Infrastructure
Electricity Overview
Alabama Power Company (“APC”) is a fully integrated major electric energy supplier providing electric service to Mobile County. APC is a member company of the Southern Company, one of the largest investor owned utilities in the United States. Being a member of the Southern Company enables APC to have a stable financial base and the support to provide a high quality and reliable electric service required by modern industry. See Southern Company service area image below.
APC's generation nameplate capacity is 13,518 megawatts. The 2007 kWh generation by source was 70% fossil fuel, 14% nuclear, 1% hydro, and 15% oil, gas, and other sources. As a part of the Southern Company System, APC is directly connected to the Southern Company grid, which has a total generating capacity of approximately 44,000 megawatts within its control area.
In Mobile County, APC provides electric service to residential, commercial and industrial customers through its electric transmission and distribution systems. APC provides electric service to a variety of industrial customers in the Mobile area including: chemical, primary metals, fabricated metals, forestry products, paper, ship building, among others. APC’s power quality, reliability and competitive pricing have attracted numerous customers to Alabama, including ThyssenKrupp and EADS/ Airbus in the Mobile area.
APC’s operates a highly reliable transmission grid distributing electric service via its 230kV, 115kV, and 46 kV transmission systems. APC’s Plant Barry Steam Plant is located in north Mobile County and is the second largest steam power plant in APC’s generating fleet with a nameplate capacity of 2,525 megawatts.
APC’s rates are among the most competitive in the United States. In recent years APC has developed over sixty (60) new rates and rate options that provide economical rate and rider alternatives for its customers. Below is APC’s web site link (from home page http://www.alabamapower.com) for review of those referenced rates and rate riders.
http://www.alabamapower.com/pricing/al_rates.asp
APC is available to discuss rate applications, rate options and service availability in more detail upon request. APC’s Economic Development Department has been working to help Alabama grow and prosper since 1935. A prospective customer may contact the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.
Natural Gas Overview
The Mobile area receives its natural gas from natural gas production fields in Mobile Bay, offshore Alabama and adjacent federal waters, and supply areas north of Mobile. In addition to offshore supplies, major interstate pipelines transport supplies to Mobile from Louisiana and Texas. Mobile’s local natural gas distribution company, Mobile Gas Service, is also connected directly to high-deliverability natural gas storage.Mobile Gas Service is a subsidiary of EnergySouth Inc. EnergySouth (NASDAQ: ENSI) is an investor owned energy company operating in the natural gas midstream services and distribution segments of the natural gas industry. The company’s primary subsidiaries are Mobile Gas Service and EnergySouth Midstream.
Mobile Gas Service is a local natural gas distribution company serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The company operates under the regulatory oversight of the Alabama Public Service Commission.
EnergySouth Midstream is a midstream service company operating Bay Gas Storage Company in McIntosh, AL and Mississippi Hub in Simpson County, Mississippi. EnergySouth Midstream also provides natural gas transportation services through its subsidiary Southern Gas Transmission.
Water & Wastewater Overview
WATER & WASTEWATER OVERVIEWThe Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the City of Mobile, doing business as the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System, provides water and sewer service to the Mobile metropolitan area.
One of Mobile's greatest assets is its water supply. Many years ago, the Board made the decision to create a water supply reservoir in West Mobile. The Reservoir consists of a 3,600-acre man-made lake that collects water from a 103 square mile watershed. The watershed area is located in a largely undeveloped area and provides Mobile with an abundance of high quality raw water. The Converse Reservoir supply is adequate to meet the potable water needs of all of Mobile County, at least until the year 2050. The Converse Reservoir system can supply 100,000,000 gallons of water per day.
The potable water system provides water through two (2) water treatment plants that have the capability of producing 70,000,000 gallons of treated water per day to the potable water system. These plants could be expanded to match the Converse Reservoir System Capacity.
