The Southern Company, a leading player in the electricity space, has a diverse business model that covers the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy. Through its subsidiaries, the firm operates in three key segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also invests in renewable energy projects and manages power generation assets to sell electricity in the wholesale market. With a customer base of approximately 8.8 million electric and gas utility customers, the firm also distributes natural gas in four states: Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. The company has a fleet of 77,591 miles of natural gas pipelines and 14 storage facilities with a combined capacity of 157 Bcf to provide natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. In addition to its energy operations, The Southern Company offers digital wireless communications and fiber optics services. The firm has been in operation since 1945 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.