ATLANTA - Dec. 8, 2008 - Southern Company today announced the election of Veronica M. (Ronee) Hagen, 62, to its board of directors. Hagen, a 25-year executive veteran of global operational management and commercial business leadership, is currently CEO of Polymer Group, Inc., a leading producer and marketer of engineered materials.

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"Ronee Hagen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Southern Company board and her solid history of operations management and business leadership will be very valuable," said Southern Company Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer David Ratcliffe.

Prior to Polymer Group, Inc., Hagen was president and CEO of Sappi Fine Paper, a $1.4 billion division of the South African based global leader in the pulp and paper industry, Sappi Limited. There, she achieved year-over-year improvement in cash flow and profitability with a strong focus on safety, productivity and working capital management. Before Sappi Fine Paper, Hagen was vice president and chief customer officer at Alcoa, where she previously served as business unit president of Alcoa Engineered Products. Hagen also owned and operated Metal Sales Associates, a privately-owned business that sold ferrous and nonferrous metals. She sold her business in 1996 and joined Alumax as executive vice president. Alcoa acquired Alumax in 1998.

Hagen is a member of the boards of directors of Polymer Group, Inc. and Newmont Mining Corporation, where she serves on the Operations & Safety Committee and the Environmental & Social Responsibility Committee. Hagen is also a member of a number of organizations, including The Committee of 200, the Chicago Network, Women Corporate Directors, and The Economic Club of Chicago.

Hagen holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Southern California and has participated in executive education programs in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an executive leadership program at Harvard University.

About Southern Company:

With 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. 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 nine consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE: Southern Company

Media Contact: Valerie Holpp, Southern Company Media Relations, +1.404.506.5333 or +1.866.506.5333, media@southerncompany.com