ATLANTA – The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently presented Southern Company with the Energy for Wildlife Achievement Award during its 31st annual Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn.

The award recognized Southern Company’s work to improve wildlife habitat and promote conservation within the service territories of its four operating subsidiaries: Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power.

"Southern Company is honored to receive the Energy for Wildlife Achievement Award," said Andy Dearman, chief transmission officer for Southern Company. "Within the last year, we have made significant progress toward enhancing wildlife habitat on our company's 300,000 acres of transmission right of way. We look forward to continuing such a rewarding partnership with the NWTF".

Southern Company is a certified charter member of the NWTF’s Energy for Wildlife program that provides guidance to energy companies looking to enhance wildlife habitat on company-managed, owned or influenced lands, such as power line and gas rights of way, plant sites, forestlands and other properties.

"Southern Company — from its biologists and foresters up to the executive offices — works hard to promote sound management for wildlife on company rights of way and properties," said Jay Jordan, NWTF's Energy for Wildlife coordinator. "Their employees have gone beyond our program expectations and are great supporters of the NWTF's conservation programs. The folks at Southern Company have made this a partnership anyone would be proud to be a part of."

In 2006, Southern Company treated over 100,000 acres of transmission right of way with herbicides to encourage the establishment of native vegetation suitable for wildlife. Southern Company also converted an additional 1,000 acres of right of way to wildlife food crops through incentive programs with individuals that have transmission right of way crossing their property.

The NWTF's Energy for Wildlife program staff works directly with energy companies to integrate wildlife management activities into their land management programs. When participating companies have implemented the wildlife component of their management plans, they will become a certified member of the program. For more information about the award or other NWTF convention highlights, call (800) THE-NWTF.

With 4.3 million customers and more than 41,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America’s fastest-growing regions. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, 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 significantly below the national average. Southern Company has been listed the top ranking U.S. electric service provider in customer satisfaction for seven consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

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