UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

þ		ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: ¹

Each of the following classes or series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Title of each class				Registrant
Common Stock, $5 par value				The Southern Company

Class A preferred, cumulative, $25 stated capital				Alabama Power Company
5.20% Series		5.83% Series
5.30% Series

Preferred stock, cumulative, $100 par value						Mississippi Power Company
4.40% Series		4.60% Series
4.72% Series

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ (Response applicable to all registrants.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o (Response applicable only to The Southern Company at this time.)

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants’ knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ (Response applicable to all registrants.)

Aggregate market value of The Southern Company’s common stock held by non-affiliates of The Southern Company at June 30, 2009: $24.8 billion. All of the common stock of the other registrants is held by The Southern Company. A description of each registrant’s common stock follows:

Documents incorporated by reference: specified portions of The Southern Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into PART III. In addition, specified portions of the Definitive Information Statements on Schedule 14C of Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, and Mississippi Power Company relating to each of their respective 2010 Annual Meetings of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into PART III.

Southern Power Company meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form 10-K with the reduced disclosure format specified in General Instructions I(2)(b), (c), and (d) of Form 10-K.

This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by The Southern Company, Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company, Mississippi Power Company, and Southern Power Company. Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf. Each company makes no representation as to information relating to the other companies.

Table of Contents

				Page
		PART I
Item 1		Business		I-1
		The Southern Company System		I-2
		Construction Programs		I-4
		Financing Programs		I-4
		Fuel Supply		I-4
		Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power		I-5
		Competition		I-7
		Seasonality		I-8
		Regulation		I-8
		Rate Matters		I-11
		Employee Relations		I-15
Item 1A		Risk Factors		I-16
Item 1B		Unresolved Staff Comments		I-27
Item 2		Properties		I-28
Item 3		Legal Proceedings		I-32
Item 4		Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		I-32
		Executive Officers of Southern Company		I-33
		Executive Officers of Alabama Power		I-35
		Executive Officers of Georgia Power		I-36
		Executive Officers of Mississippi Power		I-37
		PART II
Item 5		Market for Registrants’ Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities		II-1
Item 6		Selected Financial Data		II-2
Item 7		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		II-2
Item 7A		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		II-3
Item 8		Financial Statements and Supplementary Data		II-4
Item 9		Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure		II-5
Item 9A		Controls and Procedures		II-6
Item 9A(T)		Controls and Procedures		II-6
Item 9B		Other Information		II-7
		PART III
Item 10		Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance		III-1
Item 11		Executive Compensation		III-4
Item 12		Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters		III-40
Item 13		Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence		III-41
Item 14		Principal Accountant Fees and Services		III-42
		PART IV
Item 15		Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules		IV-1
		Signatures		IV-2

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the strategic goals for the wholesale business, retail sales, customer growth, storm damage cost recovery and repairs, fuel cost recovery and other rate actions, environmental regulations and expenditures, earnings, dividend payout ratios, access to sources of capital, projections for postretirement benefit and nuclear decommissioning trust contributions, financing activities, start and completion of construction projects, plans and estimated costs for new generation resources, impacts of adoption of new accounting rules, potential exemptions from ad valorem taxation of the Kemper IGCC project, impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, impact of healthcare legislation, if any, estimated sales and purchases under new power sale and purchase agreements, and estimated construction and other expenditures. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. There are various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such indicated results will be realized. These factors include:

•

the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory change, including legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding deregulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry, implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, environmental laws including regulation of water quality and emissions of sulfur, nitrogen, mercury, carbon, soot, particulate matter, or coal combustion byproducts 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 EPA civil actions against certain Southern Company subsidiaries, FERC matters, IRS audits, and Mirant matters;

•

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), and the effects of energy conservation measures;

•		available sources and costs of fuels;
•		effects of inflation;
•		ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of facilities;

•

investment performance of Southern Company’s employee benefit plans and nuclear decommissioning trusts;

