Halloween Myth-Busting: Energy Savings Demystified
Every October, Alabama Power seizes the Halloween spirit to do more than just light up neighborhoods—it aims to illuminate the facts behind household energy use. This year, the company rolled out a series of myth-busting tips, using clever analogies and seasonal flair to help customers save money and energy as temperatures drop.
One of the most persistent myths? That switching off your heating system while you’re away will cut costs. Alabama Power dispelled this, explaining that the effort required to reheat a cold home—walls, furniture, and all—can actually use more energy than maintaining a steady temperature. It’s a lesson in hidden costs, much like unmasking a villain in a Halloween tale.
Another myth: closing air vents in unused rooms will make the rest of the house warmer. In reality, Alabama Power says, this disrupts airflow and can lower your system’s efficiency. It’s not a haunted mansion—air needs to circulate freely for optimal comfort and savings.
But perhaps the spookiest revelation involves so-called “energy vampires”: electronics and chargers that drain power even when switched off. Alabama Power encourages customers to unplug devices or use power strips to “stake” these silent electricity suckers, saving money over time. The company’s advice is practical, actionable, and timely as colder weather approaches and heating bills loom.
To help customers take control, Alabama Power promotes its suite of digital tools—apps and dashboards that let users track daily energy use, set alerts, and manage bills online. These resources, the company says, can “scare away the wicked spirits of increased power bills” by empowering consumers with real-time information.
Conservation with a Twist: Giving Bats a Safe Haven
Halloween isn’t just about ghosts and goblins—it’s also Bat Week, a national campaign to spotlight bat conservation. Alabama Power’s Environmental Affairs team leaned into the theme, building and installing 30 bat houses across the state. Each box, painted by local schoolchildren as part of an art contest, can shelter up to 200 bats, offering thousands of these misunderstood mammals a safe roost.
The stakes are high: bats face threats like white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus, and habitat loss as trees and caves disappear. As Dylan Shaw, an Alabama Power environmental specialist, explained, bats play a critical role in ecosystems by controlling pests and saving farmers millions on crop damage. The company’s bat houses are more than seasonal decorations—they’re lifelines for local wildlife and tools for community education.
Alabama Power isn’t new to conservation. Last year, it partnered with the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust to install bat habitats at Anniston’s Weaver Cave Preserve. These efforts combine hands-on stewardship with public outreach, reinforcing the company’s holistic approach to environmental responsibility.
Financial Strength and Strategic Investments
Behind these community initiatives lies a story of robust corporate health. Southern Company, Alabama Power’s parent, reported third-quarter 2025 profits of $1.7 billion ($1.55 per share), up from $1.5 billion the previous year, beating Wall Street expectations. Revenue reached $7.8 billion, driven by rising electricity demand and economic growth across the Southeast.
CEO Chris Womack credited the company’s 28,000 employees for maintaining “premier reliability and resilient service” for nine million customers. Southern’s stock traded near its 52-week high, reflecting investor confidence in its stable, regulated business model and its ability to deliver steady earnings and dividends, even in a volatile market.
To support future growth, Alabama Power recently sold $500 million in bonds to help finance a $622 million purchase of the Lindsay Hill gas-fired power plant. This move, approved by regulators, expands generation capacity without major rate hikes for customers. Strong demand for utility bonds—even as interest rates rise—signals faith in Alabama Power’s long-term stability.
Meeting Growing Demand: The Path Ahead
Southern Company’s ambitions stretch well beyond Halloween. The utility revealed a pipeline of more than 50 gigawatts of new large load additions across its territories by the mid-2030s. In the last quarter alone, it signed contracts with major data centers and manufacturers representing over 2 GW of new demand in Alabama and Georgia.
To meet this surge, Southern is planning significant investments: five new gas combined cycle units, 11 battery storage facilities, and ongoing construction of natural gas turbines and storage projects. Alabama Power’s acquisition of a 900 MW gas facility is just one example of how the utility is preparing for long-term capacity needs.
Economic development is accelerating, with 22 companies announcing new or expanded operations in the third quarter. Residential and commercial sales are up, driven by new customers and rising data center usage. The company forecasts annual electric sales growth of 8% through 2029, with Georgia Power expecting double-digit increases.
Empowering Customers and Communities
As the year draws to a close, Alabama Power continues to balance financial discipline with community engagement. Its advice to customers—track usage, unplug energy vampires, and adopt smart cooking practices—could soften the impact of winter bills. Mild Alabama winters can still bring cold snaps, and forecasters warn of potential El Niño-driven extremes in early 2026. The company’s regulated rates and possible reductions, thanks to lower fuel costs, offer additional relief.
For investors, Southern Company remains a steady performer, with plans to invest $30 billion in capital projects through 2027. This includes grid upgrades, new generation capacity, and clean energy initiatives like battery storage and solar farms. Moody’s and other rating agencies maintain a stable outlook, citing the regulated structure and gradual rate adjustments as key to financial health.
Alabama Power’s Halloween campaigns are more than festive fun—they’re part of a larger strategy to educate, protect, and invest in the future. By blending myth-busting tips, conservation efforts, and strategic growth, the utility is writing a new chapter in how power companies engage with their communities and stakeholders.
Alabama Power’s approach this season reflects a modern utility’s challenge: balancing financial performance, environmental stewardship, and customer engagement. Its Halloween initiatives show that public trust is built not just with reliable service, but with creativity, transparency, and a commitment to shared wellbeing—a lesson as relevant in the boardroom as it is in neighborhoods across Alabama.