The potable water system consists of approximately 1,265 miles of water lines ranging in size from two (2) inches to 60 inches in diameter. The total storage capacity for the potable water system is 57,000,000 gallons. This storage capacity consists of 48,000,000 gallons of ground level (reservoir) storage and 9,000,000 gallons of elevated storage. The combination of ample water storage and a strong distribution system allows Mobile to enjoy an ISO Fire insurance rating of 3.
The raw water system consists of approximately 40 miles of water lines ranging in size from 12 inches to 78 inches in diameter. Pressures vary from 50 to 125 pounds per square inch. Raw water storage for use at the filtration plants consists of three (3) reservoirs with a capacity of 103,000,000 gallons.
In addition to the Converse Reservoir, the Board pumps water from the Mobile River at Bucks, Alabama, a point that is well above the saltwater intrusion "wedge." The Mobile River system is utilized to provide raw water to industrial customers. The Mobile River system is capable of supplying approximately 360,000,000 gallons of water a day for industrial use and to future potable water customers.
The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System has five (5) wastewater treatment plants with a treatment capacity of 50,000,000 gallons per day with an average daily use of 33,000,000 gallons per day.
The MAWSS incorporated a Pre-treatment Program into its system in 1983. This allows for monitoring of the industrial contributors to the wastewater system to insure adequate treatment is given to the waste products. This program helps to insure that the environment will not be adversely affected.
Water & Wastewater Rate Schedules
Monthly Fees for Water & Sewer Services - Basic Water & Sewer Rate/1,000 Gallons| Water | Sewer | |
| First 500,000 gallons | $2.55 | $5.97 |
| Next 150,000 gallons | $2.18 | $5.97 |
| Next 8,000,000 gallons | $1.95 | $5.97 |
Water costs are based upon meter size and use per month. The meter size determines only the minimum charge for the use of that size meter. If an insufficient amount of water is used, then the minimum charge will be exercised. All bills are calculated and mailed monthly on a basis of volume used (per 1,000 gallons).
Untreated Industrial Water Rates
| MILLION GALLONS/MONTH | $/MG |
| 0 - 10 | 214 |
| 10-100 | 183 |
| 100 - Over | 137 |
Telecommunications
In Mobile, AT&T provides basic and advanced telecommunications networks that send and receive voice, data, and video communications. These capabilities can be customized to meet most customer applications or operational requirements. Client requests for large amounts of bandwidth (speed) can be met by AT&T in most areas of Mobile. All access lines in the Mobile area are equipped to provide access (1+ dialing) to long distance companies. Most are accessed through digital facilities and most provide digital switching and digital interexchange facilities. AT&T is continually adding fiber routes throughout Mobile, as well as copper-based facilities. Wherever you want to be in the Mobile area, AT&T can get you there, and provide the speed your business requires.AT&T recognizes fiber technology and added automatic redundancy is a necessity for high tech businesses. They are currently investing $4 million in upgrading Mobile's existing fiber optic transmission capability and dependability. AT&T has installed a self-healing fiber ring serving the Mobile area for customers with critical communications needs. AT&T has the largest group of highly trained technicians and installers in the area. They offer fast response to service outages, and customized maintenance packages, including 24/7 service. AT&T supports client communication needs of varying complexities and requiring varying line speeds. AT&T offers applications and operations consulting services for large customers at no charge.
Examples of Long Distance Companies in Mobile
Alltel
AT&T
Newsouth Communications
DeltaCom
Sprint
Highway Overview
Mobile, Alabama provides companies with excellent transportation access to major markets across the United States. Two major interstate highways converge in Mobile, with I-10 extending to the east to Jacksonville, Florida, and west, to Los Angeles, California, while I-65 extends from Mobile in a northerly direction to Chicago, Illinois. Major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando, are all within 600 miles (10 hours) of Mobile. Mobile’s I-165 spur connects I-65 and I-10, thereby connecting downtown Mobile directly to I-65 which greatly enhances access to the downtown area, and provides a much quicker route for traffic heading east to Florida.There are over 65 motor freight carriers certified to transport interstate shipments to and/or from the Mobile area. The majority of the carriers have a Mobile area terminal, with many carriers offering container services.
