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The Southern Company

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FY2013 Annual Report · The Southern Company
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SOUTHERN COMPANY  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT

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SOUTHERNCOMPANY.COM

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CONTENTS

 02 

 05 

 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

 06  CLEAN ENERGY

 10  SAFE ENERGY

 12  RELIABLE ENERGY

 16  AFFORDABLE ENERGY

 20  SHAREHOLDER VALUE

 22  SUMMARY FINANCIAL REVIEW

 28   BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 30   MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

 32   GLOSSARY

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

TRANSFER AGENT 
Computershare Inc. is Southern Company’s transfer agent, dividend- 
paying agent, investment plan administrator and registrar. If you have 
questions concerning your registered Southern Company shareowner 
account, please contact:

BY MAIL 
Computershare
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170

BY PHONE-U.S. 
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET 
Monday through Friday 
800-554-7626
(Automated voice response system 
24 hours/day, 7 days/week) 
Hearing Impaired: 800-231-5469

BY COURIER 
Computershare
211 Quality Circle
Suite 210
College Station, TX 77845

BY PHONE-OUTSIDE U.S. 
201-680-6693

SHAREOWNER SERVICES INTERNET SITE 
To take advantage of Shareowner Services’ online services, you 
will need to activate your account. This one-time authentication 
process will be used to validate your identity. You can use your 12-digit 
Investor ID or your Computershare Holder ID. The Internet address 
is www.computershare.com/investor. Through this site, registered 
shareowners can securely access their account information, as well as 
submit numerous transactions. Also, transfer instructions and service 
request forms can be obtained. 

SOUTHERN INVESTMENT PLAN 
The Southern Investment Plan provides a convenient way to purchase 
common stock and reinvest dividends. You can access the Southern 
Company website to review the prospectus. 

DIRECT REGISTRATION 
Southern Company common stock can be issued in direct registration 
(uncertifi cated) form. The stock is Direct Registration System eligible.

DIVIDEND PAYMENTS 
The entire amount of dividends paid in 2013 is taxable. The board of 
directors sets the record and payment dates for quarterly dividends. 
A dividend of 50.75 cents per share was paid in March 2014. For the 
remainder of 2014, projected record dates are May 5, August 4 and 
November 3. Projected payment dates for dividends declared during 
the remainder of 2014 are June 6, September 6 and December 6. 

ANNUAL MEETING 
The 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held Wednesday, 
May 28, at 10 a.m. ET at The Lodge Conference Center at Callaway 
Gardens, Highway 18, Pine Mountain, Ga. 31822. 

AUDITORS 
Deloitte & Touche LLP 
191 Peachtree St. NE 
Suite 2000 
Atlanta, GA 30303 

INVESTOR INFORMATION 
For information about earnings and dividends, stock quotes and current 
news releases, please visit us at www.investor.southerncompany.com. 

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR INQUIRIES 
Southern Company maintains an investor relations offi ce in Atlanta, 
404-506-5310, to meet the information needs of institutional investors 
and securities analysts. 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF PROXY MATERIALS 
Any stockholder may enroll for electronic delivery of proxy materials 
by logging on at www.icsdelivery.com/so.

CERTIFICATIONS 
Southern Company has fi led the required certifi cations of its chief 
executive offi cer and chief fi nancial offi cer under Section 302 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, regarding the quality of its public 
disclosures as exhibits 31(a)1 and 31(a)2, respectively, to Southern 
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 
31, 2013. The certifi cation of Southern Company’s chief executive 
offi cer regarding compliance with the New York Stock Exchange 
(NYSE) corporate governance listing standards, required by NYSE 
Rule 303A.12, will be fi led with the NYSE following the 2014 Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders. Last year, Southern Company fi led this 
certifi cation with the NYSE on June 14, 2013. 

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 
Southern Company publishes information on its activities to meet 
environmental commitments. This information is available online at 
www.southerncompany.com/planetpower/#reports. 

To request printed materials, write to: 

Larry Monroe 
Chief Environmental Offi cer & Senior Vice President 

  Research and Environmental Affairs  

600 North 18th St. 

  Bin 14N-8195 
  Birmingham, AL 35203-2206 

COMMON STOCK 
Southern Company common stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker 
symbol SO. On December 31, 2013, Southern Company had 143,800 
shareholders of record. 

The 2013 summary annual report is submitted for shareholders’ 
information. It is not intended for use in connection with any sale or 
purchase of, or any solicitation of, offers to buy or sell securities. 

Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com

Visit our Corporate Responsibility Report at 
www.southerncompany.com/corporateresponsibility 

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/southerncompany

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

...ON WHAT MATTERS MOST

Energy is a complex business, especially when it comes to chart-
ing the path ahead. But when you focus through the right lens, 
the picture becomes clearer. 

At Southern Company, we have one defining mission–to provide 
clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy. And when we focus our 
efforts through that lens, what we see on the other side are the 
customers and communities we serve. Families. Business owners. 
Civic leaders. Friends and neighbors. Real people who deserve the 
best we have to give. That’s why we get up in the morning.  
It’s why we’re here.

 01

THOMAS A. FANNING
Chairman, President and CEO 

02

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Dear Fellow Shareholders: Throughout the entire history of Southern Company– 
102 years and counting–we have been defi ned by a single unifying characteristic: 
Our relentless focus on the customer. Every action we take, every decision we 
make, is arrived at by asking one simple question: How does it benefi t the families, 
businesses and communities we serve?

This approach–more than any other component–has been 

Even in the face of these headwinds, the Southern 

the foundation of our success. Even during those times when 

Company system and its 26,000 employees performed in 

our business faced issues and uncertainties, our customer-

an exemplary fashion. The full story of 2013 is perhaps best 

fi rst philosophy has enabled us to excel at what we do.

told through a brief review of our top strategic priorities:

Case in point: 2013.

It was a year in which a number of challenging circum-

EXCEL AT THE FUNDAMENTALS

stances converged. The weather in our region, for instance, 

We continued to set the pace in customer satisfaction. 

was historically mild, resulting in one of the coolest sum-

Southern Company and its four traditional operating 

mers of the past 20 years. During the same period, we 

companies occupied the top fi ve positions in our annual 

saw the heaviest levels of rainfall in nearly 100 years, 

proprietary customer satisfaction survey, in comparison 

further contributing to the impact on summer revenues.

with peer utilities from across the nation. Further, Southern 

Economic growth was slower than expected in 2013, 

Company was one of the top-ranked investor-owned utili-

although we did see considerable improvement during the 

ties in the American Customer Satisfaction Index. We also 

second half of the year. 

We experienced budget and schedule issues with 
our 21st century coal gasifi cation construction project in 

raised the bar on system reliability, with the best transmis-

sion and distribution reliability in our history, continuing a 

trend of improvement that stretches over the past decade.

Kemper County, Miss., resulting in charges against earn-

Perhaps most important, we experienced our safest year 

ings that speak to the inherent complexity of launching 

new proprietary technology.

ever, with several of our organizations achieving the stated 
goal of Target Zero, an initiative that is celebrating its 10th

All of this occurred against the backdrop of unprece-

anniversary. For the third consecutive year, we achieved 

dented state regulatory activity in each of our four retail 

a new all-time record low in recordable injuries, and also 

jurisdictions – activity that I’m proud to report resulted, 

saw reductions in lost-workday cases and preventable 

without exception, in constructive outcomes for the 

vehicle accidents. More than ever, we remain committed 

benefi t of those we serve.

to protecting the health and safety of our employees.

 03

ACHIEVE SUCCESS WITH MAJOR CONSTRUCTION

continually seek to improve through the production and 

Georgia Power continues to make exciting progress with 

delivery of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity.

the construction of nuclear units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle 

I believe that energy represents far more than infra-

near Waynesboro, Ga. Meanwhile, construction continues 

structure; it has the power to provide comfort, well-being 

to move forward at Mississippi Power’s Kemper County 

and prosperity to the world at large. In short, energy–and 

coal gasifi cation project, where start-up activities have 

in particular, electricity–makes things better. In fact, no 

now begun.

economic force today is more directly capable of making 

a positive difference in people’s lives. 

SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF A NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY 

I frequently speak of energy as “growth capital” –

We remain the only electric utility in the nation committed 

because clean, safe, reliable, affordable energy helps drive 

to the full energy portfolio–an “all of the above” strategy 

our economy. In fact, studies say that an abundant, secure 

that employs all available resources, including new nuclear, 
21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy 

energy supply could add 3 to 4 million jobs by 2020, and 

$5 trillion in economic benefi ts by 2030. In other words, 

effi ciency. Natural gas prices fl uctuating between $3 and 

we in the energy business have a tremendous opportunity 

$8 per million BTU underscore the importance of this 

to make a tangible impact on the lives of Americans.

balanced approach. Meanwhile, we made signifi cant strides 

That’s important to understand at a time when our 

in renewable energy, doubling the size of our competitive 

industry is facing a host of emerging impacts on the way 

renewable portfolio and, at Georgia Power, beginning de-

we do business. Southern Company is at the forefront of 

velopment of the nation’s largest voluntary solar initiative 

those debates, including discussions on cyber security, 

among regulated utilities.

PROMOTE ENERGY INNOVATION

distributed generation through rooftop solar arrays and 

federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. As al-

ways, our positions on these and other issues will be 

We completed our three-year smart grid investment 

heavily informed by our customer-centered perspective. 

project, upgrading our transmission and distribution 

In the meantime, we will continue to do what we have 

system with devices that have reduced maintenance, 

always done– bring clean, safe, reliable, affordable energy 

improved reliability and enabled enough peak load reduc-

to the millions of people we serve. They include parents 

tion to power the city of Macon, Ga. We also implemented 

and grandparents, farming families and independent 

a comprehensive cyber security program to safeguard our 

business owners, schools and hospitals – all living and 

smart grid applications.

working together in communities large and small. They 

are the American South, and we are proud to call them 

VALUE AND DEVELOP OUR PEOPLE 

our neighbors. 

For the fourth year in a row, we were named one of the 

They are also the reason why, after more than a 

Top 10 Companies for Blacks by DiversityInc, and for 

century of doing business, we aim to deliver dependable, 

the seventh consecutive year we were recognized as the 

predictable, sustainable value to shareholders like you. 

top-ranked utility among Military-Friendly Employers by 

On behalf of our management and employees, I want to 

G.I. Jobs magazine. We were also named one of the 

thank you for your continued support. 

Best Employers for Workers Over 50 by AARP.

All of these accomplishments, and more, were made 

possible by our company’s fi rm and unyielding focus on 

customers. In many ways, that focus serves as a “lens” 

Thomas A. Fanning
Thomas A. Fanning

through which we view the world around us–a world we 

March 31, 2014

Sincerely,
Sincerely,

04

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

2.57

2.70

2.37

2.07

1.88

2.32

2.37

2.57

2.68

2.71

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Basic Earnings Per Share
(In Dollars)

Basic Earnings Per Share Excluding Estimated 
Loss on Kemper IGCC, Leveraged Lease Restructure 
Charge, MC Asset Recovery Insurance Settlements, 
and Litigation Settlement with MC Asset Recovery*
(In Dollars)

*  Not a fi nancial measure under generally accepted accounting 
principles. See Glossary on page 32 for additional information 
and specifi c adjustments made to this measure by year.

17.46

17.66

16.54

17.09

15.74

12.71

13.04

13.10

11.67

8.82

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Operating Revenues
(In Billions of Dollars)

Return On Average Common Equity
(Percent)

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Operating Revenues (In Millions) 

Earnings (In Millions) 

Basic Earnings Per Share 

Diluted Earnings Per Share 

Dividends Per Share (Amount Paid) 

Dividend Yield (Year-End, Percent) 

Average Shares Outstanding (In Millions) 

Return On Average Common Equity (Percent) 

Book Value Per Share 

Market Price Per Share (Year-End, Closing) 

Total Market Value Of Common Stock (Year-End, In Millions) 

Total Assets (In Millions) 

Total Kilowatt-Hour Sales (In Millions) 

Retail 

  Wholesale 

Total Traditional Operating Company Customers (Year-End, In Thousands) 

2013 

$17,087  

$1,644  

$1.88  

$1.87  

2012   

$16,537  

$2,350  

$2.70  

$2.67  

$2.0125 

$1.9425 

4.9 

877 

8.82 

$21.43  

$41.11  

$36,468  

$64,546  

183,401 

156,457  

26,944  

4,467  

4.5 

871 

13.10 

$21.09  

$42.81  

$37,149  

$63,149  

183,617 

156,054  

27,563  

4,436  

Change

3.3)%

(30.0)%

(30.4)%

(30.0)%

3.6)%

8.9)%

0.7)%

(32.7)%

1.6)%

(4.0)%

(1.8)%

2.2)%

(0.1)%

0.3)%

(2.2)%

0.7)%

 05

 
 
 
IN MISSISSIPPI, A CLEANER WAY 
FORWARD FOR COAL

One of the ways Southern Company is producing cleaner energy is 
through the use of cutting-edge coal technology. Mississippi Power’s 
new coal-fired facility in Kemper County is expected to operate with a 
carbon footprint better than a similarly sized natural gas plant. What’s 
the secret? A new process – developed at the Southern Company 
system-managed DOE National Carbon Capture Center – known as 
Transport Integrated Gasification, or TRIG™. The plant is expected to 
capture at least 65 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions, which will 
be transported offsite to recover domestic oil reserves.

FOCUSED ON 
CLEAN

CULTIVATING 
A CLEANER, 
BRIGHTER
FUTURE FOR 
GENERATIONS 
TO COME

Clean energy is a pretty popular topic these days.  
At Southern Company, we’re not just talking about it. 
We’re actually doing it.

Just outside the little town of Louin, Miss.–in a place where the air 
is clear and the sky goes on forever – sits the cattle ranch of Jamie 
and Gina Dupree. The Duprees have been on this land for more than 
20 years, building a business and a family on the same piece of  
real estate. 

They used to raise chickens, until a powerful tornado ripped 
across their property and destroyed the entire operation. Today they 
tend 150 head of cattle and a small menagerie of horses, dogs and 
cats. They remain anchored to the land through good times and 
bad, because they see something worth preserving–a heritage and  
a legacy, but also a way of life.

Families like the Duprees remind us of the importance of keeping 
our air and water clean. Since 1990, the Southern Company system 
has reduced major emissions by 80 percent, while increasing gener-
ation by 40 percent. We’re increasing natural gas generation while 
advancing innovations in nuclear, coal and renewables. And we’re 
helping customers become more energy efficient. 

06

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

The Dupree family of Louin, Miss. (L-R): Mandy, Gina, Justin and Jamie. 

07

FOCUSED ON 
CLEAN

ADVANCING 
THE USE OF 
COST-EFFECTIVE 
SUSTAINABLE 
ENERGY 
SOURCES 

The future is bright for renewable energy in Georgia, 
thanks to a newly approved initiative aimed at intro-
ducing more than 800 megawatts of solar energy  
by 2016.

Norrie McKenzie is a man with a mission. The vice president of 
renewable development for Georgia Power has been charged with 
implementing the nation’s largest voluntarily developed solar energy 
portfolio among investor-owned utilities, targeting a solar portfolio 
of 800 megawatts by 2016.

It’s a big assignment, and one that has the approval of the  
Georgia Public Service Commission, which signed off on the Georgia 
Power Advanced Solar Initiative in 2012. Included in the initiative 
are plans to secure purchase power agreements with large-scale 
solar projects through a competitive bidding process, as well as  
allowances for small- and medium-scale distributed generation, 
such as rooftop solar arrays for homes and businesses.

It’s part of the Southern Company system’s continuing commit-
ment to renewable energy, as one component of a balanced portfo-
lio that also includes new nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas and 
energy efficiency. 

08

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

Georgia Power Vice President of Renewable Development Norrie 
McKenzie surveys the 150-acre Simon Solar Farm, located near  
Social Circle, Ga. The 30-megawatt facility– the largest of its kind  
in the Southeast–produces electricity to be purchased by Georgia 
Power as part of a 20-year contractual agreement. The facility  
began commercial operation in January 2014.

