POWERGRAMS

6 Alabama Power's extraordinary employees and the strong relationships they have built pay dividends, especially during tough times, Executive Vice President Zeke Smith said at the 2014 Business Forum. Building and maintaining these relationships help protect and promote the company's brand, image and return, he said. Last year's meetings with the Public Service Commission (PSC) showed the power of relationships, Smith said. Special interest groups, including environmental groups, AARP, Alabama ARISE and the League of Women Voters, attacked Alabama Power rates and the amount of profit the company is allowed to earn. In these informal meetings, Alabama Power defended its rate structure and explained its value to customers, while many supporters countered the activists' attacks and praised the company. "All those relationships were a critical part of why we were able to weather the attacks from activists and the media and were able to come through that process with a fair outcome," Smith said. Nick Sellers, vice president of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, pointed out that the groups attacking Alabama Power during the PSC meetings received millions of dollars from the Energy Foundation, a San Francisco environmental group. Much of the money was to help "accelerate the retirement of coal-fired plants," which would increase customers' rates, Sellers said. Matt Bowden, vice president of Environmental Affairs, said Alabama Power should expect continued attacks on coal. "Despite sharply reducing emissions over the past two decades and investing another $1 billion to further improve performance through 2016, we can expect continued criticism of our company from the environmental community in 2014 and beyond," he said. Relationships help the company in other ways, presenters noted: • Quentin Riggins, vice president of Governmental Affairs, said strong internal and external relationships are a key in getting the Legislature to approve beneficial bills such as one that toughens penalties for anyone threatening a utility worker. "Our current and future successes are contingent upon building strong relationships," Riggins said. • The company's relationship with its customers – beyond just providing electricity – begins with dialogue but becomes a partnership, said John Hudson, vice president of Public Relations and Charitable Giving. "They take shape because of mutual interests, and they grow because of mutual benefits," he said. "Or, as Tom Martin put it, 'nothing can be good for Alabama Power unless it is first good for Alabama.'" Smith said relationships are an important part of Alabama Power's history and legacy, and they must be an important part of the company's future. Smith, others say relationships key busINEss FORum Smith Sellers Riggins Bowden Hudson During Business Forum 2014, Executive Vice President Steve Spencer emphasized three keys to continuing growth for the company: customer service, customer satisfaction and customer relationships. "We continue to do well in all of these areas and it is because of all of you," Spencer said while highlighting some of last year's successes. "But, just like being 100 percent connected, we have to realize we are advocates for the company even when it comes to sales," he said. "There's a new campaign you're going to hear more about in the days ahead called Get Plugged In," Spencer said. "We have a strong legacy, but in order to be successful in the future we must continue to grow revenue. This campaign will give you more information on how to contribute to our success." Business Forum attendees received a brochure providing more information about the Get Plugged In campaign that will be distributed companywide. Spencer invited several employees to speak about ways others across the company are already taking the right steps to ensure Alabama Power meets future demands. "Everything we do at the company is important, the relationships we build, the customers we help and of course the electricity we generate, but nothing we do is more important than safety," Spencer said in closing. "This year marks the 10th anniversary of Target Zero and although we have seen great improvement, we can't stop until we reach zero." Spencer says customer satisfaction key Spencer wants employees to 'Get Plugged In.'

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