ATLANTA - Dec. 5, 2006 - Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest producers of electricity, today released its first comprehensive report focused on the company’s environmental, workplace and community plans and actions.

Southern Company’s 2006 Corporate Responsibility Report includes details about how Southern Company and its subsidiaries manage issues relating to natural resources, conventional and renewable sources of energy, clean air and water. The company’s progress in the areas of workforce diversity, economic development and community investment is also highlighted.

The report also addresses how Southern Company employees are working to help meet the challenges of serving the increasing energy needs of a growing population while being good stewards of the environment.  
 

“We work hard at being a company responsible to the communities we serve,” said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO David Ratcliffe. “One of the many reasons we produced a report such as this is to explain that commitment and encourage more dialogue with our stakeholders. We plan through continued open exchange to evaluate our progress to better serve the economic health and environmental well-being of the community while meeting the expectations of our customers and shareholders.”

The 2006 Corporate Responsibility Report highlights:

• Southern Company’s plan to spend $3.1 billion over the next three years to add environmental controls to existing power plants to further lower emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury.
• Southern Company’s efforts to develop alternative technologies to generate electricity more cleanly, expand use of proven nuclear generation, broaden practical use of renewable fuels and champion energy efficiency.
• Southern Company’s ongoing support of volunteerism, funding of community programs focused on education, the environment, health and human services, civic and community growth, arts and culture.

The 50-page report is currently available online at www.southerncompany.com/planetpower/.

With 4.3 million customers and more than 41,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America’s fastest-growing regions. A leading U.S. producer of 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 excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are significantly below the national average. Southern Company has received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction among U.S. electric service providers for seven consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).