EXPANDING OUR RENEWABLE 
ENERGY PORTFOLIO

Georgia Power’s Advanced Solar Initiative is just one of the ways the 
Southern Company system is growing its renewable energy portfolio.  
Our Southern Power subsidiary manages more than 220 megawatts  
of solar energy in California, Nevada, New Mexico and North Carolina,  
and operates one of the nation’s largest biomass plants in Nacogdoches, 
Texas. Meanwhile, Alabama Power and Georgia Power have contracted 
to purchase more than 650 megawatts of energy from wind farms in 
Kansas and Oklahoma. Overall, our system has added or announced 
more than 1,700 megawatts of renewables since January 2012.

09

WHERE 
SAFE 
ENERGY 
IS ALWAYS 
THE RIGHT 
CALL

In the South, Friday nights are for football.

In hundreds of communities, high school stadiums are filled  
with parents, students and others who love the game. The air is crisp 
and the excitement palpable. In Waynesboro, Ga. – near the site of 
Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle–the Burke County Bears set their sights  
on another state title, like the one they earned in 2011.

Scenes like this one reinforce the need for safe energy. That’s why 

Georgia Power is equipping its new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle 
with increasingly advanced safety systems. 

Because the people of Waynesboro have other things to worry 

about. Like winning state.

Go Bears.

MAKING NUCLEAR POWER EVEN SAFER

Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 are moving steadily toward anticipated com-
mercial operation in late 2017 and 2018, respectively. Their construction 
includes new “passive” safety systems that require much less operator 
intervention than previous designs.

Here’s how it works: When additional cooling water is needed, a stor-
age tank located above the reactor releases thousands of gallons of water. 
Gravity causes that water to cascade down the outside of the containment 
vessel, while condensation forms on the inside of the vessel. The conden-
sation then evaporates and re-condenses, beginning a process of natural 
circulation that maintains water levels. The system also has fewer moving 
parts, such as piping and valves.

10

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

They’ve won four regional champi-
onships in a row, but football isn’t 
the only thing that’s outstanding 
about Burke County High School. 
In the last five years, the school’s 
graduation rate has nearly doubled, 
far exceeding the statewide average 
in Georgia. The school has added 
new academic disciplines to its cur-
riculum and continues to find ways 
to enrich the learning experience of 
its nearly 1,200 students. Principal 
Sam Adkins (L)–shown here with 
Vogtle 3 and 4 licensing manager 
Amy Aughtman–proudly points to 
the dedication of his staff and fac-
ulty, as well as the continued hard 
work of the students themselves.

11

FOCUSED ON 
RELIABLE

THE 
LIFEBLOOD 
OF LIFE- 
SAVING 
TECHNOLOGY

In the highly charged world of emergency medi-
cine, the need for reliable power takes on a different 
meaning. In downtown Atlanta, one of the nation’s 
busiest trauma centers depends on Georgia Power 
for the energy it needs.

When the double doors open, things happen fast. Doctors, nurses  
and technicians cluster around the gurney, examining, prodding, 
assessing. Commands are issued and procedures executed with 
remarkable speed and urgency. Seconds matter.

The Marcus Trauma Center at Atlanta’s Grady Hospital is one  
of the nation’s premier trauma centers, treating more than 3,500  
patients a year. Some cases are simple, while others are critical. 
And in almost every situation, technology plays a crucial role – 
technology that runs on electricity.

Southern Company’s traditional operating companies are experts 
when it comes to keeping the lights on. We’re consistently among 
the industry leaders in generation reliability. And in 2013, we set a 
new all-time record for reliability on our transmission and distribu-
tion system, continuing a trend of improvement that stretches over 
the past decade. 

GRADY WAS THERE FOR HIM– 
AND HE’S GLAD THEY WERE

Jess Von Brandt was on his way to meet a friend. He was guiding his 
motorcycle through downtown Atlanta – nothing fancy, just minding 
his own business–when another vehicle swerved into him. He doesn’t 
remember much after that. 

Jess was lucky that day. He had suffered two broken legs, as well 
as a broken tailbone, pelvis and vertebrae. But he was alive. And when 
he woke up, he was in the trauma center at Grady Hospital.

Several operations later, Jess is healthy and riding again. He hopes 
he never has another accident. But if he does, he knows where he 
wants to go.

12

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

It’s no secret that emergency room physicians – 
like Dr. Hany Atallah, chief of emergency medicine 
at Grady Hospital–depend on machines for much 
of their healing. But that’s not the only kind of tech-
nology they consider essential to their craft. 

Medical record-keeping has become a high-tech 
industry, with computers and keyboards replacing 
pens and paper charts. As a result, patient histories 
can be logged and accessed more quickly, while 
prescription drugs can be ordered electronically 
and delivered within minutes. 

Systems like these require what’s known as 
power quality, to prevent incremental fluctuations 
in the flow of energy that might disrupt sensitive  
data processing hardware. We consult with data- 
sensitive customers to help ensure a level of power 
quality that meets their needs.

13

FOCUSED ON 
RELIABLE

Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden is a former U.S. 
Secret Service agent who once protected the likes of 
Jacqueline Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan 
and others. These days, he’s content to safeguard the 
interests of this vibrant community of 23,000. The city, 
which was incorporated in 1942, has its own school 
system, fire department and police force. And city 
officials here –including Mayor Oden–receive no pay.

14

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

OVER THE LONG HAUL, FORESIGHT 
MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

It takes a lot of planning to run one of the nation’s most reliable elec-
tric networks. Engineers like Lloyd Barnes (shown at right enjoying a 
cup of coffee with Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden) help maintain 
reliability today while developing long-term growth forecasts that 
predict the number of new customers and the amount of energy they 
will need over the next 20 to 30 years. The Southern Company system 
expects to invest more than $14 billion over the next three years at our 
traditional operating companies, expanding, upgrading and maintain-
ing generation, transmission and distribution assets.

A TOWN
JUST
LIKE ANY 
OTHER

The mayor says, “It’s just like living in Mayberry.”  
Welcome to Mountain Brook, Ala.–a small commu-
nity with a lot of energy.

It’s Friday afternoon in Mountain Brook, Ala., and school has just let 
out for the weekend. Everywhere, children of all ages are streaming 
along the sidewalks, darting in and out of storefronts, meeting and 
mingling in frantic shouts and secretive whispers.

Main Street in Mountain Brook is a lot like Main Street in most 
small towns. The merchants are local, and know the schoolchildren 
by name. Here you can find everything from ice cream shops and 
discount stores to hair salons and high-end boutiques. 

A new city hall was erected just last year, with underground power  

lines installed by Alabama Power. The utility also consults with city 
officials year-round on tree trimming and other operational needs. 
And so when the sun goes down in Mountain Brook, the lights 
go on. And Main Street becomes the kind of place where children –
and their parents – can shop, go out to dinner or just cross the  
street safely.  

15

FOCUSED ON 
AFFORDABLE

Courtney Pereira in his Pensacola, Fla., Harley-Davidson dealership.

16

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

RIDING 
THE 
ROAD TO 
GREATER
EFFICIENCY

A Gulf Coast business owner finds a new way to make his 
enterprise more profitable.

When somebody wants to buy a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Pensacola, 
Fla., they go see Courtney Pereira.

For 22 years, Courtney has owned the only Harley dealership in the area. 
He caters to customers of all ages, incomes and backgrounds, who share 
one thing in common–a passion for hogs.

Courtney, meanwhile, has a passion for business, immersing himself in 
every aspect of his store’s operation. That’s why he engaged Gulf Power’s 
energy experts to install efficient LED lighting throughout his facility.

LED lights not only use less electricity than traditional fixtures, they also 

produce less heat – which reduces the cooling energy needed during hot 
Florida summers. Which is important. Because, as everybody knows, there’s 
nothing cooler than a Harley.

