ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) today announced mutual assistance agreements between Southern Company's four retail electric operating companies – Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Mississippi Power – and TVA designed to further strengthen resiliency and reliability of the electric grid in the Southeast. The mutual assistance agreement will provide support through manpower and related equipment in response to severe weather or other significant events.
"Southern Company and TVA have a long history of working together on transmission planning and operations to develop vital, innovative solutions for delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to the customers we serve," Southern Company Chief Transmission Officer Billy Ball said. "These agreements reinforce the resiliency and reliability of the transmission grid, which is a great benefit for electric-utility customers across the Southeast."
As part of the agreements, TVA and each of Southern Company's four retail electric operating companies have agreed to the terms under which they would aid each other with manpower and related equipment for transmission restoration in crisis response situations.
"These agreements will help ensure we can keep power flowing to local power companies who supply energy to homes and businesses in the Tennessee Valley," TVA Senior Vice President of Transmission and Power Supply Bob Dalrymple said. "Like Southern Company, we are keenly aware of our responsibility to improve the quality of life for the millions who rely on the low-cost, cleaner energy we supply."
This partnership is in addition to any other mutual assistance agreements, which are instrumental in safe and timely power restoration following severe events such as the recent Hurricane Matthew. For example, Southern Company's operating companies have received repeated recognition by the Edison Electric Institute for both emergency recovery work and emergency assistance following major storm events.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company, with 44,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million electric and gas utility customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric utilities in four states, natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving more than 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.
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SOURCE Southern Company