ATLANTA, Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- G.I. Jobs has named Southern Company the highest-ranked utility in its 2014 Top 100 Military Friendly Employer^® listing. This marks the seventh consecutive year Southern Company has ranked as the nation's best utility for veterans, guardsmen and reservists.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080801/SOCOLOGO )

The Top 100 Military Friendly Employer^® list is compiled from 5,000 companies. Criteria for selection include the strength of the company's military recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service, retention programs and company policies on National Guard and Reserve service.

Eleven percent of Southern Company's 26,000 employees – and 12 percent of new hires in 2013, to date – are veterans, guardsmen or reservists. This year's numbers are even stronger at the company's two flagship construction projects – Plant Vogtle in Georgia and the Kemper County energy facility in Mississippi. At Vogtle, where Southern Company is leading America's nuclear renaissance through subsidiary Georgia Power by building the first new nuclear units in a generation, 23 percent of new hires are veterans. At Kemper County, where subsidiary Mississippi Power is advancing energy innovation with construction of a 21^st century coal plant, 20 percent of new hires have prior military service.

"Southern Company is privileged to have so many veterans transition from military service to our workforce," said Kimberly S. Greene, Southern Company Services president and CEO. "These heroes demonstrate character qualities that are aligned with the utility industry – dedication, commitment to safety, teamwork and excellence in all they do, which are values we look for in employees."

As part of its commitment to veterans, Southern Company is a founding partner of the Troops to Energy Jobs program, a recruiting source that links veterans to job openings in the energy industry. The company is a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program partner, actively recruiting members of the nuclear Navy. Southern Company has pledged to support the Joining Forces initiative and signed an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve statement. In addition, the company annually participates in more than 30 military recruitment events and partners with military transition centers across the country.

Southern Company's ongoing support of military personnel has earned broad recognition, including the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award – the highest honor given by the Department of Defense for support of employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve – and the Pro Patria Award for its leadership in providing benefits to military employees. Southern Company received the Most Valuable Employers for Military award by CivilianJobs.com in 2013, marking the fourth consecutive year the company received the ranking. In addition, in 2013, Southern Company was named "Best of the Best" Top Veteran-Friendly Company by U.S. Veterans magazine and the industry's "Best for Vets" employer by Military Edge magazine.

In its 11^th year, the Military Friendly Employers^® media is the premier resource for transitioning service members and spouses seeking civilian employment. The survey results that determined the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse. Each year, companies taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an advisory board consisting of leaders in the military recruitment community.  

The full list can be viewed at: MilitaryFriendly.com/board.

With 4.4 million customers and nearly 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable 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 energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer and listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks. The company received the 2012 Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and 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