Philip

Southern Co. Chairman Allen Franklin announced last week the selection of C. Philip Saunders as President and CEO of the newly formed Southern Co. Gas, which will spearhead the acquisition of the Georgia customers currently being served by The New Power Co., ensuring a smooth transition for those customers to Southern Co. Gas.

Southern Co. Chairman Allen Franklin announced Monday the selection of C. Philip Saunders as President and CEO of the newly formed Southern Co. Gas, which will spearhead the acquisition of the Georgia customers currently being served by The New Power Co., ensuring a smooth transition for those customers to Southern Co. Gas.

Southern Co. Chairman Allen Franklin announced Monday the selection of C. Philip Saunders as President and CEO of the newly formed Southern Co. Gas, which will spearhead the acquisition of the Georgia customers currently being served by The New Power Co., ensuring a smooth transition for those customers to Southern Co. Gas.

Buffalo, NY-based National Fuel Gas Co. said Friday that it has elected Philip C. Ackerman to the position of chairman of the board, effective January 3. Ackerman, who became CEO of National Fuel in October 2001, succeeds Bernard J. Kennedy in both capacities. Ackerman, 57, joined the company in 1968 and has been president of National Fuel since July 1999. In other company action, the board of directors approved payment of a regular quarterly dividend of $0.2525 per share on the company’s common stock. In June 2001, the regular annual dividend was increased by 5.2% to an annual rate of $1.01, which included a special increase of 2 cents in addition to a 3-cent regular increase. These figures reflect the implementation of the company’s two-for-one common stock split on Sept. 7, 2001. The dividend is payable Jan. 15, 2002 to shareholders of record on Dec. 31, 2001. National Fuel is an integrated energy company with $3.4 billion in assets comprised of the following six operating segments: utility, pipeline and storage, exploration and production, international, energy marketing and timber.

National Fuel Gas Co. said Philip C. Ackerman has been electedpresident of the company. David F. Smith will succeed Ackerman aspresident of National Fuel Distribution Corp. Ackerman has beenwith the company since 1968, and Smith has been with National Fuelsince 1978.