AUDITS HELP COMPANIES  
BECOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT

Gulf Power Commercial and Industrial Energy Consultant Kay Hill (L) sup-
ports Courtney Pereira’s Harley-Davidson dealership with energy-efficient
lighting that’s expected to save at least 10 percent on his monthly power
bill. It’s just one of the ways Southern Company experts help customers– 
more than 200,000 of them in 2013–save energy and money by becoming 
more efficient. Since 2000, we’ve reduced peak demand by more than 
4,100 megawatts through programs such as these.

17

FOCUSED ON 
AFFORDABLE

ENJOYING A
LIFETIME OF
ENERGY
SAVINGS

Meet the Hendersons of Montgomery, Ala. Like many 
Americans, they think the cost of some things is way 
too high. But their monthly power bill– now, there’s a 
real bright spot. 

He was 16 years old and ready to take on the world. She was a pretty 
cheerleader at a rival high school. She remembers being “not too 
impressed” with him at first. But he kind of grew on her, and on the 
day he proposed, she said yes. And so it was that in the fall of 1942, 
Hank Henderson and Geneva Garner were married.

As an officer in the U.S. Air Force, Hank served in such exotic 
postings as Japan, Thailand and England. But he and Geneva always 
kept a special place in their hearts for their hometown in Montgomery,  
Ala.–where they settled for good on a quiet, tree-lined street in 1951. 
These days, Hank enjoys teaching Sunday school, and Geneva 
tends the roses in her garden. They raised two children here, and the 
family now includes not only grandchildren, but great-grandchildren.
They still manage their own finances, and are grateful for the 
work being done by Alabama Power and other Southern Company 
subsidiaries to keep electric prices below the national average, 
where they’ve been for the past quarter century. 

We’re just grateful for customers like Hank and Geneva.

18

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

Hank and Geneva Henderson on the front porch of their Montgomery, Ala., home.

19

SHAREHOLDER VALUE

THERE‘S
SERIOUS 
VALUE IN
CUSTOMER
FOCUS

No two ways about it–Southern Company’s customer-focused business model is the 
linchpin of our success. In fact, value creation for investors begins with focus on the 
customer, and can be seen in the results we have delivered.

Over the long term, Southern Company has proven to be an outstanding invest-
ment, outperforming the S&P 500 over the 10-, 20- and 30-year periods ending 
Dec. 31, 2013. An important part of that performance has been our dividend, which 
increased for the 12th consecutive year in 2013 and has been paid every quarter 
since 1948. 

Dividends have become a bit of a vanishing breed among U.S. stocks. In fact, 

over the past 60 years, the percentage of publicly traded companies paying divi-
dends has fallen by half. 

But dividends do more than provide cash to shareholders; they also help shape 
a company’s approach to risk. And once again, the proof is in the numbers: In 2013, 
Southern Company was the best stock in the Philadelphia Electric Utility Index in 
terms of volatility, and seventh-best among the S&P 500. Stocks with low volatility 
tend to be less prone to price swings during times of stress in the market, and 
therefore are considered more stable.

• SOUTHERN COMPANY    
• S&P 500 INDEX   
• PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC UTILITY INDEX    

$8,304

$5,821

$3,780

’93 

’94 

’95 

’96 

’97 

’98 

’99 

’00 

’01 

’02 

’03 

’04 

’05 

’06 

’07 

’08 

’09 

’10 

’11 

’12 

’13

VALUE OF $1,000 INVESTED OVER 20 YEARS

This performance graph compares the cumulative return on Southern Company (SO) common stock with the 
Philadelphia Electric Utility Index and the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index for the past 20 years. The graph 
assumes that $1,000 was invested on Dec. 31, 1993, in Southern Company’s common stock and each of the 
above indices and that all dividends were reinvested. A fi ve-year performance graph is included in Appendix B 
to the Proxy Statement. 

See Glossary on page 32 for information on total shareholder return. 
Source: Bloomberg

$8,000

$6,000

$4,000

$2,000

$0

20

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

1.5

1.2

0.9

0.6

0.3

0.0

$8,000

$6,000

$4,000

$2,000

$0

SOUTHERN COMPANY

VALUE ADDED BY LOW VOLATILITY RELATIVE TO THE MARKET

This chart shows the volatility of each of the 20 utilities in the Philadelphia Electric Utility Index (UTY). 
Volatility refers to the tendency of a stock to react to swings in the market. Southern Company had the lowest 
level of volatility in the UTY Index and the seventh-lowest level of the 500 stocks in the S&P 500 Index. 

See Glossary on page 32 for information on beta. 
Source: Bloomberg, fi ve-year beta as of 12/31/2013

• SOUTHERN COMPANY DIVIDEND VALUE    
• SOUTHERN COMPANY STOCK VALUE    

TOTAL VALUE OF UTY COMPANIES 
INCLUDING SOUTHERN COMPANY

’93 

’94 

’95 

’96 

’97 

’98 

’99 

’00 

’01 

’02 

’03 

’04 

’05 

’06 

’07 

’08 

’09 

’10 

’11 

’12 

’13

VALUE CREATED BY DIVIDEND & PRICE PERFORMANCE 

This chart shows the power of Southern Company’s dividend relative to the 20 utilities in the Philadelphia 
Electric Utility Index (UTY). Over the last 20 years, a $1,000 investment in SO grew to $8,304, an 830 percent 
increase. Our price was up $2,060 and our dividends, with reinvestment, accounted for an increase of 
$5,244, or about 72 percent of the gain in value. The UTY companies, which include SO, made only $2,780 
on a $1,000 investment, $758 of which was due to price appreciation, with the remaining $2,022 coming 
from dividends with reinvestment. Southern Company’s $7,304 increase is about 2.6 times more than the 
increase generated by the UTY index. The graph assumes that $1,000 was invested on Dec. 31, 1993, in 
Southern Company’s common stock and the UTY index and that all dividends were reinvested. 

See Glossary on page 32 for information on total shareholder return. 
Source: Bloomberg

TOTAL SO VALUE 

SO DIVIDENDS

TOTAL UTY VALUE 
INCLUDING DIVIDENDS 

SO STOCK VALUE

21

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains forward-looking information based on current 
expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-look-
ing information includes, among other things, statements concerning 
projected cost and schedule for the completion of ongoing construction 
projects, economic growth, sales growth, capital expenditures, earnings 
per share growth, and load forecasts. Southern Company cautions that 
there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially 
from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader 
is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, 
which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number 
of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control 
of Southern Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such 
suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those 
discussed in Southern Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 
ended December 31, 2013 (Form 10-K), and subsequent securities fi lings, 
could cause actual results to differ materially from management expec-
tations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of 
recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, including legislative 
and regulatory initiatives regarding deregulation and restructuring of the 
electric utility industry, environmental laws including regulation of water, 
coal combustion residuals, and emissions of sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, 
soot, particulate matter, hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, and 
other substances, and also changes in tax and other laws and regulations 
to which Southern Company and its subsidiaries are subject, as well as 
changes in application of existing laws and regulations; current and future 
litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries, including 
the pending Environmental Protection Agency civil actions against certain 
Southern Company subsidiaries, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
matters, and Internal Revenue Service and state tax audits; the effects, 
extent, and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets in 
which Southern Company’s subsidiaries operate; variations in demand for 
electricity, including those relating to weather, the general economy and 
recovery from the recent recession, population and business growth (and 
declines), the effects of energy conservation measures, including from 
the development and deployment of alternative energy sources such as 
self-generation and distributed generation technologies, and any potential 
economic impacts resulting from federal fi scal decisions; available sources 
and costs of fuels; effects of infl ation; ability to control costs and avoid 
cost overruns during the development and construction of facilities, which 
include the development and construction of facilities with designs that 
have not been fi nalized or previously constructed,  including changes in 
labor costs and productivity factors, adverse weather conditions, shortages 
and inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor or 
supplier delay or non-performance under construction or other agreements, 
delays associated with start-up activities, including major equipment 
failure, system integration, and operations, and/or unforeseen engineering 
problems; ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements 
of permits and licenses and to satisfy any operational and environmental 
performance standards, including the requirements of tax credits and other 
incentives; investment performance of Southern Company’s employee and 
retiree benefi t plans and the Southern Company system’s nuclear decom-

