Southern Company chief Dahlberg announces retirement

Dahlberg's departure is effective April 2, the same day Southern's spinoff of its Mirant unit is to be completed.

Dahlberg, 60, became Southern's CEO in 1995 after serving as president of Georgia Power, the company's largest subsidiary and one of its five utilities.

Atlanta-based Southern Co. is parent firm of Georgia Power, Alabama Power, Florida-based Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, Savannah Electric and Mirant Corp., the new name of Southern Energy.

Dahlberg will retain his seat on the board of Mirant, which Southern Co. is spinning off to shareholders. Mirant, which contributes about a fifth of Southern's $13 billion annual revenue, is an electricity wholesaler in California.

Dahlberg began his career in 1960 as a Georgia Power meter installer, advancing through several departments at the company before he was named vice president of financial services.

He later became a senior vice president at Southern Company Services, before being named that unit's president and chief executive. In 1988, he was promoted to president and chief executive of Georgia Power and then president of its parent, Southern Company, in 1994.

Dahlberg assumed the top job in March 1995. In July, the company announced that the newest Georgia Power generating plant, north of Athens, will be named Plant Dahlberg.

Franklin, 56, was president and chief executive at Georgia Power until he became Southern's president in 1999.

The native of Corner, Ala., joined Southern Company Services in 1970 as an engineer in the firm's Birmingham office. He transferred to Alabama Power in 1979.

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