Southern Co., the largest electric generator in the country,still plans to hire 1,000 more people before the end of the year.Many of the job openings are in the unregulated sector, the companysaid last week. So far in 1999, Southern has filled 2,000 vacant ornew positions.

“It has been abnormally high for the past three years I’d say.In 1998, we hired 2,400 people, and we thought that was high,” saidMark Wolfe, manager of staffing for Southern Co. “The growth hascoincided with the company’s expanding unregulated serviceoperations.”

So far in 1999, Southern has continued to follow its demandinggrowth strategy. Southern Energy Inc. (SEI), the company’sunregulated marketing arm, was a main reason for the overallcompany’s 16% higher net income in 2Q99 compared to 2Q98. SEIreported $69 million in second quarter 1999 earnings, compared with$25 million for the same period last year. Because of its increasedpresence, SEI’s workforce has increased. When the joint venturewith Vastar Resources began, it had 100 employees. Southern saidthat number has increased to 300 currently and will rise to the500-600 range by this time next year.

Southern has also purchased more than 6,000 MW in New England,California and New York so far this year. Included in this totalwas Southern’s purchase of all of Orange & Rockland’sgeneration assets for $480 million, which closed last July.Southern said many of the new positions are dedicated to managingthis influx of generation.

Chris Womack, senior vice president for Southern humanresources, said the changing shape of the company has required achange in its human resource strategies.

“Power generation businesses, which we are acquiring, buildingand operating around the country, drive much of our hiring,” Womacksaid. “But we also require other skills such as informationtechnology and financial specialties.”

Some of the people will be put to work in Georgia, but many willbe employed in New England, California and in the Midwest, whereSouthern is now doing business. “Most of the new forces are beingemployed in the design, construction and operation of the latestand most efficient power generation plants we can bring online,”said Womack.

Although there is a tremendous amount of competition for talent,Wolfe said Southern is on target to meet its employment goals.”We’ve increased the amount of tools used in order to get the jobdone. That includes putting more emphasis on Web sites and usingsearch firms. This shouldn’t slow down within the next three years.We’re already prepared to take on 3,000 next year.”

He added that while the numbers have increased, they are fairlynormal for a company with 32,000 employees overall.

John Norris

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