POWERGRAMS

2 attract small baitfish that feed on those organisms, which in turn attract larger predator fish, such as bass, crappie and catfish. MARCH An Alabama Power group won its second Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) award. In partnership with employees at Barry Steam Plant, the Compliance Studies group in Environmental Affairs won a Technology Transfer Award two years ago for evaluating the survival rate of fish collected on specially designed water intake screens at the Mobile facility. The group won again in 2016 for demonstrating how to perform studies to evaluate the screens used at Barry and another screen-type at Gorgas Steam Plant. The Clean Water Act requires intake structures to have moving screens designed to return live fish back to a lake or river. The results of Alabama Power's testing – which has national implications – showed how the screens perform best. ……. The Southeast/Farley Energizers Chapter held its 21st annual fundraising auction in Eufaula, pushing the all-time total of donations past the $60,000 mark. Auctioned items were all donated by Energizers and most were made by the members. The chapter has held an auction each year since 1996 and since then has been able to donate over $60,000 to local charities. The annual auction usually raises about $5,000. Energizers lend their support to schools, hospitals, libraries and numerous nonprofit organizations across the state. More than 1,400 members statewide work through 11 local chapters in Alabama. Energizers volunteer a combined average of 40,000 hours each year. …………….. Alabama Power crews and support personnel headed to Bethpage, New York, March 13 to help restore power as a classic nor'easter was bearing down on the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Forecasters predicted Winter Storm Stella could dump more than 1 foot of snow from Washington, D.C., to Maine. The National Weather Service expanded its blizzard warning to include parts of eight states in the Northeast, and a state of emergency was declared in New York. About 350 Alabama Power line crew members and support personnel left from sites across the state to assist Public Service Enterprise Group and Long Island Power Authority in New York. APRIL An independent survey ranked Alabama Power customer service among the nation's best for utilities and in the top 20 percent of 331 companies whose customers were polled. The 2017 Temkin Experience Ratings had Alabama Power tied for second among all utility companies. Alabama Power scored 75 percent to rank 60th in the nation, seven points above the average. Temkin considers a score of 70 percent or above "good," a score of 80 percent or above "excellent," and below 60 percent "poor." ………………… Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) members volunteered thousands of hours to help hundreds of charitable agencies statewide. Many APSO leaders attended the annual conference in Montgomery, reflecting on last year's successes while training for new community efforts in 2017. The Award of Excellence went to the Gaston Chapter for outstanding achievement in contributions to community service consistent with the state mission. APSO develops and supports projects that promote the core values of the company's charitable giving efforts, such as enhancing the community, improving education, the environment and other Alabama community needs. …………………. The annual iCan Engineering Conference at Alabama Power Corporate Headquarters April 15 was an eventful day. More than 150 sixth-grade through eighth-grade students and their parents from across the state attended. The students' day was filled with a variety of learning experiences, including competitions, engineering, and electrical and chemical activities. The conference was a part of the iCan Girls school year curriculum, bringing together students, parents, educators, iCan team members and volunteers to kick off the program. Speakers included faculty from Auburn University and the program director for Gear UP Alabama. Southeast Energizers auctions have raised $60,000 for their communities.

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