missioning trust funds; advances in technology; state and federal rate 
regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and nego-
tiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery 
mechanisms; regulatory approvals and actions related to the Plant Vogtle 
expansion, including Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approv-
als and Nuclear Regulatory Commission actions; actions related to cost 
recovery for the Kemper County integrated coal gasifi cation combined cycle 
facility (Kemper IGCC), including actions relating to proposed securitiza-
tion, Mississippi PSC approval of Mississippi Power Company’s proposed 
rate recovery plan, as ultimately amended, which includes the ability to 
complete the proposed sale of an interest in the Kemper IGCC to South 
Mississippi Electric Power Association, the ability to utilize bonus deprecia-
tion, which currently requires that the Kemper IGCC be placed in service in 
2014, and satisfaction of requirements to utilize investment tax credits and 
grants; Mississippi PSC review of the prudence of Kemper IGCC costs; the 
outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings regarding the Mississippi 
PSC’s issuance of the Certifi cate of Public Convenience and Necessity for 
the Kemper IGCC, the settlement agreement between Mississippi Power 
Company and the Mississippi PSC, or the State of Mississippi legislation 
designed to enhance the Mississippi PSC’s authority to facilitate develop-
ment and construction of baseload generation in the State of Mississippi; 
the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generat-
ing facilities, including environmental, health, regulatory, natural disaster, 
terrorism, and fi nancial risks; the performance of projects undertaken by the 
non-utility businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop 
new opportunities; internal restructuring or other restructuring options that 
may be pursued; potential business strategies, including acquisitions or dis-
positions of assets or businesses, which cannot be assured to be completed 
or benefi cial to Southern Company or its subsidiaries; the ability of counter-
parties of Southern Company and its subsidiaries to make payments as and 
when due and to perform as required; the ability to obtain new short- and 
long-term contracts with wholesale customers; the direct or indirect effect 
on the Southern Company system’s business resulting from terrorist inci-
dents and the threat of terrorist incidents, including cyber intrusion; interest 
rate fl uctuations and fi nancial market conditions and the results of fi nancing 
efforts, including Southern Company’s and its subsidiaries’ credit ratings; 
the impacts of any potential U.S. credit rating downgrade or other sovereign 
fi nancial issues, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital mar-
kets, impacts on currency exchange rates, counterparty performance, and 
the economy in general, as well as potential impacts on the benefi ts of U.S. 
Department of Energy loan guarantees; the ability of Southern Company 
and its subsidiaries to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive 
prices; catastrophic events such as fi res, earthquakes, explosions, fl oods, 
hurricanes, droughts, pandemic health events such as infl uenzas, or other 
similar occurrences; the direct or indirect effects on the Southern Company 
system’s business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid 
or operation of generating resources; the effect of accounting pronounce-
ments issued periodically by standard-setting bodies; and other factors 
described elsewhere herein and in other reports, including the Form 10-K, 
fi led by Southern Company from time to time with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission. 

Southern Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information. 

22

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following condensed fi nancial presentation should not be consid-
ered a substitute for the full fi nancial statements, inclusive of footnotes 
and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations, provided to all shareholders in Appendix B to 
the Company’s 2014 Proxy Statement and included in the Form 10-K 
as fi led with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Appendix B to 

the Proxy Statement and the Form 10-K also contain detailed discus-
sions of major uncertainties, contingencies, risks, and other issues the 
Company faces. A copy of the Form 10-K and/or the Proxy Statement, 
when available, including the full fi nancial statements, can be obtained 
by calling 1-800-554-7626 or accessing it online at http://investor.
southerncompany.com.

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The management of The Southern Company is responsible for establishing 
and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over fi nancial 
reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and as defi ned in 
Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). A control system can provide only reasonable, 
not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Under management’s supervision, an evaluation of the design and 

effectiveness of Southern Company’s internal control over fi nancial 
reporting was conducted based on the framework in Internal Control –
Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, 

management concluded that Southern Company’s internal control over 
fi nancial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2013.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting 
fi rm, as auditors of Southern Company’s fi nancial statements, has issued 
an attestation report on the effectiveness of Southern Company’s internal 
control over fi nancial reporting as of December 31, 2013. Deloitte & Touche 
LLP’s report on Southern Company’s internal control over fi nancial reporting 
appears in Appendix B to the Proxy Statement and in the Form 10-K as fi led 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Thomas A. Fanning
Thomas A. Fanning
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Offi cer

Art P. Beattie
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Offi cer

February 27, 2014

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Southern Company

We have audited the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated state-
ments of capitalization of Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 
(the Company) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consol-
idated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, 
and cash fl ows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 
2013. We have also audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal 
control over fi nancial reporting as of December 31, 2013. Such consolidated 
fi nancial statements, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of 
the Company’s internal control over fi nancial reporting, and our report on 
the consolidated fi nancial statements and internal control over fi nancial 
reporting dated February 27, 2014, expressing an unqualifi ed opinion 
(which is not included herein) are included in Appendix B to the proxy 
statement for the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders. The accompanying 
condensed consolidated fi nancial statements are the responsibility of the 

Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on such 
condensed consolidated fi nancial statements in relation to the complete 
consolidated fi nancial statements.

In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed 
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the 
related condensed consolidated statements of income and of cash fl ows for 
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, is fairly stated 
in all material respects in relation to the consolidated fi nancial statements from 
which it has been derived.

Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
February 27, 2014

23

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

(In Millions) 

OPERATING REVENUES:
Retail revenues  
Wholesale revenues  
Other electric revenues  
Other revenues  
Total operating revenues  

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Fuel   
Purchased power  
Other operations and maintenance  
Depreciation and amortization  
Taxes other than income taxes  
Estimated loss on Kemper IGCC  
Total operating expenses  
OPERATING INCOME  

OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE):
Allowance for equity funds used during construction  
Interest income  
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized  
Other income (expense), net  
Total other income and (expense)  
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES  
Income taxes  
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME  
Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries  
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME AFTER DIVIDENDS ON 
  PREFERRED AND PREFERENCE STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES  

COMMON STOCK DATA:
Earnings per share (EPS)–
  Basic EPS  
  Diluted EPS  
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding– (in millions)
  Basic  
  Diluted  

2013  

2012  

2011 

$14,541  
1,855  
639  
52  
17,087  

5,510  
461  
3,846  
1,901  
934  
1,180  
13,832  
3,255  

190  
19  
(824)  
(81)  
(696)  
2,559  
849  
1,710  
66  

$14,187  
1,675  
616  
59  
16,537  

5,057  
544  
3,772  
1,787  
914  
–  
12,074  
4,463  

143  
40  
(859)  
(38)  
(714)  
3,749  
1,334  
2,415  
65  

$15,071
1,905
611
70
17,657

6,262
608
3,938
1,717
901
–
13,426
4,231

153
21
(857)
(61)
(744)
3,487
1,219
2,268
65

$ 1,644  

$  2,350  

$  2,203

$   1.88  
1.87  

$    2.70  
2.67  

877  
881  

871  
879  

$    2.57
2.55

857
864

Full disclosure of all fi nancial information is included in Appendix B to the Proxy Statement and in the Form 10-K as fi led with the Securities and  Exchange Commission, 
including the accompanying footnotes, which are an integral part of the fi nancial statements.

