GULFPORT, Miss. – Yesterday afternoon, the Mississippi Supreme Court reversed the order of the Mississippi Public Service Commission granting the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Kemper County Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Facility. The Court concluded that the Commission’s order did not cite in sufficient detail substantial evidence upon which the Court could determine the basis for the finding of the Commission granting the Certificate. The Court sent the matter back to the Commission to correct its order.

The Commission supported the building of this facility at the time the order was issued, and nothing has occurred since the order which should cause the Commission to reverse its decision granting the Certificate.

“We are confident there is substantial evidence in the record to support the Commission’s approval of the Certificate,” said Jeff Shepard, company spokesman. “It is our hope and expectation that the Commission will address this expeditiously. We intend to continue construction of this facility to provide our customers with a sound energy future and unlock the facility’s substantial customer benefits.”

Mississippi Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, serves approximately 188,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties.         
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning actions of the Mississippi Public Service Commission (“MPSC”) and continuation of construction. Mississippi Power Company (“Mississippi Power”) cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Mississippi Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Mississippi Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes; current and future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms; and regulatory approvals and actions related to the Kemper County integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility, including MPSC approvals, potential U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantees, the South Mississippi Electric Power Association purchase decision, and utilization of investment tax credits.  Mississippi Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.

For further information: Jeff Shepard, 228.865.5543 or 1.800.821.6383, jshepard@southernco.com