(Atlanta, Sept. 1, 1999) - Southern Company, the largest producer of electricity in the United States and one of the world’s largest independent power producers, has named Christopher S. Miller to the newly created position of director of labor relations.

“Southern Company’s growth strategy, including the acquisition and development of electric generation facilities across the United States, makes the position of director of labor relations increasingly important to our success,” Southern Company Senior Vice President Christopher C. Womack said in announcing the assignment.

In his new position, Miller will take a leadership role in the development and implementation of Southern Company labor strategy and Southern Energy’s labor relations and labor negotiation strategies. Southern Energy is a non-regulated subsidiary of Southern Company. “Due to the rapid expansion of Southern Energy’s North American plant acquisition and development, Chris’ initial challenges will be to help develop and coordinate national and regional labor relations and negotiation strategies which enhance Southern Energy’s ability to succeed in the highly competitive non-regulatory electricity market,” said Womack.

“The appointment of Chris Miller as director of labor relations, with his proven expertise in strategic labor relations planning in the emerging domestic energy markets, reflects the importance of our North American generation assets to Southern Company’s overall business strategy” said Vance N. Booker, senior vice president of Southern Energy.

Miller, 42, currently is a partner in the Atlanta law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP. His law practice has specialized in strategic labor relations planning, labor negotiations and union-related litigation on behalf of management. In recent years, Miller has served as Southern Company’s lead outside labor counsel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management, a master’s degree in economics, and a law degree from Syracuse University. He also earned a Ph.D. in human resources management from Syracuse University.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an international energy company with $35 billion in assets through regional utilities and operations around the world. Based in Atlanta, Southern Company is the parent firm of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric. Through its Southern Energy Inc. subsidiary, Southern Company supplies electricity in 10 countries on four continents. It also provides energy-related marketing, trading and technical services and Southern LINC wireless telecommunications.