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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.
Georgia Power has elected Virgil R. Miller to its board of directors, effective January 1, 2025. Miller currently serves as President of Aflac Incorporated and Aflac U.S., where he oversees business growth, digital capabilities, and product development. With over 30 years of industry experience and a 20-year tenure at Aflac, Miller brings expertise in customer-centric strategies and operational management. He has held various leadership positions at Aflac and received multiple business honors. Miller is a U.S. Marine veteran with extensive educational background and serves on several prestigious boards including AHIP, LIMRA LOMA Global, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
Southern Power announced the Phase III expansion of its Millers Branch Solar Facility in Haskell County, Texas, adding 132-megawatts (MW) to the previous Phase I (200 MW) and Phase II (180 MW) expansions. This final development will bring the facility's total generating capacity to 512 MW, making it Southern Power's largest solar facility. The company signed power purchase agreements with Synopsys and Keysight Technologies for environmental attributes. Phase III is expected to achieve commercial operation in Q4 2026. With this addition, Southern Power's solar portfolio will exceed 3,050 MW, part of its 5,590 MW renewable fleet consisting of 30 solar and 15 wind facilities.
Southern Company has achieved the 2025 Military Friendly® Employer designation, marking its position as one of only 12 organizations to receive this recognition for at least 18 out of 22 years. The designation was determined through a comprehensive evaluation process by VIQTORY, considering factors such as recruitment, retention, turnover, and advancement opportunities for veterans and military employees.
According to Kayla Lopez, Sr Director of Partnerships at Military Friendly®, the designation recognizes organizations that have made significant investments in initiatives benefiting service members, military spouses, and veterans. Southern Company will be featured in the winter issue of G.I. Jobs® magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com.
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.
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