Responding to requests for assistance from Carolina Power and Light Company, Savannah Electric will send a 17-person storm team to assist in the restoration of power in the Wilmington, North Carolina area. The area is currently receiving damage from Hurricane Bonnie and power outages are expected to be extensive in the storm’s aftermath.

In addition, Savannah Electric has released its contracted labor force so that they may also participate in restorations. The Savannah Electric employees will depart for North Carolina before dawn on Thursday.

It is common practice among utilities to lend support under emergency conditions.

The Company asks for its customers’ patience while these crews are on emergency duty. Some routine line work could be delayed during their absence. Remaining personnel will be in place to respond to local outages or service problems. In the event that a larger emergency threatens Savannah Electric’s service territory, the loaned crews will be immediately recalled.

Savannah Electric serves 125,000 customers in a five-county area of Southeast Georgia including Chatham, Effingham, Bulloch, Bryan, and Screven. Savannah Electric is a subsidiary of Southern Company. Southern Company (NYSE: SO), the largest producer of electricity in the United States, is the parent firm of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric. Based in Atlanta, Southern Company, through its Southern Energy Inc. subsidiary, supplies electricity in 10 countries on four continents. Southern Company also provides energy-related marketing, trading and technical services, and Southern LINC wireless telecommunications.