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Power Project To Create 300-400 Jobs The project is expected to create 300-400 jobs during construction and 25-35 permanent positions. "Not only will this project help meet the future electricity demands of our community, it will also create a large number of good-paying construction jobs and permanent positions," said Bob Haven, OUC's general manager and CEO. "The economic impact of this project will be considerable, and this certainly is good news for Central Florida." "Southern Company is proud to partner with OUC to provide a reliable source of energy for electrical users in Central Florida," said Paul Bowers, president of Southern Company Generation and Energy Marketing, which builds plants and also generates and markets electricity for the company. "We are looking forward to building upon our relationship with OUC in the future." Presently, OUC and Southern Company are lining up potential project vendors and suppliers. At a special MWBE Vendor Opportunities Forum held November 5 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Orlando, dozens of minority- and women-owned companies took steps toward becoming eligible bidders to provide products and services for the project. Construction of the new generation unit, called Stanton A, will last approximately two years. Completion is scheduled for fall 2003. Approved by Gov. Jeb Bush and his cabinet in September, the "combined-cycle" power generation unit will consist of two natural gas-fired, low-emission combustion turbines coupled with a steam turbine. This technology is the most efficient, environmentally advanced technology available today. OUC will own nearly a third of the new generation unit's output. The Kissimmee Utility Authority and Florida Municipal Power Agency will each own 3.5 percent. Southern Company will own the remaining 65 percent. Under an initial 10-year contract, OUC, KUA and FMPA will purchase all of Southern Company's generating capacity. Options in the contract could extend it for an additional 20 years. The new natural gas-fired generators will feature combined-cycle technology that minimizes emissions and generates electricity 30 percent more efficiently than earlier technology. Presently, OUC operates two coal-fired generating units at its east Orange County site. These units are among the most environmentally sound coal-burning operations in the nation, according to federal monitoring agencies. OUC—The Reliable One lives up to its name by providing the best record of electric reliability in the state of Florida and delivering high-quality, great-tasting drinking water to its customers. Established in 1923 and owned by the City of Orlando, OUC serves more than 168,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange County. OUC has diversified its product and service offerings to include commercial and residential lighting services; chilled water service for the air-conditioning needs of offices, hotels and other commercial properties; online energy monitoring services; and other programs. OUC generates annual revenues of more than $500 million and transfers millions of dollars to the City of Orlando each year, helping pay for police and fire services, parks and playgrounds, and other community services. Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a super-regional energy company with more than 32,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Southeast. It is one of the largest producers of electricity in the United States. Southern Company is the parent firm of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, Savannah Electric, Southern Nuclear, Southern Company Energy Solutions, Southern LINC, Southern Telecom and Southern Power, which includes the company's growing competitive generation business in the Southeast. Southern Company brands are synonymous with excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are 15 percent below the national average. With more than 500,000 shareholders, Southern Company common stock is one of the most widely held stocks in the United States.
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