Air – Mobile Regional Airport
Mobile Regional Airport provides commercial service to the Mobile area as well as charter service. Scheduled airlines serving the airport include Delta, U.S. Airways, American Airlines and United. The Regional Airport is currently undergoing improvements by expanding its air terminal ramp and plans to construct an 8,500 foot parallel runway.Connecting flights from Mobile Regional Airport consist of Atlanta, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Memphis, Charlotte and Chicago.
Air – Mobile Downtown Airport
Moile Brookley AreoplexMobile Downtown Airport at the Mobile Brookley Areoplex provides charter and cargo service and is a vital component of the 1,700-acre Brookley Industrial Trade and Transportation Complex. Local hangar facilities and major engine and aircraft repair is available. Airfreight carriers that operate out of the Mobile Downtown Airport include Federal Express, UPS, Emory Worldwide and Airborne Express. The Mobile Downtown Airport (Brookley Areoplex) is also undergoing improvements that include expansion of a cargo apron area.
Rail Overview
The Mobile area is served by six railroads, five of which are Class-I railroads. This capacity provides companies with excellent freight service at competitive prices. The five Class-I railroads are: Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Canadian National (CN), CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern (KSC), and Norfolk-Southern (NS). Burlington Northern and Norfolk Southern serve major industrial sites along the Mobile River in the northeastern part of the county, and then extend south to the Alabama State Port Authority. CSX serves the Theodore Industrial Park in southwest Mobile County, also providing service to the Brookley Industrial Complex. Canadian National Railroad serves the western areas of Mobile and Prichard as the tracks head east toward downtown Mobile. All five railroads converge at the Port of Mobile, which provides intermodal service to companies engaging in importing and/or exporting. The sixth railroad is the Central Gulf Railroad, which is a rail ship service to Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. This service gives shippers unparalleled rail service to southern Mexico and Mexico City.Over 10,000 acres of industrial property in Mobile County are served by rail, with many offering easy interstate access, and proximity to air and port opportunities. All of these lines deliver piggyback and containerized service, with some reciprocal switching agreement being offered.
Seaport Transportation
The Port of Mobile offers public, deepwater terminals with direct access to five Class 1 railroads (BNSF/Alabama & Gulf Railroad, Canadian National, CSXT, Kansas City Southern and Norfolk Southern), two interstate systems (I-10 and I-65), a weekly rail ferry service to Coatzacoalcos, Mexico and some 1,500 miles of inland and intracoastal waterways serving the Great Lakes, the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, and the Gulf of Mexico.The Alabama State Port Authority owns and operates the public terminals at the Port of Mobile. The public terminals handle containerized, breakbulk, coal, grain, Ro/Ro, cement, and oversized/heavy lift cargoes. With nearly 6 million square feet of covered and open storage space, this full services seaport is currently ranked 10th largest in the nation in total trade. The Port of Mobile is also represented by private bulk terminal operators as well as a number of highly specialized shipbuilding and repair companies with two of the largest floating dry docks on the Gulf Coast.
In 2000, the Alabama State Port Authority committed over $150 million in capital expansions at its bulk, container and general cargo terminals to serve growing manufacturing and shipping needs for the region. In 2005, the Authority received permits to construct a container terminal (Mobile Container Terminal) with an annual throughput capacity of 800,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) when completed. The Authority's $300 million container and intermodal expansion projects feature 2,000-foot deepwater wharf, a container yard, an intermodal rail yard, and acreage designated for value-added distribution facilities. The increased capacity when the container terminal opens in mid-2008, combined with its favorable cost and location, will enable the port to handle the needs of Alabama’s and southeast regional manufacturers, including the automotive industry.