24

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

(In Millions) 

2013  

2012  

2011 

$  1,710  

$ 2,415  

$ 2,268

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated net income  
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from
operating activities–
  Depreciation and amortization, total  
  Deferred income taxes  
Investment tax credits  

  Allowance for equity funds used during construction  
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefi ts  

  Stock based compensation expense  
Estimated loss on Kemper IGCC  

  Retail fuel cost over recovery–long-term  
  Other, net  
  Changes in certain current assets and liabilities–

  Receivables  

Fossil fuel stock  

  Materials and supplies  
  Other current assets  
  Accounts payable  
  Accrued taxes  
  Accrued compensation  
  Retail fuel cost over recovery–short-term  
  Other current liabilities  

Net cash provided from operating activities  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property additions  
Investment in restricted cash  
Distribution of restricted cash  
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases  
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales  
Cost of removal, net of salvage  
Change in construction payables, net  
Other investing activities  
Net cash used for investing activities  

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net  
Proceeds–

Long-term debt issuances  
Interest-bearing refundable deposit related to asset sale  
Preference stock  

  Common stock issuances  
Redemptions and repurchases–

Long-term debt  

  Common stock repurchased  
Payment of common stock dividends  
Payment of dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries  
Other fi nancing activities  
Net cash used for fi nancing activities  
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR  

2,298  
496  
302  
(190)  
131  
59  
1,180  
(123)  
82  

(153)  
481  
36  
(11)  
72  
(85)  
(138)  
(66)  
16  
6,097  

(5,463)  
(149)  
96  
(986)  
984  
(131)  
(126)  
33  
(5,742)  

662  

2,938  
–  
50  
695  

(2,830)  
(20)  
(1,762)  
(66)  
9  
(324)  
31  
628  
$    659  

2,145  
1,096  
128  
(143)  
(398)  
55  
–  
123  
(72)  

234  
(452)  
(97)  
(37)  
(89)  
(71)  
(28)  
129  
(40)  
4,898  

(4,809)  
(280)  
284  
(1,046)  
1,043  
(149)  
(84)  
(127)  
(5,168)  

2,048
1,155
85
(153)
(45)
42
–
–
(70)

362
(62)
(60)
(17)
(5)
330
10
(3)
18
5,903

(4,525)
1
63
(2,195)
2,190
(93)
198
178
(4,183)

(30)  

(438)

4,404  
150  
–  
397  

(3,169)  
(430)  
(1,693)  
(65)  
19  
(417)  
(687)  
1,315  
$    628  

3,719
–
–
723

(3,170)
–
(1,601)
(65)
(20)
(852)
868
447
$ 1,315

25

Full disclosure of all fi nancial information is included in Appendix B to the Proxy Statement and in the Form 10-K as fi led with the Securities and  Exchange Commission, 
including the accompanying footnotes, which are an integral part of the fi nancial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
At December 31, 2013 and 2012

ASSETS (In Millions) 

CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents  
Restricted cash and cash equivalents  
Receivables–
  Customer accounts receivable  
  Unbilled revenues  
  Under recovered regulatory clause revenues  
  Other accounts and notes receivable  
  Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts  
Fossil fuel stock, at average cost  
Materials and supplies, at average cost  
Vacation pay  
Prepaid expenses  
Other regulatory assets, current  
Other current assets  
Total current assets  

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT:
In service  
Less accumulated depreciation  
Plant in service, net of depreciation  
Other utility plant, net  
Nuclear fuel, at amortized cost  
Construction work in progress  
Total property, plant, and equipment  

OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS:
Nuclear decommissioning trusts, at fair value  
Leveraged leases  
Miscellaneous property and investments  
Total other property and investments  

DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER ASSETS:
Deferred charges related to income taxes  
Prepaid pension costs  
Unamortized debt issuance expense  
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt  
Other regulatory assets, deferred  
Other deferred charges and assets  
Total deferred charges and other assets  
TOTAL ASSETS  

2013  

2012 

$     659  
– 

$     628
7

1,027  
448  
58  
304  
(18)  
1,339  
959  
171  
489  
124  
39  
5,599  

66,021  
23,059  
42,962  
240  
855  
7,151  
51,208  

1,465  
665  
218  
2,348  

1,432  
419 
139  
293  
2,557  
551  
5,391  
$64,546  

961
441
29
235
(17)
1,819
1,000
165
657
163
74
6,162

63,251
21,964
41,287
263
851
5,989
48,390

1,303
670
216
2,189

1,385
–
133
309
4,032
549
6,408
$63,149

Full disclosure of all fi nancial information is included in Appendix B to the Proxy Statement and in the Form 10-K as fi led with the Securities and  Exchange Commission, 
including the accompanying footnotes, which are an integral part of the fi nancial statements.

26

SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
At December 31, 2013 and 2012

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (In Millions) 

2013  

2012 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Securities due within one year  
Interest-bearing refundable deposit related to asset sale  
Notes payable  
Accounts payable  
Customer deposits  
Accrued taxes–
  Accrued income taxes  
  Other accrued taxes  
Accrued interest  
Accrued vacation pay  
Accrued compensation  
Other regulatory liabilities, current  
Other current liabilities  
Total current liabilities  
LONG-TERM DEBT  

DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES:
Accumulated deferred income taxes  
Deferred credits related to income taxes  
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits  
Employee benefi t obligations  
Asset retirement obligations  
Other cost of removal obligations  
Other regulatory liabilities, deferred  
Other deferred credits and liabilities  
Total deferred credits and other liabilities  
TOTAL LIABILITIES  
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES  
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  

$     469  
150  
1,482  
1,376  
380  

13  
456  
251  
217  
303  
92  
347  
5,536  
21,344  

10,563  
202  
966  
1,461  
2,006  
1,270  
475  
584  
17,527  
44,407  
375  
19,764  
$64,546  

Full disclosure of all fi nancial information is included in Appendix B to the Proxy Statement and in the Form 10-K as fi led with the Securities and  Exchange Commission, 
including the accompanying footnotes, which are an integral part of the fi nancial statements.

$  2,335
150
825
1,387
370

10
391
237
212
433
107
557
7,014
19,274

9,938
211
894
2,540
1,748
1,194
289
668
17,482
43,770
375
19,004
$63,149

27

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 1.  JUANITA POWELL BARANCO 
   Executive Vice President and 
  Chief Operating Offi cer 
  Baranco Automotive Group (automobile sales) 

 4.  THOMAS A. FANNING

   Chairman, President and CEO
  Southern Company 

 6.  H. WILLIAM HABERMEYER, JR.

  Retired President and CEO 
  Progress Energy Florida Inc. (energy) 

  Atlanta, GA | Age 57 | elected 2010 

  Tampa, FL | Age 71 | elected 2007 

  Atlanta, GA | Age 65 | elected 2006 

Other directorships: 

Board committees: 

Board committees: Governance (chair), 

  Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

 5.  DAVID J. GRAIN

  Founder and Managing Partner
  Grain Management, LLC 
  (private equity fi rm) 

  Sarasota, FL | Age 51 | elected 2012 
  Board committees: Audit 
   Other directorships: 
  Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida

  Nuclear/Operations 

Other directorships: None

 2.  JON A. BOSCIA 

  Founder and President
  Boardroom Advisors, LLC 
  (board governance consulting fi rm) 

  Sarasota, FL | Age 61 | elected 2007 
Board committees: Audit (chair)
Other directorships: PHH Corporation

 3.  HENRY A. CLARK III

  Senior Advisor
  Evercore Partners Inc. 
  (corporate fi nance advisory fi rm)

  New York, NY | Age 64 | elected 2009
Board committees: Finance (chair), 

  Compensation and Management Succession

Other directorships: None

  Nuclear/Operations (chair), 
  Compensation and Management Succession 

Other directorships: Raymond James  

  Financial, Inc.

 7.  VERONICA M. HAGEN 

  Presiding Director 
  Southern Company Board (effective May 2014)
  Retired President and CEO
  Polymer Group, Inc. (engineered materials) 

  Charlotte, NC | Age 68 | elected 2008 
   Board committees: Compensation and  
  Management Succession (chair), 
  Nuclear/Operations 

Other directorships: Polymer Group, Inc., 

  Newmont Mining Corporation

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

 8.  WARREN A. HOOD, JR.

 11. DALE E. KLEIN 

 13. STEVEN R. SPECKER 

  Chairman and CEO
  Hood Companies, Inc. 
  (packaging and construction products) 

  Hattiesburg, MS | Age 62 | elected 2007 

Board committees: Audit 

    Other directorships: Hood Companies, Inc.,  
  BancorpSouth, Inc.

