NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy companies from eight countries and three continents tonight received honors for leadership, innovation and exemplary performance at the 18(th) annual Platts Global Energy Awards, often described as the "Oscars" of energy and emceed this year by CNBC Television Energy Correspondent Jackie DeAngelis. Nineteen awards were bestowed upon companies and individuals at Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan before an audience of nearly 400 energy and finance executives hailing from 18 countries.

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WINNERS
In its selection of U.S.-based Southern Company for "Energy Company of the Year," the independent judges panel pointed to the company's consistently compelling financial performance, as well as its finalist status in every category in which it was nominated, and it's win in a sister category: "Strategic Deal of the Year " (with its $12 billion merger with AGL Resources). In addition to the categories it won in, Southern was a finalist for "CEO of the Year" and "Industry Leadership for Power". Describing the company as strategic," "diverse" and "dynamic," judges applauded the company and its CEO Tom Fanning, 35-year veteran of the firm, for a reputation of strong financial performance, as well as the company's evolution to become one of the industry's most diversified and admired electric and gas utilities.

"We congratulate Southern Company for its impressive dual win," said Martin Fraenkel, president of Platts. "In this low-price environment, it is no small feat for Southern Company to deliver ever-improving dividends to its shareholders and an ever-expanding footprint. Southern, as all of tonight's Global Energy Awards winners, and the finalists, alike, are to be applauded for their impressive contributions to the world's energy arena."

For "Rising Star-Individual," judges chose Elizabeth Killinger, NRG Executive Vice President and President of NRG Retail and Reliant Energy, pointing to her consistent track record of service to both energy and non-energy industry, and lauding her customer-focused thinking, which helped contribute to her company's early lead in successful smart home temperature and security controls. Killinger was chosen from six other finalists in this increasingly competitive award category.

Rising star notables didn't end there. SolarReserve, a winner of 2012 and 2015 "Rising Star-Individual" and "Rising Star-Company" awards for its innovative work in the area of solar thermal technology with integrated energy storage, this year walked away with "Commercial Application of the Year" for realization of that innovation. The judging panel lauded the company's definitive commercialization of the technology, the envy of many of its peers.

"Thrives amidst challenge," is how judges described Kelly Tomblin, chief executive officer of Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), who was named this year's "CEO of the Year," one of the more hotly contested award categories including 12 finalists from six countries. With 20 years of experience in the energy industry, in both deregulated and vertically integrated markets in the U.S., The U.K. and Latin America, judges said Tomblin has earned a reputation for organizational transformation. Tomblin took the helm of JPS in 2012, facing headwinds of stagnant growth, poor customer satisfaction and high electricity prices, and judges paid particular attention to her ability to turn the company around "very quickly in a difficult environment." Tomblin was the sole female among 12 finalists in the "CEO of the Year" category.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONORS
His Excellency Abdalla Salem El-Badri, the longest-serving secretary general in the history of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and Harold Hamm, founder, chairman and CEO of Continental Resources, who led the charge to lift America's 40-year-old ban on U.S. crude oil exports, were both honoured with "Lifetime Achievement" accolades. For full details of the accomplishments of Abdalla Salem El-Badri and Harold Hamm and judges' rationale, access: "2016 Platts Global Energy Awards: Triumph in Tumult," in the December Platts Insight: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/9068f4ee

For full list of winners, visit: (http://geaweb.platts.com/Winners/Winners2016), where you can also find details about the awards, independent judging panel, and more.

Preceding the Awards program was the 10(th) annual Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum "Abundant Disruption & Radical Change," which gathered energy and finance executives and government and academia representatives for debate and discussions of key energy sector challenges. Abdalla Salem El-Badri and Harold Hamm were keynote speakers at the Forum, which was attended by approximately 200 energy industry executives.

Media Contact:
Global, Americas, Asia: Kathleen Tanzy, + 1 917 331 4607, kathleen.tanzy@spglobal.com

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SOURCE: S&P Global Platts