POWERGRAMS

Powergrams magazine is back For the first time since 1992, Powergrams will be mailed to the homes of all employees and retirees. Twenty-two years ago, Powergrams moved from a monthly magazine to a newspaper-style design and twice-monthly distribution. Along with the format change, there was a move toward stories highlighting recent or upcoming events and away from articles that relied less on a time element. That all changes with the first issue of 2016, which arrives with an emphasis on feature stories about employees and important long-term company issues. "As our readers rely more and more on smartphones, laptops and desktop computers, there is less need for printed employee communications to focus on what's happening tomorrow or what occurred today or yesterday," said John Hudson, vice president of Public Relations. "We are providing that kind of content – deadline news and other breaking stories – on Powerlines, NewsCenter and other digital platforms, allowing us to make Powergrams a more lifestyle- and feature-oriented publication." Connections, the quarterly newsletter of Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO), is being merged into the new Powergrams magazine, as is the Energizers Newsletter. While APSO news has long been an important component of Powergrams, for many years the news about retirees has been reserved primarily for the quarterly publication that was mailed to all APC retirees. "We're excited about this opportunity for our story to be told to a much larger audience than just my fellow 5,400 retired Alabama Power workers," said Energizers State President Bob O'Daniel. "Some current employees and many people outside the company aren't aware of all the work the Energizers do in communities across the state. They are in for some good news in future Powergrams." The latest variation of Powergrams will be about 40 pages each month with many articles encompassing several pages, rather than the one- page, one-story concept employed since the newsletter became a large-format newspaper in 2011. In addition to APSO and Energizers features, stories will reflect the company's innovation and history, while continuing to concentrate on safety, education, the environment and community projects across Alabama. Powergrams will continue to include information about employees who have retired or died. The popular Postcards 2 Powergrams and Target Zero Heroes will be included in the updated magazine. A new feature, "Our Town," will spotlight small cities across the state that are served by Alabama Power employees. In the April 1920 inaugural issue, Alabama Power president Tom Martin said Powergrams' mission was to "give you a picture, therefore, from time to time, of our problems, our hopes and purposes … with the view of working out a better co-operation in the Company, which will result in a better and more efficient service to the public." Martin's goal continues as the company moves into its 110th year. By Chuck Chandler COMMUNICATION 7 EMPLOYEE NEWSLET TER UNDERGOES M ANY CHANGES FOR 2016 ?

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