 9.  LINDA P. HUDSON 

   Retired President and CEO 
  BAE Systems, Inc. 
  (defense, aerospace and security) 

  Charlotte, NC | Age 63 | elected 2014 

Board committees: Audit 
Other directorships: BAE Systems, Inc.,  

  Bank of America Corporation

 10. DONALD M. JAMES 
  Chairman and CEO
  Vulcan Materials Company 
  (construction materials) 

  Birmingham, AL | Age 65 | elected 1999 
   Board committees: Finance, Governance
Other directorships: Vulcan Materials  

  Company, Wells Fargo & Company

   Associate Vice Chancellor of Research 
  University of Texas System
  Associate Director
  The Energy Institute at the University 
  of Texas at Austin 
  Retired Chairman
  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (energy)

   Austin, TX | Age 66 | elected 2010 
Board committees: Governance,

  Nuclear/Operations  

Other directorships: Pinnacle West Capital  
  Corporation, Arizona Public Service Company

 12. WILLIAM G. SMITH, JR. 

   Presiding Director 
  Southern Company Board (until May 2014) 
  Chairman, President and CEO 
  Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (banking) 

   Tallahassee, FL | Age 60 | elected 2006 

Board committees: Compensation and  

  Management Succession, Finance 

Other directorships: Capital City Bank  

  Group, Inc., Capital City Bank

   Retired President and CEO 
  Electric Power Research Institute (energy)

   Scottsdale, AZ | Age 68 | elected 2010 

Board committees: Governance,

  Nuclear/Operations  

Other directorships: Trilliant Inc.

 14. E. JENNER WOOD III

   Chairman, President and CEO
  SunTrust Bank–Atlanta Division (banking) 

  Atlanta, GA | Age 62 | elected 2012 
   Board committees: Governance, 
  Nuclear/Operations 

Other directorships: Oxford Industries, Inc.

8.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

9.

29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

 1.  ART P. BEATTIE

   Executive Vice President 
  and Chief Financial Offi cer

   Beattie, 59, joined the company in 1976 as a 
  junior accountant with Alabama Power. He has 
  held his current position since August 2010.  
   Beattie is responsible for the company’s  
accounting, fi nance, tax, investor relations, 
treasury and risk management functions. He also 
serves as chief risk offi cer. Previously, Beattie 
served in several executive accounting and 
fi nance positions at Alabama Power, including 
chief fi nancial offi cer, treasurer and comptroller. 

 2.  W. PAUL BOWERS 

  Executive Vice President and 
  President and CEO, Georgia Power 

    Bowers, 57, joined the company as a residential 
sales representative with Gulf Power in 1979. He 
has held his current position since January 2011. 
Previously, Bowers served as chief fi nancial 
offi cer for Southern Company. He also served 
as president of Southern Company Generation, 
president and CEO of Southern Power, president 
and CEO of Southern Company’s former United 
Kingdom subsidiary and senior vice president and 
chief marketing offi cer for Southern Company.

 3.  STAN W. CONNALLY, JR.

  President and CEO, Gulf Power

 5.   THOMAS A. FANNING

  Chairman, President and CEO 

    Connally, 44, joined the company in 1989 as a 
co-op student at Georgia Power. He has held 
his current position since July 2012. Previously, 
he served as senior vice president and senior 
production offi cer for Georgia Power. He has 
served as plant manager at plants Watson, 
Daniel and Barry. He has also worked in 
customer operations and sales and marketing.

    Fanning, 57, joined the company as a fi nancial 

analyst in 1980. He has held his current position 
since December 2010. Previously, Fanning 
served as executive vice president and chief 
operating offi cer for Southern Company, 
president and CEO of Gulf Power and chief 
fi nancial offi cer for Southern Company, Georgia 
Power and Mississippi Power.

 4.  MARK A. CROSSWHITE 

 6.  KIMBERLY S. GREENE

   Executive Vice President and President 
  and CEO, Alabama Power

   Executive Vice President and Chief 
  Operating Offi cer

    Crosswhite, 51, joined the company in 2004 as 
senior vice president and general counsel for 
Southern Company Generation. He has held his 
current position since March 2014. He was previ-
ously executive vice president and chief operating 
offi cer for Southern Company, president and 
CEO of Gulf Power and executive vice president 
of external affairs and senior vice president and 
general counsel at Alabama Power. Prior to 
joining the company, he was a partner in the law 
fi rm of Balch & Bingham LLP in Birmingham, 
Ala., where he practiced for 17 years.   

    Greene, 47, has held her current role since 

March 2014. Previously, she was president and 
CEO of Southern Company Services. Prior to 
that, she was employed by TVA, where she 
served as chief fi nancial offi cer, group president 
of strategy and external relations and chief 
generation offi cer. Prior to her time at TVA, she 
served as senior vice president of fi nance and 
treasurer for Southern Company and has held 
various positions with Mirant, including chief 
commercial offi cer, South region.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

30

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOUTHERN COMPANY  |  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 

 7.  G. EDISON HOLLAND, JR. 

 9.  STEPHEN E. KUCZYNSKI 

 11. CHARLES D. MCCRARY 

   Executive Vice President and President and CEO, 
  Mississippi Power 

   Chairman, President and CEO, 
  Southern Nuclear 

   Executive Vice President and Chairman,  
  Alabama Power 

    Holland, 61, joined the company as vice president 
and corporate counsel for Gulf Power in 1992. 
He was named to his current position in May 
2013. Previously, he was executive vice pre-
sident, general counsel and corporate secretary 
of Southern Company, president and CEO of 
Savannah Electric and vice president of power 
generation and transmission at Gulf Power.

    Kuczynski, 51, joined the company in July 2011 
as chairman, president and CEO of Southern 
Nuclear. Previously, he was senior vice president 
of engineering and technical services for Exelon 
Nuclear. He also served as senior vice president 
of Exelon Nuclear’s Midwest operations, senior 
vice president of operations support and plant 
manager and later site vice president for Exelon’s 
Byron Nuclear Station.

    McCrary, 62, joined the company as an assistant 
project planning engineer with Alabama Power in 
1973. He assumed his current position in March 
2014. Previously, McCrary was president and 
CEO of Alabama Power, chief production offi cer 
for Southern Company and president and CEO of 
Southern Power. He has held executive positions 
at Alabama Power and Southern Nuclear.

  8.  JAMES Y. KERR II

  Executive Vice President and General Counsel

 10. MARK S. LANTRIP

    Kerr, 50, assumed his current role in March 2014. 
Previously, he was a partner with McGuireWoods 
LLP and a senior advisor at McGuireWoods 
Consulting LLC. He also served as co-chairman 
of McGuireWoods’ energy industry team with 
focus in the areas of energy transactions and 
fi nance, energy regulation, energy policy and 
energy litigation. Prior to joining McGuireWoods, 
Kerr served as a Commissioner on the North 
Carolina Utilities Commission and was the 
former president of the National Association 
of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

  Executive Vice President and President and CEO, 
  Southern Company Services

    Lantrip, 59, joined the company in 1981 as 
an analyst in Gulf Power’s corporate planning 
department. He assumed his current position in 
March 2014. Previously, Lantrip was executive 
vice president of fi nance and treasurer of 
Southern Company Services and treasurer 
of Southern Company, with responsibility for 
fi nancial planning and analysis, enterprise risk 
management, trust fi nance, capital markets 
and treasury. 

 12. CHRISTOPHER C. WOMACK

  Executive Vice President and President 
  of External Affairs 

    Womack, 56, joined the company in 1988 as a 

governmental affairs representative for Alabama 
Power. He has held his current position since 
January 2009. Previously, Womack was 
executive vice president of external affairs for 
Georgia Power. He has also served as senior vice 
president of human resources and chief people 
offi cer for Southern Company as well as senior 
vice president and senior production offi cer of 
Southern Company Generation.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GLOSSARY

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE EXCLUDING ESTIMATED LOSS ON 
KEMPER IGCC, LEVERAGED LEASE RESTRUCTURE CHARGE, MC 
ASSET RECOVERY INSURANCE SETTLEMENTS AND LITIGATION 
SETTLEMENT WITH MC ASSET RECOVERY
Basic earnings per share of $1.88 plus an excluded 83-cent charge 
related to Mississippi Power’s construction of the Kemper integrated 
gasifi cation combined cycle project, plus an excluded 2-cent charge 
related to the restructuring of a leveraged lease investment, and minus 
an excluded MC Asset Recovery insurance settlement of 2 cents in 
2013; basic earnings per share of $2.70 minus an excluded MC Asset 
Recovery insurance settlement of 2 cents in 2012; and basic earnings 
per share of $2.07 plus an excluded 25-cent charge related to a litiga-
tion settlement with MC Asset Recovery in 2009.

