Here in the Southeast, start your microwave and that's us behind the plug. Buy a soft drink, that's us powering the bottling plant. Go fishing on a local lake, that's us operating the dam. Even if you heat your house with another fuel, we probably supply the power to run the circulating fan. People take our product for granted. Because we're everywhere with lines to everyone.

Key Impacts

By nature of what we do—generate electricity for 4.4 million customers in the Southeast—our company has a key impact on the:

• Safety of workers by stressing the need to anticipate hazards.
• Prosperity of customers by keeping monthly electric bills affordable.
• Profits of businesses where efficient electrical use can lower operating expenses.
• Improvement of communities with service, volunteerism and support.
• Growth of a region that needs affordable energy to compete in a global market.
• Energy independence of a nation facing increased strains on domestic resources.
• Conservation of the environment and natural resources.

Opportunities

Our impacts are not necessarily distinct from each other. Some coincide and present opportunities, others conflict and present risks. This report details how we balance priorities among employees, investors, customers, suppliers, regulators, community members, and environmentalists. On the balance, our opportunities and risks net out to these stakeholder goals:

• Keep electricity affordable and reliable.
• Champion conservation and energy efficiency.
• Lower the impact of electricity generation on the environment.
• Attract, develop, protect, and retain skilled workers to ensure reliable supplies of electricity.
• Foster community growth and environmental stewardship.

This report focuses on our plans, progress, and performance against these goals. The first two goals are covered in the electricity section, the third in environment, the fourth in work force, and the last in stewardship. See also the GRI Index and Table of Contents »