Southern Company will construct a simple-cycle combustion turbine peaking power plant in Georgia. Although a location for the plant has not yet been determined, Southern Company is currently evaluating Jackson County as a possible site. The new plant will be owned and operated by Georgia Power, Southern Company’s electric utility subsidiary in Georgia.

The facility, scheduled for commercial operation in the summer of 2000, will be committed to the wholesale market. Because the plant will serve the wholesale market, it will not affect electric rates paid by Georgia Power customers.

The plant will consist of separate generating units. A minimum of five units are scheduled for completion by the summer of 2000, generating approximately 400 megawatts to fulfill a wholesale contract already established with Southern Company. To supply additional anticipated wholesale power demand, Southern Company plans to build a total of approximately 16 generating units at the site during the next two or three years, raising the plant’s generating capacity to 1,200 megawatts.

"The Southeast U.S. is continuing to experience strong growth, creating new opportunities for electric generation,” said Charles McCrary, president of the business unit responsible for developing and operating all non-nuclear Southern Company generating plants. “Southern Company’s experience in power production and demonstrated skills in wholesale marketing offer unique capabilities in pursuing these growth opportunities.” Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, the nation’s largest generator of electricity. Georgia Power, an investor-owned, tax-paying utility, serves customers in 57,000 of the state’s 59,000 square miles. Georgia Power`s rates are 23 percent below the national average, and the company`s 1.8 million customers are in all but six of Georgia’s 159 counties.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an international energy company with $35 billion in assets through regional utilities and operations around the world. It is the largest producer of electricity in the United States and one of the world’s largest independent power producers. Based in Atlanta, Southern Company is the parent firm of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric. Through its Southern Energy Inc. subsidiary, Southern Company supplies electricity in 10 countries on four continents. It also provides energy-related marketing, trading and technical services and Southern LINC wireless telecommunications.