ATLANTA, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Georgia Power as the 2008-2009 National Pledge Leader for its "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign. The company was also recently recognized by the EPA as the Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award winner for its Lighting and Appliance program.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO )

Georgia Power promotes the EPA's "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign which encourages consumers to pledge to change at least one standard light bulb in their home to an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) and more. Last year, Georgia Power collected 97,421 pledges from consumers through its local offices and hundreds of consumer education pledge events.

"We're working to help customers use energy wisely, and they're answering the call," said Georgia Power President and CEO Mike Garrett. "Our programs help save money, energy and the environment, and we appreciate the recognition for our efforts."

An ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, Georgia Power has given away more than 330,000 CFLs through its lighting program over the last three years. According to EPA's ENERGY STAR Web site, last year Georgia Power's campaign resulted in savings of more than $15 million or 112,685 megawatt-hours, enough energy to power approximately 9,000 typical residential homes for a year.

Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round. Take the "Change the World" pledge online at http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp.

For additional energy-saving tips, visit our Web site at www.georgiapower.com/save. To learn more about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO

SOURCE: Georgia Power

Web site: http://www.georgiapower.com/