•

advances in technology;

•

state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms;

•

regulatory approvals and actions related to the potential Plant Vogtle expansion, including Georgia PSC and NRC approvals and potential DOE loan guarantees;

•

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 dispositions of assets or businesses, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to Southern Company or its subsidiaries;

•

the ability of counterparties 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 Southern Company’s business resulting from terrorist incidents and the threat of terrorist incidents;

•

interest rate fluctuations and financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts, including Southern Company’s and its subsidiaries’ credit ratings;

•

the ability of Southern Company and its subsidiaries to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive prices;

•

catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, hurricanes, droughts, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences;

•

the direct or indirect effects on Southern Company’s business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid or operation of generating resources;

•

the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard setting bodies; and

•

other factors discussed elsewhere herein and in other reports filed by the registrants from time to time with the SEC.

The registrants expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

PART I

transmission line system.

Southern Company’s segment information is included in Note 12 to the financial statements of Southern Company in Item 8 herein.

The registrants’ Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports are made available on Southern Company’s website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Southern Company’s internet address is www.southerncompany.com.

The Southern Company System

Traditional Operating Companies

The traditional operating companies own generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. See PROPERTIES in Item 2 herein for additional information on the traditional operating companies’ generating facilities. Each company’s transmission facilities are connected to the respective company’s own generating plants and other sources of power (including certain generating plants owned by Southern Power) and are interconnected with the transmission facilities of the other traditional operating companies and SEGCO. For information on the State of Georgia’s integrated transmission system, see “Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power” herein.

Agreements in effect with principal neighboring utility systems provide for capacity and energy transactions that may be entered into from time to time for reasons related to reliability or economics. Additionally, the traditional operating companies have entered into voluntary reliability agreements with the subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation, Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group, and TVA and with Progress Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, and Virginia Electric and Power Company, each of which provides for the establishment and periodic review of principles and procedures for planning and operation of generation and transmission facilities, maintenance schedules, load retention programs, emergency operations, and other matters affecting the reliability of bulk power supply. The traditional operating companies have joined with other utilities in the Southeast (including some of those referred to above) to form the SERC to augment further the reliability and adequacy of bulk power supply. Through the SERC, the traditional operating companies are represented on the National Electric Reliability Council.

The utility assets of the traditional operating companies and certain utility assets of Southern Power are operated as a single integrated electric system, or power pool, pursuant to the IIC. Activities under the IIC are administered by SCS, which acts as agent for the traditional operating companies and Southern Power. The fundamental purpose of the power pool is to provide for the coordinated operation of the electric facilities in an effort to achieve the maximum possible economies consistent with the highest practicable reliability of service. Subject to service requirements and other operating limitations, system resources are committed and controlled through the application of centralized economic dispatch. Under the IIC, each traditional operating company and Southern Power retains its lowest cost energy resources for the benefit of its own customers and delivers any excess energy to the power pool for use in serving customers of other traditional operating companies or Southern Power or for sale by the power pool to third parties. The IIC provides for the recovery of specified costs associated with the affiliated operations thereunder, as well as the proportionate sharing of costs and revenues resulting from power pool transactions with third parties.

Southern Company, each traditional operating company, Southern Power, Southern Nuclear, SEGCO, and other subsidiaries have contracted with SCS to furnish, at direct or allocated cost and upon request, the following services: general and design engineering, purchasing, accounting and statistical analysis, finance and treasury, tax, information resources, marketing, auditing, insurance and pension administration, human resources, systems and procedures, digital wireless communications, and other services with respect to business and operations and power pool transactions. Southern Power and SouthernLINC Wireless have also secured from the traditional operating companies certain services which are furnished at cost and, in the case of Southern Power which is subject to FERC regulations, in compliance with such regulations.

