ATLANTA, Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the eighth consecutive year Southern Company has been named to Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies" list – this year ranking among the top-six electric and gas utilities worldwide.
The magazine recognized Southern Company as an industry leader for its people management, innovation, long-term investment and financial soundness. Other criteria included the company's quality of services, quality of management, social responsibility and effectiveness in conducting its business globally.
"I'm honored that Southern Company – and our more than 31,000 system employees – continues the standard of being named among the world's top companies," said CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "Southern Company has built a long-term record of success – for more than a century – by adhering to a customer-focused business model. We remain committed to meeting customers' energy needs today while building the future of energy through cutting-edge research and technology. "
Fortune collaborated with Korn Ferry Hay Group on the survey of corporate reputations. They started with about 1,500 candidates: the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue, along with non-U.S. companies in Fortune's Global 500 database that have revenues of $10 billion or more. Hay Group then selected the 15 largest companies for each international industry and the 10 largest for each U.S. industry, surveying a total of 680 companies from 28 countries.
To determine the best-regarded companies in 51 industries, Korn Ferry Hay Group asked executives, directors, and analysts to rate the enterprises in nine categories. A company's score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be listed.
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.
SOURCE Southern Company