GULFPORT, Miss. – Today, Mississippi Power received authorization to temporarily continue construction of the Kemper County IGCC Project from the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Recently, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the Commission’s order authorizing the construction of the Kemper County IGCC Project did not cite in sufficient detail the evidence upon which the Court could determine the basis for the finding of the Commission granting the Certificate. The Court ordered the Commission to address this issue.

“This action allows us to continue construction of the Kemper Project,” said Jeff Shepard, company spokesman, Mississippi Power. “Any delays to this project would mean significant costs to our customers. Today’s ruling means we can continue building a sound energy future for our customers.”

Mississippi Power will continue to provide the Public Service Commission with information as needed as they address the Supreme Court ruling.

Mississippi Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, serves approximately 188,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties.        

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 and the impact on costs related to the 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 Mississippi Public Service Commission approvals, potential U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantees, the South Mississippi Electric Power Association purchase decision, utilization of investment tax credits, and the outcome of further proceedings regarding the Mississippi Public Service Commission's issuance of the certificate of public convenience and necessity. Mississippi Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.