Alabama Power and Georgia Power each have a contract with Southern Nuclear to operate Plant Farley and Plants

Hatch and Vogtle, respectively. In addition, Georgia Power has a contract with Southern Nuclear to develop, construct, license, and operate additional generating units at Plant Vogtle. See “Regulation – Nuclear Regulation” herein for additional information.

Southern Power

Southern Power is an electric wholesale generation subsidiary with market-based rate authority from the FERC. Southern Power constructs, acquires, owns, and manages generation assets and sells electricity at market-based prices in the wholesale market. Southern Power’s business activities are not subject to traditional state regulation like the traditional operating companies but are subject to regulation by the FERC. Southern Power has attempted to insulate itself from significant fuel supply, fuel transportation, and electric transmission risks by making such risks the responsibility of the counterparties to its PPAs. However, Southern Power’s future earnings will depend on the parameters of the wholesale market, federal regulation, and the efficient operation of its wholesale generating assets. For additional information on Southern Power’s business activities, see MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – OVERVIEW – “Business Activities” of Southern Power in Item 7 herein.

In June 2008, Southern Power completed construction on Plant Franklin Unit 3 which added 659 megawatts to the Southern Company system generating capacity. In December 2008, Southern Power announced plans to construct a 720 megawatt electric generating plant in North Carolina. This new plant is expected to go into commercial operation in 2012.

On October 8, 2009, Southern Power acquired all of the outstanding membership interests of Nacogdoches Power LLC from American Renewables LLC, the original developer of the project. Nacogdoches Power LLC is constructing a biomass generating plant in Sacul, Texas with an estimated capacity of 100 megawatts. The generating plant will be fueled from wood waste. Construction began in late 2009 and the plant is expected to begin commercial operation in 2012. The total estimated cost of the project is expected to be between $475 million and $500 million. The output of the plant is contracted under a PPA with Austin Energy that begins in 2012 and expires in 2032.

On December 17, 2009, Southern Power acquired all of the outstanding membership interests of West Georgia Generating Company, LLC (West Georgia) from Broadway Gen Funding, LLC, an affiliate of LS Power. West Georgia was merged into Southern Power as of the acquisition date and Southern Power now owns a dual-fueled generating plant near Thomaston, Georgia with nameplate capacity of approximately 669 megawatts. The plant consists of four combustion turbine natural gas generating units with oil back-up. The output from two units is contracted under PPAs with MEAG Power and the Georgia Energy Cooperative (GEC). The MEAG Power PPA began in 2009 and expires in 2029. The GEC PPA begins in 2010 and expires in 2030.

As of December 31, 2009, Southern Power had 7,880 megawatts of nameplate capacity in commercial operation.

Other Businesses

Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding subsidiary for Southern Company’s investments in leveraged leases.

SouthernLINC Wireless provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and markets its services to non-affiliates within the Southeast. SouthernLINC Wireless delivers multiple wireless communication options including push to talk, cellular service, text messaging, wireless internet access, and wireless data. Its system covers approximately 127,000 square miles in the Southeast. SouthernLINC Wireless also provides wholesale fiber optic solutions to telecommunication providers in the Southeast under the name Southern Telecom.

On January 25, 2010, Southern Renewable Energy was formed to acquire, own, and construct renewable generation assets.

These efforts to invest in and develop new business opportunities offer potential returns exceeding those of rate-regulated operations. However, these activities also involve a higher degree of risk.

The construction programs are subject to periodic review and revision, and actual construction costs may vary from these estimates because of numerous factors. These factors include: changes in business conditions; changes in load projections; changes in environmental statutes and regulations; changes in nuclear plants to meet new regulatory requirements; changes in FERC rules and regulations; PSC approvals; changes in legislation; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment, and materials; project scope and design changes; and the cost of capital. In addition, there can be no assurance that costs related to capital expenditures will be fully recovered.

Under Georgia law, Georgia Power is required to file an IRP for approval by the Georgia PSC. Through the IRP process, the Georgia PSC must pre-certify the construction of new power plants and new PPAs. See “Rate Matters – Integrated Resource Planning” herein for additional information.

