ATLANTA - The Georgia Power Board of Directors has elected John Pemberton senior vice president and senior production officer, effective July 1.  He will have overall responsibility for Georgia Power's more than 14,000 megawatts of natural gas, coal and hydro generation. He will report to Doug Jones, executive vice president and chief production officer for Southern Company Operations and will be a member of the Georgia Power management council, reporting to President and CEO Paul Bowers. 

Pemberton will succeed Stan Connally, who was elected president and CEO of Southern Company's Florida subsidiary, Gulf Power, effective July 1. 

Currently senior vice president and general counsel for Southern Company operations and Southern Nuclear, Southern Company's nuclear plant operating company, Pemberton directs legal services and external affairs for Southern Company's operating organization, which includes Southern Company Generation, Southern Company Transmission and Southern Power.  He also oversees regulatory matters, as well as internal and external communication for these divisions.

"John is a strategic thinker with proven leadership skills and sound business judgment," said President and CEO Paul Bowers. "Moreover, his experience in the operations and regulatory and policy arenas ensures he is well qualified to help chart the company's generation future and deliver value to customers."

Prior to his current position, Pemberton, 43, served as vice president of governmental affairs in Southern Company's Washington, D.C. office where he managed the company's federal outreach activities.  Before joining Southern Company, Pemberton served as chief of staff for the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation from 2001-2003, where he helped manage the office's efforts on several utility-related policy issues.  Pemberton also was Republican counsel and then chief of counsel for the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

A native of Omaha, Neb., Pemberton is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, as well as the Creighton University School of Law. 

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates below the national average.  Georgia Power serves 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.