ATLANTA – Southern Company ranked highest in the electric utility industry for providing a quality commuter program for its employees, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent “Best Workplace for Commuters” list of FORTUNE 500 companies. The companies recognized on the list have met EPA’s National Standard of Excellence.

“Southern Company is honored to be recognized as the best in our industry to offer commuter benefits to our employees,” said David Ratcliffe, Southern Company’s president, chairman and CEO. “We understand the importance of providing our employees flexible work and transportation options that save fuel, time on the road, and produce good results for our environment.”

On an annual basis, Southern Company employees avoid driving more than 14 million miles, resulting in nearly 60 tons less pollution, as well as in significant savings.

“I’m able to save about $1,000 or more a year in gasoline costs by telecommuting one to two times per week,” said Southern Company employee Danielle Rutland whose commute to work is normally 25 miles one way.

Recently, the governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue, charged businesses to implement fuel conservation measures to respond to oil supply disruptions and soaring gas prices as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Southern Company has responded to Governor Perdue’s charge by continuing to encourage employees to take advantage of the company’s available commuter options for work and travel.

Southern Company’s commuter program in Georgia, for example, offers incentives for employees to cut commuting costs, reduce stress associated with traveling, and help save the environment. The program includes carpool, vanpool and transit options, as well as company shuttles to transport employees to and from select work locations.

Southern Company also supports alternate work locations for employees, as well as compressed work schedules, telecommuting and flex-time options for employees.

The company continuously evaluates its commuter program across its service territories, which, in addition to the state of Georgia, covers Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, to ensure there are a variety of innovative, cost-effective options to benefit both the company and its employees.

With more than 4 million customers and more than 40,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier super-regional energy company in the Southeast and a leading U.S. producer of electricity. Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states, a growing competitive generation company and a competitive retail natural gas business, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are 15 percent below the national average. Southern Company has been ranked the nation`s top energy utility in the American Customer Satisfaction Index six years in a row. Southern Company has more than 500,000 shareholders, making its common stock one of the most widely held in the United States. Visit the Southern Company Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

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