSITE Travel blog. The magazine’s redesign, content and online presence have received multiple awards over the past year from the Magazine Association of the Southeast (MAGS), the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) and Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI).

                Conway Data is an international publishing, consulting and association management company headquartered in Atlanta. Conway owns and manages London-based Red Hot Locations, organizer of worldwide FDI events; Berlin-based FDI advisory firm Terrain Consulting; New York-based The PONT Group, a leading PR and lead-generation firm; economic development education and research organization the Janus Institute; and manages the Industrial Asset Management Council and the FDI Association. CDI in 2013 launched a Custom Publishing Division.