WASHINGTON - Nov. 6, 2007 - Paul Bowers, president of Southern Company Generation, a business unit of Southern Company, spoke today before a Senate committee to offer the company’s perspective of the domestic energy industry and its work force needs. Speaking before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the topic of domestic energy work force needs, Bowers warned of an impending shortfall of skilled craft workers who are vital to the operation, maintenance and development of the U.S. energy infrastructure.

Bowers noted that the supply of skilled craft labor in the Southeast is approximately 120,000 individuals, which is 20,000 less than projected demand. By 2011, the deficit is expected to more than double as demand for this labor increases to more than 170,000 persons.

“The consequences of a skilled craft worker shortage cannot be understated. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation found in its 2007 Survey of Reliability Issues that utility users, owners and operators ranked ‘aging work force and lack of skilled workers’ as the foremost cause of reliability risk,” Bowers said. “How this shortfall is addressed will directly impact the ability of the industry to satisfy the growing energy needs of our nation, while ensuring a thriving and secure domestic economy.”

Bowers noted that Southern Company has taken a number of steps to address work force issues, such as opening an academy at its Gulf Power subsidiary in Pensacola, Fla., designed to train workers for important entry-level and degreed positions in power generation and delivery. Southern Company also provides educational and leadership forums for students and educators in Alabama and Georgia and has partnered with Georgia technical schools to develop higher education standards.

“These efforts, as well as operational and planning steps to address work force shortages, can only take Southern Company and the industry so far and will inevitably fall short of what is needed unless further action is taken by Congress and our national leaders, “ Bowers said.

To assist the Committee in the development of such plans, Bowers offered some suggestions such as industry-certification programs for secondary and post-secondary schools and a national curricula and related standards for middle and high schools.

About Southern Company:

With 4.3 million customers and more than 42,000 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 eight consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

###

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