Mississippi Power history

Previously, in 1934, Alcorn County Electric Power Association had been organized to distribute electricity purchased from the Tennessee Valley Authority.

President Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (now called Rural Utilities Services) by executive order on May 11, 1935.

20, 1936, giving directors the authority to adopt bylaws, sign up members, execute a power contract, and borrow money for construction.

In May 1938, electricity first flowed through 95 miles of North East Mississippi Electric Power Association’s distribution lines, lighting up nearly 200 homes of members served by the New Albany substation.

1940 - The Security and Exchange Commission orders dissolution of Commonwealth & Southern, a predecessor to Mississippi Power Company's parent corporation, Southern Company.

1945 - Following years of difficulties connected with the Depression as well as material restrictions and manpower shortages during World War II, Mississippi Power’s first power plant begins commercial operation near Hattiesburg.

1947 - Southern Company established as the holding company for four utilities including Mississippi Power.

In 1949, Southern Company was established as a holding company for four utilities, one of which included Mississippi Power Company.

1951 - Mississippi Power's second generating plant, located near Meridian, begins producing electricity.

1953 - A second unit at Plant Sweatt increases electricity generation to 1 billion kilowatt-hours a year.

1956 - Mississippi Public Service Commission established.

1957 - Plant Watson begins commercial operation.

1962 - In partnership with one of its sister companies, Alabama Power, Mississippi Power begins construction of a generating plant along the Warrior River near Demopolis, Alabama.

1965 - Unit Four built at Plant Watson.

1977 - The first unit of Plant Daniel in Jackson County begins commercial operation.

1981 - Unit Two at Plant Daniel begins commercial operation.

1983 - Company begins annual $25,000 donation to the Red Cross to aid the elderly disadvantaged with heating bills.

1986 - Performance Evaluation Plan enacted, the nation's first performance-based rate making plan for an electric utility.

2003 - Mississippi Power Education Foundation started its New Teacher Assistance Grants designed to attract and retain high quality teachers to service area schools.

The severity of the storm has cautioned Mississippi Power with every future investment it has made. It is no wonder that the Kemper Project, officially named Plant Ratcliffe, was named after the 2005 Southern Company CEO, David Ratcliffe.

2006 - Plant Daniel in Escatawpa, Miss., is selected for a multi-year research project to test carbon dioxide storage by the United States Department of Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory.

2007 - Mississippi Power announces a three-year total commitment to Mississippi State University's Early Childhood Education Institute.

2011 - Mississippi Power storm teams went to assist the utilities in Maryland and Washington D.C. in August following Hurricane Irene and returned to the east coast in November after a winter snow storm left more than 604,000 New Jersey utility customers without power.

2012 - Mississippi Power crews assisted Entergy Arkansas restore outages after an extreme winter storm crossed the nation through the December holiday season.

2014 - In August, Plant Ratcliffe begins generating electricity from natural gas, delivering value to customers.

2017 - Mississippi Power becomes the state's largest partner in renewable energy with the dedication of three large-scale solar facilities, providing more than 105 MW and powering nearly 15,000 homes.

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© 2021 Southern Company.