ATLANTA – Five Southern Company employees have received awards from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for their significant contributions to promoting the advancement of technologies and sharing research knowledge that will positively impact the electric utility industry.
Roy Miller and Dennis Rickertsen, both employees with the company’s Southern Nuclear subsidiary each received an EPRI Nuclear 2006 Technology Transfer Award. Miller, a health physicist, was recognized for his collaborative work with other utility experts to develop a first-of-a-kind alpha monitoring document to promote best practices in nuclear radiation management. Rickertsen, a senior chemistry specialist, was recognized for his leadership role in championing the development of industry guidelines for injecting zinc into a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) reactor coolant system to reduce nuclear plant radiation fields and help mitigate corrosion of nuclear plant materials.
John Jansen, a principal scientist for Southern Company’s research and environmental affairs department, received an EPRI Environment Sector Delivery & Applications award for his leadership in using information and insights to effectively communicate EPRI and industry research results on the regional haze issue to key stakeholders at both the state and national levels.
Cedric Daniels, an electric transportation marketing specialist for Southern Company’s Alabama Power subsidiary, received an EPRI Power Delivery & Markets Individual Product Champion Award for developing a non-road electrification program that explores electricity as a fuel to transport people and products within facilities, such as airports, distribution centers and warehouses. Also, based on his knowledge about the uses of outdoor electric lift trucks, Daniels was also recognized by EPRI for helping to promote a national resurgence of the electrification of cargo handling vehicles in commercial, port and airport applications.
Alan Holloman, a senior transmission line specialist for Southern Company’s Georgia Power subsidiary, received an EPRI Power Delivery & Markets Team Product Champion Award for his leadership role in developing a non-ceramic insulator tester to determine possible defects with polymer insulators on energized transmission lines to avoid costly electric outages and promote safer work environments. Holloman has chaired the EPRI Live Line Working Committee for the past five years.
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), with major locations in Palo Alto, California; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Knoxville, Tennessee, was established in 1973 as an independent, nonprofit center for public interest energy and environmental research. EPRI brings together members, participants, the Institute's scientists and engineers, and other leading experts to work collaboratively on solutions to the challenges of electric power. These solutions span nearly every area of electricity generation, delivery, and use, including health, safety, and environment. EPRI's members represent over 90% of the electricity generated in the United States. International participation represents nearly 15% of EPRI's total research, development, and demonstration program.
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 seven consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.