The Remote Operations Center in Inverness, Alabama, where staff observe rigorous safety and health protocols.
Yes, and we have performed remarkably while keeping our customers, communities and employees safe.
In the face of unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, Southern Company subsidiaries worked hard to keep the energy flowing while maintaining the highest standards of health and safety.
Across the entire Southern Company system, our companies took decisive action to employ new work practices to help safeguard our employees and communities. Employees never stopped working as we sustained essential business operations and continued to serve 9 million customers each day. More than 15,000 employees worked remotely in 2020, and they will continue to do so well into 2021. Rigorous safety protocols have been implemented to protect employees who continue to work onsite at essential company facilities, including social distancing, face coverings, deep cleanings and measures related to personal hygiene.
Our natural gas business has been faced with an especially unique challenge during the pandemic. Unlike other utilities, natural gas field service representatives (FSRs) are often required to enter customers’ homes and businesses. Southern Company Gas’ four local distribution companies applied new and stringent health protocols, including the implementation of a screening process with customers, to ensure that FSRs are adequately prepared before performing indoor work on their behalf.
The health and safety of our customers, our neighbors and our employees remains our top priority as we continue to provide clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through our state-regulated gas and electric businesses, a national wholesale competitive generation company, a leading distributed infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries also recognized the extraordinary burden shouldered by many customers due to impacts from the pandemic. Working with their respective state commissions, our utilities suspended service disconnections during the early stages of the pandemic in order to help customers through that challenging time. Our utilities also worked diligently to enroll customers in special payment plans, explore alternative billing options and seek financial assistance to avoid disconnection.