Plant Hatch Unit 2 Returns to Service Following Planned Maintenance Outage

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Unit 2 of the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant resumed generating electricity on Oct. 29 around 4:30 p.m. EDT after a scheduled maintenance outage was completed safely and successfully. The maintenance outage began Oct 22, 2011.

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The primary focus of the maintenance outage was to replace a relief valve inside the dry well of containment.

Also during the seven day outage, Plant Hatch Unit 1 continued to supply electricity safely.

About Southern Nuclear:

Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala. and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga.

About Southern Company:

With 4.4 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. 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 below the national average. Southern Company was named the World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility by Fortune magazine in 2011, and is consistently listed among the top U.S. electric service providers in customer satisfaction by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

www.southerncompany.com/southernnuclear

SOURCE Southern Company

For further information: Southern Nuclear Public Affairs, Media line, +1-205-992-5395