ATLANTA - Nov. 16, 2006 - Today, more than 40 high school and technical school educators participated in an all-day Georgia Power Skilled Labor Technical Conference to learn how to prepare students for skilled labor job opportunities at company facilities. Debra Lyons, the director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development was the guest speaker for this conference.

“In order to have a pipeline of skilled workers to fill the jobs in the energy industry, Georgia needs companies like Georgia Power engaging students in career opportunities,” said Lyons. “Today’s effort by Georgia Power supports Governor Perdue’s vision to link education and workforce development.”

Attendees participating in the Skilled Labor Technical Conference received valuable information on how to successfully navigate students through their educational experience with knowledge of the academic and technical criteria needed to apply for technical jobs with Georgia Power, such as skills required, pre-employment testing, realistic work expectations and the employment process.

“As we expect to upgrade company facilities and become involved in new construction projects around the state of Georgia, our need to employ a qualified skilled labor workforce is critical,” said Mickey Brown, executive vice president of customer service for Georgia Power. “Between 2007 and 2010, Georgia Power expects to hire more than 1000 skilled workers to improve operations across the state.”

The conference also featured representatives from Georgia Power’s training and workforce planning, talent acquisition, and safety and health departments. A tour of Georgia Power’s Klondike Training Center for its skilled labor employees concluded today’s conference.

“Georgia educators are a key link to us getting the best-qualified candidates to fill our skilled labor positions,” said Brown. “We hope to build a solid relationship with these educators to promote a seamless transition for their students into technical jobs with our company.”

Georgia Power actively employs skilled labor talent to work within the company’s transmission, distribution and generation operations. These skilled workers play a significant role in ensuring that the company’s electrical systems continue to run efficiently in order to provide reliable power to customers.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.25 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties.

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