ATLANTA, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning announced today that Stephen Kuczynski has been elected chairman, president and CEO of the company's Southern Nuclear subsidiary, effective July 11.

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Kuczynski will succeed James H. Miller, who has led the company's nuclear operations since 2008.

"Jim's leadership and experience were pivotal not only in sustaining the superior performance of our existing nuclear fleet but also in guiding our company through its nuclear expansion," said Fanning, referring to the addition of two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle in Georgia.  

Kuczynski comes to Southern Company from Exelon Corporation where he was senior vice president, engineering and technical services, for Exelon Nuclear.  Exelon operates the largest nuclear generating fleet in the U.S. with 10 plant sites and 17 units.  

Kuczynski brings more than 27 years of experience in the nuclear industry to his new position. Prior to his current role at Exelon, he was senior vice president of Exelon Nuclear's Midwest Operations, with oversight of the company's 11 Illinois nuclear units.  Before that, Kuczynski was senior vice president, operations support, and also served as plant manager and later as site vice president for Exelon's Byron Nuclear Station.

"Steve clearly has the knowledge, experience and leadership skills we will need going forward to not only maintain the highest levels of performance for our current nuclear facilities but also support the building of the nation's first new nuclear units in more than 30 years," said Fanning.  

Kuczynski holds a bachelor's of science degree in electrical engineering technology from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and earned a Senior Reactor Operator license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).  He also participated in Harvard University's Advanced Management Program.  He is a native of Milwaukee, Wis.

Southern Company affiliates plan to build two nuclear units, 1,100 megawatts each, at the current Vogtle site near Augusta, Ga.  The company expects to receive the combined construction and operating license from the NRC later this year. The new units are scheduled to begin operating in 2016 and 2017.

Miller will retire later in the year, remaining with Southern Company while Kuczynksi transitions into his new role.  Miller joined Southern Company in 1994 as corporate counsel for Southern Nuclear after achieving partner status with the Birmingham, Ala.-based law firm of Balch & Bingham. He held various other positions, including senior vice president, external affairs, Alabama Power, and senior vice president, Birmingham Division, Alabama Power.

Additionally, Miller served as senior vice president, general counsel and assistant secretary for Southern Company Generation and Southern Power where he had responsibility for legal issues surrounding the wholesale generation business, as well as external issues relating to the operations of the power plants.

Southern Nuclear operates the Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Plant, the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., and the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.

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 that are below the national average. Southern Company was named the World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility by Fortune magazine in 2011, and is consistently listed among the top U.S. electric service providers in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company