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The Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a prominent American gas and electric utility holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with executive offices in Birmingham, Alabama. As of 2021, it ranks as the second-largest utility company in the U.S. by customer base, serving around 9 million customers. The company's operational footprint spans vertically integrated electric utilities in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and natural gas distribution utilities in four states. This robust infrastructure includes 50 gigawatts of rate-regulated generating capacity, primarily designated for customer service in these states. Moreover, its subsidiary Southern Power owns 13 gigawatts of natural gas generation and renewable energy facilities across the U.S., selling electricity primarily through long-term contracts.
Southern Company’s commitment to innovation is highlighted by several recent initiatives. Notably, it reported significant financial achievements for 2023, with fourth-quarter earnings of $855 million, or 78 cents per share, compared to a loss in the same period in 2022. The company also completed Plant Vogtle Unit 3, the first new nuclear unit in the U.S. in over three decades, and recently announced that Plant Vogtle Unit 4 has achieved commercial operation, solidifying its position as a leader in clean energy production.
In terms of sustainability, Southern Company is heavily investing in renewable energy projects. The South Cheyenne Solar Facility in Wyoming, the company's 30th solar facility, recently became operational, adding to Southern Power's solar portfolio, which now exceeds 2,740 MW. The company also envisions a significant expansion of its solar and renewable capacity, aiming to reach approximately 20,000 MW by 2030 as part of its net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050.
Southern Company is also deeply involved in innovative community projects. For instance, Nicor Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, recently launched Smart Neighborhoods™ in Aurora, Illinois, emphasizing affordable net-zero energy communities. Furthermore, the company has partnered with WeaveGrid to promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption by introducing programs that simplify home charging and offer utility incentives in Alabama and Georgia.
The company's dedication to community and diversity extends to initiatives like the UNDERRATED Golf Tour, aiming to provide opportunities to aspiring golfers from underrepresented backgrounds. Southern Company’s commitment to integrity, excellence, and respect is mirrored in its partnership with this tour, underlining its broader mission to foster inclusion within the communities it serves.
Southern Company’s corporate culture and hiring practices have earned national recognition from Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, and the Human Rights Campaign, showcasing the company's focus on excellence and innovation. Through ongoing investments in clean energy, smart technologies, and community development, Southern Company continues to transform energy into economic, environmental, and social progress for a sustainable future.
ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, and North Shore Gas have joined the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago and Northern Illinois to warn customers about increased utility scams during the holiday season. Scammers are using new tactics, including QR codes, mobile banking apps, and posing as bill-management companies. They often threaten service disconnection and demand immediate payments. The companies emphasize that they never use aggressive tactics, demand immediate payment, or request personal information like Social Security numbers. Customers are advised to verify representative identities and contact utilities through official channels if suspicious.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries reported significant community engagement in 2023, with employees contributing over 150,000 volunteer hours. The company's philanthropic initiatives included supporting Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF) through the Alabama Power Foundation. JVTF's impact during the 2022-2023 academic year included reaching 5,141 students, employing six paid apprentices, distributing 19,435 pounds of free produce, and growing 74,796 seedlings across eight teaching farms in Birmingham, with seven located at Birmingham City Schools campuses.
Southern Company has deployed Scythe Robotics' all-electric semi-autonomous mowers at six power plants. These 20-horsepower machines feature eight cameras and sensors for safe operation, automatically avoiding obstacles and adjusting to grass conditions. The emissions-free mowers integrate with level 2 chargers and collect performance data to optimize workflow and manage landscaping costs. This initiative is part of Southern Company's collaboration with Energy Impact Partners (EIP), a utility-backed clean tech investor coalition with over $4.5 billion in assets, which Southern Company co-founded in 2015.
Georgia Power has commenced commercial operation of its first grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Mossy Branch Battery Facility. The facility features 65 megawatts of battery storage capacity deployable over four hours, enhancing grid resilience in Georgia. The project, approved in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, can store excess energy during low-demand periods for use during high-demand times. Additionally, Georgia Power is developing the 265 MW McGrau Ford Phase I BESS project in Cherokee County, expected to be operational by 2026, and plans to procure 1,000 MW of new battery storage through competitive bidding.
Southern Company marks 25 years of environmental stewardship with significant conservation initiatives. The company's partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, spanning over 20 years, focuses on restoring wildlife habitats and ecosystems. The Renew Our Rivers program, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, has removed 8,351 tons of trash through 131,500 volunteers across Southeastern waterways.
Through Waters for Georgia, the Georgia Power Foundation has provided nearly $3 million in grants for water quality improvement projects. Additionally, Virginia Natural Gas leads the Ryan Resilience Series, focusing on ecosystem preservation and community education about environmental stewardship, particularly in marginalized communities.
The Georgia Power Foundation has announced a $1 million grant distribution through its Waters for Georgia program to The Trust for Public Land and the Seabrook Village Foundation. The grants aim to support water resource-focused projects that deliver measurable environmental benefits across Georgia. The Trust for Public Land will use the funding to restore hydrological infrastructure and establish riverbank plant buffers in Mableton, while Seabrook Village Foundation will implement a living shoreline installation to preserve the Gullah Geechee community's heritage site. Since its 2019 launch, the program has supported 18 projects with $3 million in total investments. The next funding cycle is expected in 2025.
Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program's Community Connection Center (C3) has won the 2024 E Source Achievement in Residential Customer Experience Award. Launched in 2022, C3 serves as a one-stop shop connecting income-eligible customers with energy efficiency services, bill payment assistance, and basic needs support.
Since its inception, C3 has helped customers access over $18.5 million in energy assistance grants. The program has provided free energy efficiency services to more than 4,500 customers and free groceries to over 5,000 families. This initiative addresses a critical need in Illinois, where approximately 1.5 million people (12% of the state's population) live at or below the poverty level.
Southern Linc, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO) subsidiary, has appointed Alan McIntyre as Vice President of Engineering and Operations. McIntyre, with 30 years of wireless telecommunications experience, previously served as Engineering Director where he led the company's LTE technology transformation. His achievements include developing and constructing two redundant core data centers, 1,300 LTE cell sites, and implementing VoLTE and mission-critical push-to-talk systems. McIntyre has extensive wireless spectrum expertise, participated in FCC proceedings, and holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and MBA from Auburn University.
Southern Company leads U.S. utility industry in R&D and innovative energy technologies, focusing on clean energy solutions. The company invests in various research areas including carbon capture, advanced nuclear technologies, hydrogen, and energy storage through partnerships with government, laboratories, and universities. As a founding partner of Energy Impact Partners, managing over $4 billion in assets, Southern Company achieved notable engagement metrics in 2023: 500+ employees participated in EIP events, 50+ partner engagements, and 35 innovative solutions implemented. Key projects include Form Energy's 15 MW iron-air battery development for Georgia Power and Urbint's AI-assisted technology for infrastructure safety.
Georgia Power has been awarded over $160 million in funding from the Department of Energy's Grid Deployment Office through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program. The funding will support grid enhancement projects across Georgia, focusing on expanding transmission capacity and improving resilience. The company will deploy new grid-enhancing technologies, including dynamic line rating technology and reconductoring of high voltage power lines. These investments aim to serve existing and new customers while facilitating the connection of clean generation sources. Georgia Power has invested more than $10 billion in strengthening the power grid over the past decade and serves 2.7 million customers across Georgia.
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