In recent years, TECO Energy Inc. has embodied some of your mother's best advice: stay healthy, pay off debt and study hard. The company paid off $765-million in debt in 2007. Last year, the company unloaded its TECO Transport subsidiary for $405-million. It offers at least five different education programs for employees, from help for line workers looking for an associate's degree to an executive training program.

The business strategy reflects the company's "core values," rolled out in 2004: safety, integrity, respect for others, achievement with urgency and customer service. Employees learn these values at orientation, and they have become a part of the company's culture.

"Achievement with urgency" has become especially important in the wake of the company's disastrous foray into merchant power several years ago.

"I think most people would agree that we took too long to get out of that," said spokeswoman Laura Duda. John Ramil, president and chief operating officer, calls the experience "tuition," Duda said.

The lesson taught TECO to speed its response to market conditions. That's the reason why the company quickly pulled new "clean coal" plans off the table last year and turned to natural gas. TECO saw carbon regulation coming, and responded with "increasing agility." "Everything we do has a values component to it," Duda said.