ATLANTA, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company has ranked 69th on this year's InformationWeek 500 -- a list of the top technology innovators in the U.S.  The annual list was revealed at a gala awards ceremony at the InformationWeek 500 Conference last week in Dana Point, Calif.

InformationWeek recognized Southern Company for its success on an employee plant access and control tracking software solution. This software automates how Southern Company gives contractors access to its generating plants.

"Southern Company is honored to be recognized by InformationWeek," said Tom Fanning, president of Southern Company.  "This honor reflects the dedication and commitment of Southern Company's information technology team to continue to be among the industry's best in driving technology innovation and opening the door to the future."

"For 22 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston. "As we start to emerge from the worst recession in decades, the IT focus is now on driving growth -- new sources of revenue, new relationships with customers, even new business models. This year's ranking placed special emphasis on those companies and business technology executives leading that charge."

InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing, and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America's best-known companies.  Top winners have included: CME Group, Conway, National Semiconductor, Kimberly-Clark, Hilton Hotels and Unum.  The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.  

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With 4.4 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.  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 below the national average.  Southern Company is consistently listed among the top U.S. electric service providers in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).  Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company