POWERGRAMS

2 are aiding efforts to protect the gopher tortoise and other native Alabama animals that are endangered. Alabama Power's strategic initiative to help expand broadband access in Alabama was named by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) as the nation's best advocacy campaign by a large utility. The Advocacy Excellence Award annually recognizes an EEI member company's engagement and activism in public policy advocacy at federal, state and local levels. Alabama Power won the award for its coordinated efforts across the company to develop public-private partnerships and to educate customers and public officials about the need for more resources and entities to invest in and build broadband infrastructure. APRIL Alabama Power's spillway gate replacement project at Thurlow Dam won both a state and national award from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) excellence in construction (EIC) competition. The project took first place for the Alabama chapter and placed second in the national competition for heavy infrastructure. The EIC award honored every member of the construction team, including the contractor, owner, architect and engineer. The work involved removal of original spillway gates, which were part of the dam construction in the 1920s. The flashboards were replaced with a pneumatic gate system designed by Obermeyer Hydro Inc. Bishop State, Lawson State and Jefferson State community colleges invested in the future by offering technical training programs to prepare students for careers in the skilled trades. As part of its ongoing commitment to workforce development, Alabama Power partnered with the colleges to offer lineworker training in Birmingham and Mobile. Through this innovative partnership, students learn fundamentals of electricity as well as math and science needed to work on power lines. In addition to classroom instruction, students receive hands-on practice in an outdoor learning lab. In spring, 39 students successfully completed lineworker programs in Birmingham and Mobile. Utilities across the country celebrated National Lineman Appreciation Day to express gratitude for lineworkers and field representatives. Alabama Power recognized these employees' hard work and dedication to the company and the communities they serve. Lineworker contributions were even more noteworthy as their commitment to safely provide Alabama reliable energy did not waver through the pandemic and a record-setting storm season. Alabama Power employees replaced 3,847 poles, 17,761 spans of wire and 31 transmission structures in Alabama with support from 10,000 personnel from 25 states and Canada. Alabama Power crews traveled to New Jersey, Illinois, Texas and Louisiana after major hurricanes, tornadoes and disasters. MAY Anglers, tournament staff and community leaders enjoyed their new shaded place on Lewis Smith Lake in Walker County to host fishing tournament weigh-ins. Many of them gathered to share appreciation for the weigh-in pavilion during a ceremony prior to the Basspro.com Bassmaster Open. The pavilion provides shade for fish-holding tanks during tournaments, which reduces stress and increases survival rates. The pavilion was funded through a partnership between B.A.S.S. and Alabama Power, and built with the help of volunteers from the Union Sportsmen's Alliance. The pavilion is on a growing list of amenities offered at Alabama Power's 68 public recreation sites. Alabama Power employees were honored for their partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to study the values and limitations of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – or drones – in storm response. The team had been working for a few years on incorporating UAS into storm damage response when it decided to partner with EPRI, which had been working on similar issues. The resulting project won an EPRI Tech Transfer Award for Power Delivery and Utilization. Alabama Power employees across the state upped their efforts to support people in need during the Southern Company Month of Service. From holding food and school supply drives to showing love for older adults in long-term care facilities, employees connected with their communities in a multitude of ways. Much of the employee volunteer efforts have been conducted virtually, in coordination with Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) chapters. Throughout May, APSO members focused on projects that helped feed the homeless, families and, especially, schoolchildren whose access to school breakfasts and lunches are suspended during summer. JUNE Alabama Power employees said the company system is better prepared than ever for severe weather. New smart grid technology was installed in recent months that reduced outages and outage times for customers. During tornado outbreaks March 17-25, the advanced electric grid and power systems reduced the number of affected customers by 58%, saving 12.4 million customer minutes of interruption. The company also improved communications, as customers signed up for outage alerts, reported outages from smartphones and saw outage updates instantly online. Children and families served by the Autauga County Department of Human Resources now have a safe, fun place to play and spend time together during their visits to the facility. It's thanks to a partnership between the 2020-2021 class of Leadership Autauga County and APSO. On June 9, the organizations revealed the new playground, along with an overflowing outdoor toy box. Leadership Autauga County, with help from the Southern Division APSO chapter, transformed a previously bare patio area and yard into the playground. Safety First is Alabama Power's No. 1 value. Workgroups throughout the company regularly hold training exercises on a variety of topics to enhance the safety of employees and communities. The Hydro Services team held a training exercise simulating what would happen in the event of an emergency at a company-operated facility. The exercise, held virtually due to the pandemic, allowed the hydro team members to coordinate with state and local emergency management organizations and others, which was similar to a real emergency. 12.4 M I L L I O N M I N U T E S S AV E D

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