Alabama Power is engaged in the generation and purchase of electricity and transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity at retail in over 650 communities, including Anniston, Birmingham, Gadsden, Mobile, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa, as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to 15 municipally-owned electric distribution systems, 11 of which are served indirectly through sales to Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, and two rural distributing cooperative associations. Co. also owns coal reserves near its Plant Gorgas and uses the output of coal from the reserves in its generating plants. Co. also sells, and cooperates with dealers in promoting the sale of, electric appliances.