Count on Alabama Power For Value, Service and Savings

Kregg Pruitt, campus director at Birmingham's Virginia College Technical, is one of those customers. "Alabama Power not only provides us with great service, but with products that have helped boost our business and protect our assets."

One way residential customers can save is by determining the pricing option that best fits their lifestyle. Alabama Power offers three residential price options. FD, or Family Dwelling, the company's standard pricing option, works best for many customers. If a customer's home has energy-efficient features, FDE, the Family Dwelling Efficiency option, may be best. If a customer is usually gone during the day and uses energy-demanding appliances (such as the clothes washer and dryer) mainly in the evening, FDT, the Family Dwelling-Time of Use option, may offer the most savings.

On the commercial side, Alabama Power provides a wide variety of pricing options for business and industry. Options range from Real Time Pricing to Time of Use, Segment Rates and Demand Rates.

Alabama Power also offers a number of billing and payment options that provide convenience or potential savings to customers. For example, our free Budget Billing option smoothes out power bill payments by leveling them throughout the year. Bills are averaged monthly based on usage. Or you can choose FlatBill, which provides a full year's price protection, sparing you from fluctuating bills. The Flatbill amount includes an additional charge to account for variations in usage, weather conditions and other factors. The Flatbill price is recalculated at the end of each 12-month period, and requires a 12-month contract. Other billing options include e-Bill, a free service that allows customers to view and pay their power bill online. No checks to write or stamps to buy. Or you can pay your bill via Electronic Funds Transfer. Your power bill payment is automatically deducted from your bank account about 10 days after you receive your statement.

Alabama Power's Web site, www.AlabamaPower.com, provides a wide variety of helpful information to consumers, from rate options to energy saving tips. You can even complete an online Energy Check Up that - based on information you supply - can provide specific recommendations on how you can save money on energy at your home. Choose the five-minute EZ Check Up or the 20-minute Full Check Up, which provides a more detailed energy analysis. You can also try the Energy Calculator, which determines the approximate energy consumption and cost for most home appliances. Please note that the Energy Check Up uses standard rate plans to show your energy costs. If you are on a Time of Use plan or have a special rider, results will not reflect your pricing.

Here's a list of some other Alabama Power products and services that can help make life simpler or provide peace of mind:

• Summary Billing: For customers who receive 10 or more power bills at the same address. Provides a single bill for several locations. A free service.
• Electric Heat Pump Financing: 100% financing available with approved credit. Some restrictions apply.
• Free Electric Water Heater: The Electric Water Heater Conversion Program provides residential customers a free electric water heater or a cash rebate when they switch to electric water heating.
• Outdoor Lighting: Adds to the safety security and appearance of your home and starts at just S7 a month. The cost of installation and maintenance is included in the monthly fee.
• Premium Surge Protection: Plug-in surge protectors alone can't protect all the appliances and electronics in your home. To protect wired-in appliances such as water heaters, ovens dishwasher, and heating and cooling systems, you need a product like Alabama Power's commercial-grade Premium Surge Protection, which protects all these types of appliances as well as electronics for as little as $9.99 per month plus installation.
• Basic Surge Protection: If Premium Surge Protection isn't for you but you still want to protect your large appliances and equipment, Basic Surge Protection is available for just $4.99 per month, and installation is free. Protects motors in large motor-drive appliances and elements in resistance heat appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, heating and cooling systems, and water heaters. Protection is limited to damaging surges that run through the power line and electric meter.
• Appliances and electronics sales and service: Customers can shop at 97 Alabama Power Appliance Centers across the southern two-thirds of the state. Alabama Power can also service most major electric home appliances, regardless of where you bought them. Financing available with approved credit and the payments may be added to your monthly power bill. For more information or to schedule service, call 1-800-613-9333.
• EnergyDirect.com: Around-the-clock access for business and industrial customers, via a secure Web site, to current and historical energy cost and usage information. Provides critical information for business on how to save money on energy usage. Packages offering a range of data are available.
• Business Equipment Financing: Alabama Power offers a business leasing program for electric end-use technologies, such as heat pumps, electric cooking equipment and lighting installations.