BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Dec. 4, 2007 - Alabama Power customers will pay less for renewable energy, following a vote today by the Alabama Public Service Commission. The vote also allows commercial and industrial customers to begin signing up for the Renewable Energy Rate.

“Expanding our Renewable Energy Rate and making it less expensive is another way we’re working to meet our customers’ need for affordable, reliable power while working to protect the environment,” said Willard Bowers, Alabama Power’s vice president for Environmental Affairs.

Beginning Jan. 1, residential customers can buy 50 kilowatt-hour (kwh) blocks of renewable energy for just $2.25 per block. That’s a 25 percent price reduction from the previous rate. Commercial and industrial customers, meanwhile, can now purchase 100 kwh blocks for just $4.50.

The revised Renewable Energy Rate also lets residential, commercial and industrial customers tie a percentage of their monthly power usage to renewable energy. Customers can sign up at the 5 percent, 10 percent, 15  percent or 20 percent level.

The price of renewable energy is in addition to a customer’s regular, monthly electric bill. There’s no limit to the number of blocks a customer can purchase, but those who sign up must agree to buy at least one block a month for a year.

Switchgrass and other biomass, such as wood chips, are the primary fuel sources for the Renewable Energy Rate. By purchasing renewable energy, customers are helping add biomass to the company’s overall fuel mix.

For more information about the Renewable Energy Rate, or to sign up, residential customers can call Customer Service at 1-800-245-2244. Commercial and industrial customers can call the Business Call Center at 1-888-430-5787. All customers can also sign up online at www.alabamapower.com.

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state.
 

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Media Contact: Michael Sznajderman, 1-205-257-4155 or msznajde@southernco.com