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<p>Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Tom Fanning has been elected chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the national association of investor-owned electric companies, international electric companies, and industry associates worldwide.</p>
<p>The announcement was made Tuesday during EEI's annual convention in Chicago.</p>
<p>"Since 2013, Tom has been an invaluable member of our leadership team, while serving as an EEI vice chairman and as co-chair of the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council. Tom is a visionary leader and is at the forefront in developing innovative customer solutions as our industry continues its transformation," said EEI President Tom Kuhn.</p>
<p>"In an increasingly electrified economy, America's electric power industry can invent a better energy future by partnering to deliver innovative solutions for customers," said Fanning. "As EEI chairman, I look forward to collaborating with leaders across the industry to find new and better ways to serve the customers and families who depend on us."</p>
<p>Fanning succeeds Nick Akins, chairman, president and CEO of American Electric Power, as EEI chairman and will serve a one-year term.</p>
<p>Also at the convention, Kim Greene, Southern Company chief operating officer and executive vice president, participated in the panel "A Bright Future for Solar" with other renewable energy industry leaders. The panel discussed the changing energy landscape in the U.S. and the role solar power plays has in that landscape, the importance of electric power companies in the expansion of solar power and how they electric companies provide a variety of solutions to meet their customers' needs.</p>
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