See “Regulation – Environmental Statutes and Regulations” herein for additional information with respect to certain existing and proposed environmental requirements and PROPERTIES – “Jointly-Owned Facilities” in Item 2 herein for additional information concerning Alabama Power’s, Georgia Power’s, and Southern Power’s joint ownership of certain generating units and related facilities with certain non-affiliated utilities.

Financing Programs

See each of the registrant’s MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY in Item 7 herein and Note 6 to the financial statements of each registrant in Item 8 herein for information concerning financing programs.

Fuel Supply

The traditional operating companies’ and SEGCO’s supply of electricity is derived predominantly from coal. Southern Power’s supply of electricity is primarily fueled by natural gas. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – RESULTS OF OPERATION – “Fuel and Purchased Power Expenses” of Southern Company and each traditional operating company in Item 7 herein for information regarding the electricity generated and the average cost of fuel in cents per net kilowatt-hour generated for the years 2007 through 2009.

The traditional operating companies have agreements in place from which they expect to receive approximately 98% of their coal burn requirements in 2010. These agreements have terms ranging between one and eight years. In 2009, the weighted average sulfur content of all coal burned by the traditional operating companies was 74% sulfur. This sulfur level, along with banked and purchased sulfur dioxide allowances, allowed the traditional operating companies to remain within limits set by the Phase II acid rain requirements of the Clean Air Act. In 2009, the Southern Company system purchased approximately $18.3 million of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions allowances to be used in current and future periods. As additional environmental regulations are proposed that impact the utilization of coal, the traditional operating companies’ fuel mix will be monitored to ensure that the traditional operating companies remain in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, Southern Company and the traditional operating companies will continue to evaluate the need to purchase additional emissions allowances and the timing of capital expenditures for emissions control equipment. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Environmental Matters” of Southern Company and each traditional operating company in Item 7 herein for information on the Clean Air Act and global climate issues.

SCS, acting on behalf of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, has agreements in place for the natural gas burn requirements of the Southern Company system. For 2010, SCS has contracted for 207.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas supply under agreements with remaining terms up to 11 years. In addition to gas supply, SCS has contracts in place for both firm gas transportation and storage. Management believes that these contracts provide sufficient natural gas supplies, transportation, and storage to ensure normal operations of the Southern Company system’s natural gas generating units.

Changes in fuel prices to the traditional operating companies are generally reflected in fuel adjustment clauses contained in rate schedules. See “Rate Matters – Rate Structure and Cost Recovery Plans” herein for additional information. Southern Power’s PPAs generally provide that the counterparty is responsible for substantially all of the cost of fuel.

Alabama Power and Georgia Power have numerous contracts covering a portion of their nuclear fuel needs for uranium, conversion services, enrichment services, and fuel fabrication. These contracts have varying expiration dates and most of them are for less than 10 years. Management believes that sufficient capacity for nuclear fuel supplies and processing exists to preclude the impairment of normal operations of the Southern Company system’s nuclear generating units.

Alabama Power and Georgia Power have contracts with the United States, acting through the DOE, that provide for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The DOE failed to begin disposing of spent fuel in 1998, as required by the contracts, and Alabama Power and Georgia Power are pursuing legal remedies against the government for breach of contract. See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power under “Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs” in Item 8 herein for additional information.

Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power

The territory in which the traditional operating companies provide electric service comprises most of the states of Alabama and Georgia together with the northwestern portion of Florida and southeastern Mississippi. In this territory there are non-affiliated electric distribution systems which obtain some or all of their power requirements either directly or indirectly from the traditional operating companies. The territory has an area of approximately 120,000 square miles and an estimated population of approximately 13 million. Southern Power sells electricity at market-based prices in the wholesale market to investor-owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, and electric cooperatives.

