ATLANTA -- Southern Company (NYSE: SO) today unveiled the first in a series of CEO Web videos examining issues critical to the electric utility industry. The video series, "Why Energy Matters to You," is available on YouTube and features Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. Fanning announced the Web series during an appearance at the 2012 Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colo.   

On June 30, Fanning will address the topic "Can We Be Energy Independent?" at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Peter Orszag, vice chairman of global banking at Citigroup, will join Fanning on the panel with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin as moderator. Fanning will address the need for a comprehensive energy policy in America that brings to bear all the energy resources the country has to offer, along with technology innovation and energy efficiency, to meet the energy needs of the earth's burgeoning population. 

"Every American deserves clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy," said Fanning. "Energy innovation has enabled Southern Company to undertake and complete sophisticated and innovative electricity generating projects and create a culture of rigorous, world-class research and scientific advancement to help prepare for America's energy future. The video series, 'Why Energy Matters to You,' will help others understand that, when you turn on the lights, it is so much more than simply flipping the switch."

The "Why Energy Matters to You" series of CEO Web videos will continue the dialogue on America's energy future.

"American energy policy is so important because these decisions affect families already making tough economic choices," said Fanning.  "Almost half of our customers make less than $48,000 a year and they deserve the best decisions we can make to keep rates low and reliability high." 

The series will focus on how American energy policy impacts customers, diverse fuel sources, energy innovation, "Smart Energy," and the impact of energy on jobs and the economy. The first in the series of videos can be viewed on YouTube here. Subscribe to Southern Company's YouTube channel to receive notification when future videos are released. Additionally, follow @SouthernCompany on Twitter for updates.    

The Aspen Ideas Festival is a weeklong event that brings together thought leaders from around the country and draws more than 2,000 people interested in the economy, environment, technology, arts and global affairs.  Fanning was a featured panelist along with Honeywell Chairman and CEO David M. Cote, Shell Oil Company President and Upstream Americas Director Marvin E. Odum and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood.  

With 4.4 million customers and more than 43,000 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 also is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.