ATLANTA, Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company's Power U Student of the Business course – an online training curriculum offering employees continuing company education – has earned the Gold Award for "Best Custom Content" in the Brandon Hall Group's 2012 "Excellence in Learning" awards.  The award is among the most sought-after in the corporate education and instruction industry.

Southern Company launched its Power U Student of the Business course in January with the goal of helping employees better understand the complexities driving decisions today and where the company is headed in the future, affording them the knowledge to align their work with the company's strategic priorities.

"Our exceptionally talented employees have consistently demonstrated the drive and desire to help the company succeed," said Susan Story, CEO of Southern Company Services.  "The Power U Student of the Business course takes continuing education one step further – promoting a more in-depth understanding of our company's priorities and uniting our employees under a common purpose."

The course – a series of short video lessons packaged in an online learning environment – provides participants a comprehensive overview of the company's commitment to making, moving and selling electricity in a clean, safe, reliable and affordable manner. To date, more than 7,200 Southern Company employees have successfully completed at least one training module, and approximately 4,400 have completed all modules in the curriculum.

"Southern Company is firmly committed to developing employees and leaders at all levels within the company," Story further noted. "Still in its first year, this course is already helping cultivate an innovative culture by increasing accountability and elevating employee performance."

The Brandon Hall competition annually draws applications from corporations around the world as well as government entities, nonprofits and associations. Entries are evaluated by a panel of independent industry experts and Brandon Hall analysts and executives.

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.

SOURCE Southern Company