POWERGRAMS

2 a number of services for customers, including 24/7 payment kiosks, drop box or drive-thru options. While walk-in services for customers at offices were temporarily unavailable, customers had one or more self-service options at each office. APRIL As employees and their families continued to keep Safety First by practicing social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Alabama Power invited parents to keep kids engaged with "Learn with Louie," a website filled with electrical safety activities and videos. Louie the Lightning Bug was developed for Alabama Power in 1983. Georgia, Mississippi and Gulf Power adopted his television spots in 1984 as Louie's popularity expanded through the U.S. and abroad. ………. A line of severe storms tore across Alabama, causing scattered damage and power outages to more than 300,000 customers as high winds snapped lines and power poles. Outages were concentrated in the central and western areas of the state. Within two days Alabama Power crews quickly and safely restored service to all customers who could receive it. Crews worked following state and federal coronavirus health guidelines as the company sought the public's help in keeping 6 feet from crews. ………….. Alabama Power and Southern Company recognized a pandemic need and found a solution – one that could be put in spray bottles. With a disinfectant shortage statewide, Alabama Power and its sister utilities followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to develop a disinfectant solution to provide to front-line workers. The guidance was used by the Alabama Power General Test Lab to create 1:10 bleach/water solution for use by field employees. …………… Thanks to the Alabama Power Print Shop, teachers were able to supply their students with learning packets for the comprehensive distance learning program. Birmingham City Schools administrators learned many students didn't have internet access or electronic devices, so six weeks of printed lesson plans for 42 schools were immediately needed. External Affairs Manager Foster Ware worked with Printing Services Supervisor Tony Byrd to print and distribute the plans. MAY Alabama Power's history reaches back 115 years, and with that history comes millions of paper and digital documents. In the age of Google and Amazon, people are accustomed to having all the information they need at their fingertips. Power Delivery's Transmission Right- of-Way Services group developed a system to streamline research of the company's right-of-way and easement data. That effort was honored with a Southeastern Electric Exchange Industry Excellence Award. ……… Alexis Grandstaff of Headland and Tanner Shelton of Warrior were each awarded a $5,000 scholarship from B.A.S.S. and Alabama Power. "We are proud to partner with Alabama Power to support students who want to further their education in a trade," said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. April storms caused 300,000 customers to temporarily lose power. PHOTO BY JAY PARKER

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