Inventing the future of energy: Southern Company holds annual meeting of stockholders

PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga., May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomas A. Fanning, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, spoke today at the annual meeting of stockholders about the importance of innovation and delivering the full energy portfolio to meet the needs of customers.

Fanning's remarks expanded on three guiding principles:

• Strengthening an inventive culture
• Creating better ways to serve customers
• Remaining focused on innovating around the full portfolio of energy resources

"At the foundation of Southern Company is our ability to develop real, innovative solutions to shape America's energy future," said Fanning. "Strengthening our inventive company culture by pioneering new ideas and partnerships and developing the full portfolio of energy resources is key to best meeting customers' evolving energy needs."

During the meeting, Fanning announced that Southern Company has reached an agreement with Tesla to test commercial-scale battery storage. Bringing together two companies with a shared commitment to innovation, the agreement will provide for the examination of potential applications for the energy storage technology in helping meet customers' energy needs.

Fanning also addressed the importance of innovation as part of Southern Company's culture. He discussed the value of the full portfolio – and the importance of delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable power to customers – to provide a step to reach energy and economic security, which contribute to national security.

Fanning highlighted the success of SO Prize, the company's internal competition that sparked nearly 1,000 innovative ideas from employees. He also spoke about Southern Company's development of the Energy Innovation Center, which will serve as an incubator for new products and services through strategic partnerships, as well as the company's aspiration to eliminate all workplace accidents.

A replay of the meeting will be available by May 28 here.

With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company SO is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable 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 energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company received the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 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.

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SOURCE Southern Company