EDITOR'S NOTE: Offices listed in this release will now open at 1 p.m. on Monday, January 10.

GULFPORT, Miss., Jan. 9, 2011 — Because of hazardous road conditions and winter weather, Mississippi Power will delay opening its bill payment offices in the northern portion of its service area until noon Monday.

Offices affected include those in Meridian, Union, Newton, Forest, Stonewall, Quitman and Waynesboro.

At this time, all other offices will be open for normal business hours. Additional opening delays and/or closings may be determined as the weather situation is assessed in the morning.

Customer Service Representatives are available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-800-532-1502. For the fastest and most effective way to report a power outage, call the automated reporting system at 1-800-ITS-DARK (1-800-487-3275).

Mississippi Power, headquartered in Gulfport, Miss., provides retail and wholesale electric service to approximately 190,000 customers in 23 counties from the Gulf Coast to Meridian.

Media contact: Verdell Hawkins, 228-861-5543 or 800-821-6383