Gulfport, Miss., Feb. 11  -- Mississippi Power is watching and preparing for a winter storm that weather forecasters predict will blanket the company’s 23-county service territory – from the Gulf Coast north to Meridian. Line crews, tree trimmers and other storm restoration personnel are preparing and positioning for the approaching system. 

Mississippi Power has been monitoring the development of this winter storm for three days. The company has taken all of the necessary steps to be ready for sleet, snow or ice.

“We expect to activate our Storm Center tomorrow morning,” said David Simmons, storm center director. “That is really a formality because we have been talking with one another and preparing for this storm since Tuesday. We are ready and now just need to see what Mother Nature delivers and where.”

Much like other weather events that we’re accustomed to, a strong winter storm can cause widespread power outages. While the company’s electrical system uses a variety of devices to try to minimize the number of outages, when necessary, restoration teams always work hard to make power outages as brief as possible.

Safety is the company’s number one priority when restoring power after any storm and especially in winter conditions. Likewise, customers should be aware of what to do if they see downed power lines. Safety tips and tips on how to survive a winter storm are attached.

Customers should report power outages at their homes or businesses by calling the Mississippi Power Customer Service Center at 1-800-487-3275. Customers can also report power outages and get safety tips online at www.mississippipower.com.

To receive progress reports on Mississippi Power storm restoration efforts, follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MPCStorm.

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.

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Media Contact:         

Cindy Duvall

228-861-5543

800-821-6383