GULFPORT, Miss. — Sustained frigid temperatures have contributed to Mississippi Power reaching an all-time record demand for electricity. The new record demand of 2,698,000 kilowatts was reached at 7 a.m., Tuesday, January 5, surpassing the company’s all-time peak of 2,593,000 kilowatts set August 29, 2000.

The peak demand is an indicator of what is required from Mississippi Power’s generating plants – and how hard they are working – to ensure a reliable supply of electricity is available to meet customers’ needs.

The company’s previous record peak for the winter was 2,523,000 kilowatts set in January 2003.

The company is closely monitoring the weather conditions but does not anticipate widespread outages due to freezing temperatures. Staffing has been adjusted and the system is prepared to handle the developing weather patterns.

Mississippi Power’s transmission and distribution systems are designed to carry increased load due to extreme weather conditions. In the event of an outage, work plans are in place to respond quickly. 

Representatives are available 24 hours/7 days a week. Customers can report outages at 1-800-ITS-DARK or 1-800-487-3275.

Mississippi Power, headquartered in Gulfport, provides retail and wholesale electric service to approximately 200,000 customers in 23 counties from the Gulf Coast to Meridian.  The company owns or has significant ownership interests in six generating facilities with net dependable generating capacity of 3,166 megawatts.  Electricity is sent across 8,371 miles of transmission and distribution lines to retail customers principally in Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Pascagoula, Columbia, Laurel, Waveland, Lucedale and Picayune. 

Large wholesale customers include six electric cooperatives -- Coast EPA, Singing River EPA, Southern Pine EPA, Dixie EPA, Pearl River EPA and East Mississippi EPA -- the City of Collins and South Mississippi Electric Power Association.  Large retail customers include the following: United States military installations -- Keesler Air Force Base and Naval Construction Battalion Center (Seabee Base); the University of Southern Mississippi; NASA Stennis Space Center; oil and gas infrastructure, including a refinery; multiple foundries and shipbuilders; the Mississippi National Guard Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center near Hattiesburg and the Mississippi Air National Guard in Meridian.

Mississippi Power, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), employs 1,300 Mississippi residents.  In 2008, Mississippi Power paid $115 million in federal, state and local taxes.  Southern Company stock is held by nearly 3,000 Mississippi residents.