Alabama Power is engaged, within the State of Alabama, in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity at retail in over 650 communities (including Anniston, Birmingham, Gadsden, Mobile, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to 15 municipally-owned electric distribution systems, 11 of which are served indirectly through sales to AMEA, and two rural distributing cooperative associations. Alabama Power owns coal reserves near its Plant Gorgas and uses the output of coal from the reserves in its generating plants. Alabama Power also sells, and cooperates with dealers in promoting the sale of, electric appliances.

Georgia Power is engaged in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity within the State of Georgia at retail in over 600 communities (including Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Rome, and Savannah), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale currently to OPC, MEAG Power, Dalton, Hampton, and various electric membership corporations.

Gulf Power is engaged, within the northwestern portion of Florida, in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity at retail in 71 communities (including Pensacola, Panama City, and Fort Walton Beach), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to a non-affiliated utility and a municipality.

Mississippi Power is engaged in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity within 23 counties in southeastern Mississippi, at retail in 123 communities (including Biloxi, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Meridian, and Pascagoula), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to one municipality, six rural electric distribution cooperative associations, and one generating and transmitting cooperative.

For information relating to kilowatt-hour sales by customer classification for the traditional operating companies, see MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS of each traditional operating company in Item 7 herein. Also, for information relating to the sources of revenues for Southern Company, each traditional operating company, and Southern Power, reference is made to Item 7 herein.

The RUS has authority to make loans to cooperative associations or corporations to enable them to provide electric service to customers in rural sections of the country. There are 71 electric cooperative organizations operating in the territory in which the traditional operating companies provide electric service at retail or wholesale.

One of these organizations, PowerSouth, is a generating and transmitting cooperative selling power to several distributing cooperatives, municipal systems, and other customers in south Alabama and northwest Florida. PowerSouth owns generating units with approximately 1,776 megawatts of nameplate capacity, including an undivided 8.16% ownership interest in Alabama Power’s Plant Miller Units 1 and 2. PowerSouth’s facilities were financed with RUS loans secured by long-term contracts requiring distributing cooperatives to take their requirements from PowerSouth to the extent such energy is available.

Alabama Power and Gulf Power have entered into separate agreements with PowerSouth involving interconnection between their respective systems. The delivery of capacity and energy from PowerSouth to certain distributing cooperatives in the service areas of Alabama Power and Gulf Power is governed by the Southern Company/PowerSouth Network Transmission Service Agreement. The rates for this service to PowerSouth are on file with the FERC. See PROPERTIES – “Jointly-Owned Facilities” in Item 2 herein for details of Alabama Power’s joint-ownership with PowerSouth of a portion of Plant Miller.

Four electric cooperative associations, financed by the RUS, operate within Gulf Power’s service area. These cooperatives purchase their full requirements from PowerSouth and SEPA (a federal power marketing agency). A non-affiliated utility also operates within Gulf Power’s service area and purchases its full requirements from Gulf Power.

Mississippi Power has an interchange agreement with SMEPA, a generating and transmitting cooperative, pursuant to which various services are provided, including the furnishing of protective capacity by Mississippi Power to SMEPA.

There are also 65 municipally-owned electric distribution systems operating in the territory in which the traditional operating companies provide electric service at retail or wholesale.

Forty-eight municipally-owned electric distribution systems and one county-owned system receive their requirements through MEAG Power, which was established by a Georgia state statute in 1975. MEAG Power serves these requirements from self-owned generation facilities, some of which are acquired and jointly-owned with Georgia Power, power purchased from Georgia Power, and purchases from other resources. MEAG Power also has a pseudo

scheduling and services agreement with Georgia Power. Dalton serves its requirements from self-owned generation facilities, some of which are acquired and jointly-owned with Georgia Power, and through purchases from Georgia Power and Southern Power through a service agreement. In addition, Georgia Power serves the full requirements of Hampton’s electric distribution system under a market-based contract. See PROPERTIES – “Jointly-Owned Facilities” in Item 2 herein for additional information.

