Michael Puhnaty
Asset Acquisitions Manager
Southern Power
Michael Puhnaty serves as Asset Acquisitions Manager on Southern Power’s Business Development team, where he leads asset acquisition efforts supporting the company’s growth strategy.
Prior to this role, Michael served as Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer of Southern Company, supporting systemwide operational priorities and strategic initiatives. He also previously held the role of Asset Evaluation Manager within System Planning, where he led a team responsible for economic and financial analyses supporting major generation investments, large load strategy, and regulatory filings across the Southern Company system.
Earlier, Michael was Georgia Power’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Project Manager, leading key components of the company’s 2019 and 2022 IRPs. Throughout his career in System Planning, he has developed deep expertise in resource planning, resource adequacy, unit retirement analysis, and environmental compliance strategies. He also served as a Senior Rate Specialist for Alabama Power.
Michael began his career with Southern Company in 2009 as a co-op student in Transmission Planning and later worked as an Operations Planning Engineer in Bulk Power Operations.
He holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University.
Learn more about what our team is up to during our quick Q&A sessions. Let's meet Michael!
Where do you call home? Birmingham, Alabama.
What are your hobbies? Spending time with family and anything Auburn.
What’s the best vacation you’ve taken? A trip to Italy—Rome, Florence, Venice, and Positano.
Favorite food. Pizza.
If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you bring? A fishing pole, a knife, and a Wilson volleyball.
Tell us something we might not know about you. I’m the oldest of four siblings.
What is the last book you read? Broken Money by Lyn Alden.
Tell us something on your bucket list. Traveling internationally with my kids when they’re older.
What is the first thing you’d buy if you won the lottery? A beach house.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Overcomplicating simple things.
D.o you have a hidden talent? No hidden talents.
What are you currently watching? A mix of live sports and animal shows my boys enjoy.