ATLANTA (April 5, 2005) – Southern Company Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE:SO), has been chosen by the State of Georgia to provide natural gas to state agencies, local governments and other accounts in 25 counties under the state’s natural gas program. Southern Company Gas was chosen over seven other gas marketers to serve the state for the next 12 months, with the possibility of extensions once the contract term is complete. The State of Georgia contract awards Southern Company Gas over 400 accounts which include state agencies, school districts, and universities. “We are honored that the State of Georgia chose us to serve the needs of accounts under the state’s natural gas program,” said Ron Bertasi, president & CEO of Southern Company Gas. “We pride ourselves on providing customers with great pricing plans, convenient billing options and devoted customer service representatives.” Fulton County, one of the largest school systems in Georgia, chose Southern Company Gas to meet the natural gas needs for their 99 locations. Southern Company Gas also services Atlanta Public Schools, Morehouse College and Marietta City Schools, demonstrating its ties to the educational community. For more information about Southern Company Gas, please call 1-866-SOCOGAS or visit southerncompanygas.com.

About Southern Company GAS

Southern Company Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), markets and distributes natural gas to residential and small commercial customers throughout Georgia. For more information about Southern Company Gas, please call 1-866-SOCOGAS (1-866-762-6427) or visit southerncompanygas.com.

About Southern Company

With more than 4 million customers and nearly 39,000 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 five 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.