Georgia Power has entered into substantially similar agreements with Georgia Transmission Corporation (formerly OPC’s transmission division), MEAG Power, and Dalton providing for the establishment of an integrated transmission system to carry the power and energy of all parties. The agreements require an investment by each party in the integrated transmission system in proportion to its respective share of the aggregate system load. See PROPERTIES – “Jointly-Owned Facilities” in Item 2 herein for additional information.

Southern Power has PPAs with some of the traditional operating companies and with other investor-owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, and electric cooperatives. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Power Sales Agreements” of Southern Power in Item 7 herein for additional information concerning Southern Power’s PPAs.

SCS, acting on behalf of the traditional operating companies, also has a contract with SEPA providing for the use of the traditional operating companies’ facilities at government expense to deliver to certain cooperatives and municipalities, entitled by federal statute to preference in the purchase of power from SEPA, quantities of power equivalent to the amounts of power allocated to them by SEPA from certain United States government hydroelectric projects.

The retail service rights of all electric suppliers in the State of Georgia are regulated by the Territorial Electric Service Act of 1973. Pursuant to the provisions of this Act, all areas within existing municipal limits were assigned to the primary electric supplier therein. Areas outside of such municipal limits were either to be assigned or to be declared open for customer choice of supplier by action of the Georgia PSC pursuant to standards set forth in this Act. Consistent with such standards, the Georgia PSC has assigned substantially all of the land area in the state to a supplier. Notwithstanding such assignments, this Act provides that any new customer locating outside of 1973 municipal limits and having a connected load of at least 900 kilowatts may exercise a one-time choice for the life of the premises to receive electric service from the supplier of its choice. See “Competition” herein for additional information.

Pursuant to the 1956 Utility Act, the Mississippi PSC issued “Grandfather Certificates” of public convenience and necessity to Mississippi Power and to six distribution rural cooperatives operating in southeastern Mississippi, then served in whole or in part by Mississippi Power, authorizing them to distribute electricity in certain specified geographically described areas of the state. The six cooperatives serve approximately 325,000 retail customers in a certificated area of approximately 10,300 square miles. In areas included in a “Grandfather Certificate,” the utility holding such certificate may, without further certification, extend its lines up to five miles; other extensions within that area by such utility, or by other utilities, may not be made except upon a showing of, and a grant of a certificate of, public convenience and necessity. Areas included in such a certificate which are subsequently annexed to municipalities may continue to be served by the holder of the certificate, irrespective of whether it has a franchise in the annexing municipality. On the other hand, the holder of the municipal franchise may not extend service into such newly annexed area without authorization by the Mississippi PSC.

Competition

The electric utility industry in the United States is continuing to evolve as a result of regulatory and competitive factors. Among the early primary agents of change was the Energy Act of 1992 which allowed IPPs to access a utility’s transmission network in order to sell electricity to other utilities.

The competition for retail energy sales among competing suppliers of energy is influenced by various factors, including price, availability, technological advancements, service, and reliability. These factors are, in turn, affected by, among other influences, regulatory, political, and environmental considerations, taxation, and supply.

Generally, the traditional operating companies have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, competition

in their respective retail service territories in varying degrees as the result of self-generation (as described below) by customers and other factors. See also “Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power” herein for additional information concerning suppliers of electricity operating within or near the areas served at retail by the traditional operating companies.

Southern Power competes with investor owned utilities, IPPs, and others for wholesale energy sales primarily in the Southeastern United States wholesale market. The needs of this market are driven by the demands of end users in the Southeast and the generation available. Southern Power’s success in wholesale energy sales is influenced by various factors including reliability and availability of Southern Power’s plants, availability of transmission to serve the demand, price, and Southern Power’s ability to contain costs.