BETA
A measure of the volatility of a stock in comparison to the market as a 
whole. Beta can be described as the tendency of a security’s returns to 
respond to swings in the market.

BIOMASS
Plant matter such as dead trees and branches, yard clippings and wood 
chips used to generate electricity.

BOOK VALUE
A company’s common stock equity as it appears on a balance sheet, 
equal to total assets minus liabilities, preferred and preference stock, 
and intangible assets such as goodwill. Book value per share refers 
to the book value of a company divided by the number of shares 
outstanding.

CARBON FOOTPRINT
The amount of equivalent carbon dioxide emitted from all greenhouse 
gases during activities, services or the creation of products.

COAL GASIFICATION
A process in which the energy stored in coal is converted to a gas, 
making it available for use in refi neries for the synthesis of chemicals 
or in gas-fi red power plants as a fuel.

CONTAINMENT VESSEL
A gas-tight shell or other enclosure around a nuclear reactor to confi ne 
fi ssion products that otherwise might be released to the atmosphere in 
the event of an accident. Such enclosures are usually dome-shaped and 
made of steel-reinforced concrete.

CYBER SECURITY
Efforts to maintain the reliability and security of the computers, 
control systems and other electronic assets that help utilities operate 
their business.

DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
Small-scale, onsite power sources, such as rooftop solar installations 
or diesel generators, that enable customers to provide some of the 
energy for their own home or business and to send excess energy 
back to the grid when the resource produces more than is consumed. 
Customers with distributed generation remain likely to require the 
services of a utility to meet their electricity needs when the distributed 
generation resource is not producing.

DIVIDEND YIELD
The annual dividend income per share received from a company 
divided by its current stock price.

DOE
U.S. Department of Energy.

EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net income divided by the average number of shares of common 
stock outstanding.

ENERGY AUDIT
An onsite inspection in which recommendations are made for 
improving the energy effi ciency of a home or business.

KILOWATT-HOUR
A unit of electricity, equal to 1,000 watt-hours, delivered by an electric 
utility steadily for one hour.

LEDs (LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES)
Semiconductor devices that produce visible light when an electrical 
current is passed through them. LED lighting can be more effi cient, 
durable, versatile and longer lasting.

MEGAWATT
A measurement of electricity equal to 1,000 kilowatts and typically 
used when describing large amounts of generating capacity.

MERCURY
A naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust that is present in 
trace amounts in coal. When power plants burn coal, trace amounts 
of mercury are released.

RELIABILITY
As pertains to electric networks, the extent to which supply is available 
to meet demand.

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Energy generated directly from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, 
water, biomass, ocean tides and geothermal heat.

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
A company’s earnings per share calculated using fully diluted shares 
outstanding, including the impact of stock option grants and convert-
ible bonds that can be converted into shares of stock in the issuing 
company.

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN
Stock price appreciation plus reinvested dividends. (The distribution of 
shares of Mirant Corporation stock to Southern Company shareholders 
is treated as a special dividend for purposes of calculating Southern 
Company shareholder return.)

32

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CONTENTS

 02 

 05 

 LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

 06  CLEAN ENERGY

 10  SAFE ENERGY

 12  RELIABLE ENERGY

 16  AFFORDABLE ENERGY

 20  SHAREHOLDER VALUE

 22  SUMMARY FINANCIAL REVIEW

 28   BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 30   MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

 32   GLOSSARY

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

TRANSFER AGENT 
Computershare Inc. is Southern Company’s transfer agent, dividend- 
paying agent, investment plan administrator and registrar. If you have 
questions concerning your registered Southern Company shareowner 
account, please contact:

BY MAIL 
Computershare
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170

BY PHONE-U.S. 
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET 
Monday through Friday 
800-554-7626
(Automated voice response system 
24 hours/day, 7 days/week) 
Hearing Impaired: 800-231-5469

BY COURIER 
Computershare
211 Quality Circle
Suite 210
College Station, TX 77845

BY PHONE-OUTSIDE U.S. 
201-680-6693

SHAREOWNER SERVICES INTERNET SITE 
To take advantage of Shareowner Services’ online services, you 
will need to activate your account. This one-time authentication 
process will be used to validate your identity. You can use your 12-digit 
Investor ID or your Computershare Holder ID. The Internet address 
is www.computershare.com/investor. Through this site, registered 
shareowners can securely access their account information, as well as 
submit numerous transactions. Also, transfer instructions and service 
request forms can be obtained. 

SOUTHERN INVESTMENT PLAN 
The Southern Investment Plan provides a convenient way to purchase 
common stock and reinvest dividends. You can access the Southern 
Company website to review the prospectus. 

DIRECT REGISTRATION 
Southern Company common stock can be issued in direct registration 
(uncertifi cated) form. The stock is Direct Registration System eligible.

DIVIDEND PAYMENTS 
The entire amount of dividends paid in 2013 is taxable. The board of 
directors sets the record and payment dates for quarterly dividends. 
A dividend of 50.75 cents per share was paid in March 2014. For the 
remainder of 2014, projected record dates are May 5, August 4 and 
November 3. Projected payment dates for dividends declared during 
the remainder of 2014 are June 6, September 6 and December 6. 

ANNUAL MEETING 
The 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held Wednesday, 
May 28, at 10 a.m. ET at The Lodge Conference Center at Callaway 
Gardens, Highway 18, Pine Mountain, Ga. 31822. 

AUDITORS 
Deloitte & Touche LLP 
191 Peachtree St. NE 
Suite 2000 
Atlanta, GA 30303 

INVESTOR INFORMATION 
For information about earnings and dividends, stock quotes and current 
news releases, please visit us at www.investor.southerncompany.com. 

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR INQUIRIES 
Southern Company maintains an investor relations offi ce in Atlanta, 
404-506-5310, to meet the information needs of institutional investors 
and securities analysts. 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF PROXY MATERIALS 
Any stockholder may enroll for electronic delivery of proxy materials 
by logging on at www.icsdelivery.com/so.

CERTIFICATIONS 
Southern Company has fi led the required certifi cations of its chief 
executive offi cer and chief fi nancial offi cer under Section 302 of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, regarding the quality of its public 
disclosures as exhibits 31(a)1 and 31(a)2, respectively, to Southern 
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 
31, 2013. The certifi cation of Southern Company’s chief executive 
offi cer regarding compliance with the New York Stock Exchange 
(NYSE) corporate governance listing standards, required by NYSE 
Rule 303A.12, will be fi led with the NYSE following the 2014 Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders. Last year, Southern Company fi led this 
certifi cation with the NYSE on June 14, 2013. 

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 
Southern Company publishes information on its activities to meet 
environmental commitments. This information is available online at 
www.southerncompany.com/planetpower/#reports. 

To request printed materials, write to: 

Larry Monroe 
Chief Environmental Offi cer & Senior Vice President 

  Research and Environmental Affairs  

600 North 18th St. 

  Bin 14N-8195 
  Birmingham, AL 35203-2206 

COMMON STOCK 
Southern Company common stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker 
symbol SO. On December 31, 2013, Southern Company had 143,800 
shareholders of record. 

The 2013 summary annual report is submitted for shareholders’ 
information. It is not intended for use in connection with any sale or 
purchase of, or any solicitation of, offers to buy or sell securities. 

Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com

Visit our Corporate Responsibility Report at 
www.southerncompany.com/corporateresponsibility 

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/southerncompany

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOUTHERN COMPANY  2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT

FOCUSED...

SOUTHERNCOMPANY.COM