ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company
and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) today announced mutual
assistance agreements between Southern Company's four retail
electric operating companies – Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf
Power and Mississippi Power – and TVA designed to further
strengthen resiliency and reliability of the electric grid in the
Southeast. The mutual assistance agreement will provide support
through manpower and related equipment in response to severe
weather or other significant events.
"Southern Company and TVA have a long history of working
together on transmission planning and operations to develop vital,
innovative solutions for delivering clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy to the customers we serve," Southern Company
Chief Transmission Officer Billy
Ball said. "These agreements reinforce the resiliency and
reliability of the transmission grid, which is a great benefit for
electric-utility customers across the Southeast."
As part of the agreements, TVA and each of Southern Company's
four retail electric operating companies have agreed to the terms
under which they would aid each other with manpower and related
equipment for transmission restoration in crisis response
situations.
"These agreements will help ensure we can keep power flowing to
local power companies who supply energy to homes and businesses in
the Tennessee Valley," TVA Senior Vice President of Transmission
and Power Supply Bob Dalrymple said.
"Like Southern Company, we are keenly aware of our responsibility
to improve the quality of life for the millions who rely on the
low-cost, cleaner energy we supply."
This partnership is in addition to any other mutual assistance
agreements, which are instrumental in safe and timely power
restoration following severe events such as the recent Hurricane
Matthew. For example, Southern Company's operating companies have
received repeated recognition by the Edison Electric Institute for
both emergency recovery work and emergency assistance following
major storm events.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company,
with 44,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion
cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput
volume serving 9 million electric and gas utility customers through
its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy through electric utilities in four states,
natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive
generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a
nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as
well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company
brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability
and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through
an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and
its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by
developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including
carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas,
renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and
services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has
been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer,
recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by
DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40
Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for
Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National
Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic
Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear
development and is continually ranked among the top utilities in
Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas
Utility rankings. Visit our website at
www.southerncompany.com.
About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of
the United States that provides
electricity for business customers and local power distributors
serving more than 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern
states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of
its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating
and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides
flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee
River system and assists local power companies and state and local
governments with economic development and job creation.
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SOURCE Southern Company