With an eye on safety and efficiency, Marcus Farmer, Carl Jordan, and Rusty Meharg work the control room at Gulf Power’s Plant Crist. The power generation facility near Pensacola, Florida, is part of the four-state regulated utility business that contributes nearly 90 percent of Southern Company’s earnings. 

Operational Excellence The reliable supply of electricity that allows Southern Company to satisfy customers and achieve excellent financial results begins at our generating plants. It ends as power is delivered safely and reliably to customers. As one of the nation’s largest electricity producers, we are committed to being the best at building and operating plants safely and efficiently. We strive for excellence every day, but the toughest tests often come in the summer. In 2002, Southern Company had 21 days when hot summer weather sent the peak demand for electricity soaring past 32,000 megawatts. The people who operate Southern Company’s transmission grid and power plants were up to the challenge. When the availability of power was most critical, we kept power flowing over more than 27,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and set company records for the lowest rates of forced outages, which is a key indicator of how well generating plants are run. 

