POWERGRAMS

When people consider the necessities of life, high on the list are food, clothing and shelter. Mike Cleland believes that electricity should occupy a spot among those priorities. "You've gotta have it," Cleland said. "Electricity provides such value, considering the dollars you spend. Alabama Power offers electricity that's of great value to the state of Alabama." Serving as an electrical engineer in Power Delivery - Distribution for 50 years, Cleland helps ensure that customers have reliable power. Working in Distribution Management Systems at Corporate Headquarters, he plays a critical part in keeping the electric system operating. "A lot of people here call me 'the GIS Guy,'" Cleland said, with a smile. That's an informal title, but after 24 years of supporting the user experience for the Geographic Information System (GIS), Cleland's earned that moniker. "When employees call me with questions about GIS, I try to fill their wagon up," he said. "I make sure they get their question answered, and hopefully a little more." In 1988, Alabama Power began investigating the myriad possibilities of GIS, still in its infancy. Cleland was among the first employees to investigate the technology. "We started looking at GIS, and felt that we needed to use the technology to map our electric systems electronically on computer," Cleland said. Today, all of the company's systems, including power lines and substations for Transmission and Distribution, are mapped on computer. The company began building its distribution GIS system in 1992. There was much work in getting the system to where it is now, but today, employees depend on the system to do their jobs. "GIS is critical to our way of business," Cleland said, noting there are more than 800 registered system users for Distribution GIS. "I enjoy helping people who deal with the system. On a typical day, we have up to 250 connected users. GIS has allowed me to develop a lot of friendships, not only in the company, but within the GIS industry." He said the great thing about GIS is that it allows company engineers to know so much more about Alabama Power's electrical system. GIS provides a snapshot of the steady-state distribution system, allowing employees to see and know what's going on. Additionally, GIS provides valuable data for other systems. "You can see the switches and know where they are located, as well as the ones that should be open or closed," Cleland said. "GIS really changed the way we do business. Employees can even see it on their iPads." TROUBLESHOOTING THROUGHOUT A CAREER – AND LOVING IT Cleland, who was a co-op student for the company while studying at Auburn University, said, "I had the good fortune to go into Distribution after I graduated." He started out at the Anniston Office and, within a few months, moved to Talladega to work in the Pell City area. Later, Cleland returned to Anniston to work in Electrical Substations. He went on to become the Telecommunications supervisor in Eastern Division, working on phones and microwave towers. In 1972, Cleland moved to the company's General Office Building, and worked in the Substations Department at Corporate Headquarters. When Alabama Power created its Construction PROFILE Cleland's 50-year celebration party featured tongue-in-cheek artwork created by his co-workers. Distribution Vice President Danny Glover presented plaque to Cleland. 2

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