PERCEPTION
Keeping the lights on as demand increases is pretty simple. All we really need to do to keep up with growth is to become more energy efficient.

REALITY
We make it seem simple for our customers, but in reality there's nothing simple about ensuring the power is there behind every flip of a switch or press of a button. And as the demand for electricity increases, it becomes even more of a challenge. At Southern Company, we forecast growth and demand well in advance, and we plan appropriately. We know how many employees it will take to get the job done, and we know what skills they need. We know where and when we need to add new generation, and new transmission and distribution equipment. And we plan for those costs. Helping our customers become more energy efficient will offset some of the growth. But keeping the lights on takes hard work by thousands of dedicated, highly skilled, and knowledgeable employees. It takes billions of dollars. And it takes many different resources.