BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Nov. 22, 2006 - This year, Alabama Power has been commemorating 100 years of serving the state. As part of the celebration, the Alabama Power Service Organization chose to make some history of its own, by contributing a record 100,000 volunteer hours to worthy causes across the company’s service territory.

On Tuesday, service organization chapters reached that goal, well before year’s end. And with many holiday initiatives now under way, volunteers expect to contribute well in excess of 100,000 hours to community projects before the year is out.

“From the very beginning, the founders of Alabama Power were committed to community service. The achievement by the Alabama Power Service Organization is a fitting tribute to their legacy,” said Charles McCrary, Alabama Power president and CEO.

Typically, Alabama Power and Southern Company employees, retirees and their families contribute about 75,000 volunteer hours annually to community projects in Alabama. More than 4,800 employees, retirees and family members participate in community service.

So far this year, Alabama Power Service Organization members have provided volunteer or financial support to more than 125 nonprofit organizations across the state.

“Our members have really embraced the 100,000-hour challenge, and with the holidays upon us, our volunteers will be working extra hard to make this season brighter for people in our community who are in need,” said Loretta Hanna, service organization president.

With nine chapters spread across the lower two-thirds of the state, the Alabama Power Service Organization supports a wide range of nonprofit and community causes, including schools, health and disease-prevention organizations, environmental groups, food banks and cultural institutions. This holiday season, service organization volunteers will be supporting a number of organizations that provide food, clothes and gifts to underprivileged children, seniors and the disabled.

In all, Alabama Power Service Organization members this year are expected to contribute more than $300,000 to charitable organizations. That’s on top of the more than 100,000 hours of volunteer time they’ve provided to community groups.

For more information about specific organizations in your area that benefit from the contributions of Alabama Power Service Organization volunteers, contact Michael Sznajderman at (205) 257-2401 or by e-mail at msznajde@southernco.com.

For details about Alabama Power’s community initiatives, go to www.alabamapower.com.

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