Gulf Power and Southern Company subsidiaries have been ranked highest in customer satisfaction among U.S. electric utilities for the seventh consecutive year by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

In addition, Southern Company operating companies tied for the fourth highest ranking overall among all company sectors.

"Our employees are devoted to providing excellent service for our customers," said Lynn Erickson, Gulf Power spokeswoman. "“It's an honor to know that your customers value the service you provide. Southern Company and all its operating companies continue to set the standard nationwide."

Southern Company scored 80 out of a possible 100, tying the company with Duke Energy Corp. and Allegheny Energy, Inc. for first place honors.

This Customer Satisfaction Index is based on interviews with U.S. residential customers across 15 different industries: energy utilities, airlines, express delivery, U.S. Postal Service, newspapers, motion pictures, network/cable TV news, computer software, fixed line telephone service, wireless telephone service, cellular telephones, cable & satellite TV, limited service restaurants, hotels and hospitals.

Companies in the survey are ranked by score based on customer responses in six key areas: perceived quality, customer expectations, perceived value, customer satisfaction, customer complaints and customer loyalty.

The ACSI is produced in partnership by the University of Michigan Business School, American Society for Quality, and the international consulting firm, Claes FornelI International (CFI Group). Created in 1994, the ACSI is used by companies, industry trade associations and government agencies to track customer satisfaction and provide insight into the consumer driven economy.