Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/615300
Looking back at 2015 2015 was another big year for Alabama Power and its employees who reached milestones statewide on the job and in communities, maintaining industry-recognized standards for safety, reliability, customer service, innovation and emergency assistance to others. Among the highlights of the company's 109th year: JANUARY • The Powell Avenue Steam Plant in Birmingham was added to the National Register of Historic Places administered by the National Park Service. The plant built in 1895 provided steam and electricity downtown. It was acquired by Alabama Power in 1952 and decommissioned in 2013. The renovated building and grounds will become a key part of Birmingham's Railroad Park and Parkside district. • The company's high-voltage Safe-T-Zone program is being presented statewide by Risk Services in partnership with Power Delivery and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The safety instruction is targeted at firefighters, police, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and other first responders who work around electricity in emergencies. • Seven work groups were recognized for 10 years of Target Zero safety performance: Supply Chain management; Valley Business Office; SCM – Technical Support; SCM Safety and Compliance; Supplier Diversity; SCM Purchasing; and SCM – Investment Recovery. FEBRUARY • Alabama Power and the Alabama Power Foundation were again recognized in the annual progress report of the nonprofit Green Resource Center for Alabama. The 2014 Green Report singled out Alabama Power for its solar research; Coosa River improvements; Students To Stewards grant program; Birmingham Zoo educational kiosk; Renew Our Rivers cleanup campaign; Good Roots grants; electric vehicle use and research; and renewable energy certificates. • Lifestory Research of California said Alabama Power is "America's Most Trusted" large residential electric utility company. An inaugural study by the independent company examined trust among residential customers and how they view their electric utility concerning several different brand measures. • Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) members volunteered in their communities for more than 50,000 hours while helping more than 250 charitable organizations statewide. The Gaston Chapter was honored for membership growth, while the Barry and Southern chapters were recognized for outstanding member participation. MARCH • The Electric Power Research Institute honored Alabama Power with the Technology Transfer Award for not only being the first company in the United States to install and outfit an entire intake with new fish-saving screens, but also for pioneering techniques to evaluate the performance of the screens at Plant Barry. • The Edison Electric Institute presented to Alabama Power the Emergency Assistance Award for help provided to Pennsylvania Power & Light, Philadelphia Electric Co. and Georgia Power. More than 700 employees traveled and worked nearly 80,000 man-hours in dangerous conditions to help the out-of-state utilities and their customers. • Alabama Power employees helped inspire about 4,000 eighth- grade students at the Career Discovery Expo in Auburn University's Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The students got a close look at an electric transmission structure among more than 100 regional industry and business exhibition booths. APRIL • Thirteen first-year teachers received $1,000 grants from the Alabama Power Foundation to aid teachers and students in classrooms across the state. The grants are awarded using nonratepayer money. • The Alabama Power Foundation renewed its commitment to scholarships at the University of South Alabama with a $300,000 gift to the Mobile school and its students. The gift, coupled with dollar-for-dollar matching funds and previous commitments, brings the value of Alabama Power's endowment at USA to more than $1.2 million. • More than 100 students in grades 6-8 and their parents attended the annual Girls in Engineering Conference at Alabama Power Corporate Headquarters. Employees led the daylong event hosted by iCan Girls in Engineering as students took part in fun, team- building exercises intended to guide them toward a career in science, technology, engineering and math. YEAR IN REVIEW 3 Students inspected electric cars in Auburn. Powell Avenue Steam Plant undergoing renovations.