Alabama Power currently has cogeneration contracts in effect with 11 industrial customers. Under the terms of these contracts, Alabama Power purchases excess generation of such companies. During 2009, Alabama Power purchased approximately 232 million kilowatt-hours from such companies at a cost of $16.5 million.

Georgia Power currently has contracts in effect with nine small power producers whereby Georgia Power purchases their excess generation. During 2009, Georgia Power purchased 14.7 million kilowatt-hours from such companies at a cost of $0.6 million. Georgia Power has PPAs for electricity with two cogeneration facilities. Payments are subject to reductions for failure to meet minimum capacity output. During 2009, Georgia Power purchased 42.3 million kilowatt-hours at a cost of $19.7 million from these facilities.

Also during 2009, Georgia Power purchased energy from eight customer-owned generating facilities. Seven of the eight customers provide only energy to Georgia Power. These seven customers make no capacity commitment and are not dispatched by Georgia Power. Georgia Power does have a contract with the remaining customer for eight megawatts of dispatchable capacity and energy. During 2009, Georgia Power purchased a total of 56.3 million kilowatt-hours from the eight customers at a cost of approximately $1.9 million.

Gulf Power currently has agreements in effect with various industrial, commercial, and qualifying facilities pursuant to which Gulf Power purchases “as available” energy from customer-owned generation. During 2009, Gulf Power purchased 76 million kilowatt-hours from such companies for approximately $4.3 million.

Mississippi Power currently has a cogeneration agreement in effect with one of its industrial customers. Under the terms of this contract, Mississippi Power purchases any excess generation. During 2009, Mississippi Power did not purchase any excess generation from this customer.

Seasonality

The demand for electric power generation is affected by seasonal differences in the weather. At the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, the demand for power peaks during the summer months, with market prices reflecting the demand of power and available generating resources at that time. Power demand peaks can also be recorded during the winter. As a result, the overall operating results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power have historically sold less power when weather conditions are milder.

Regulation

State Commissions

The traditional operating companies are subject to the jurisdiction of their respective state PSCs. The PSCs have broad powers of supervision and regulation over public utilities operating in the respective states, including their rates, service regulations, sales of securities (except for the Mississippi PSC), and, in the cases of the Georgia PSC and the Mississippi PSC, in part, retail service territories. See “Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power” and “Rate Matters” herein for additional information.

Federal Power Act

The traditional operating companies, Southern Power and its generation subsidiaries, and SEGCO are all public utilities engaged in wholesale sales of energy in interstate commerce and therefore are subject to the rate, financial, and accounting jurisdiction of the FERC under the Federal Power Act. The FERC must approve certain financings and allows an “at cost standard” for services rendered by system service companies such as SCS. The FERC is also authorized to establish regional reliability organizations which are authorized to enforce reliability standards, to address impediments to the construction of transmission, and to prohibit manipulative energy trading practices.

Alabama Power and Georgia Power are also subject to the provisions of the Federal Power Act or the earlier Federal Water Power Act applicable to licensees with respect to their hydroelectric developments. Among the hydroelectric projects subject to licensing by the FERC are 14 existing Alabama Power generating stations having an aggregate installed capacity of 1,662,400 kilowatts and 18 existing Georgia Power generating stations having an aggregate installed capacity of 1,087,296 kilowatts.

In May 2008, the FERC issued a new 30-year license for the Morgan Falls project, located on the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta, with an effective start date of March 1, 2009. In 2007, Georgia Power began the relicensing process for Bartlett’s Ferry which is located on the Chattahoochee River near Columbus, Georgia. The current Bartlett’s Ferry license expires in 2014 and the application for a new license is expected to be submitted to the FERC in 2012. In July 2005, Alabama Power filed two applications with the FERC for new 50-year licenses for its seven hydroelectric developments on the Coosa River (Weiss, Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell, Jordan, and Bouldin) and for the Lewis Smith and Bankhead developments on the Warrior River. The FERC licenses for all of these nine developments expired in July and August 2007. The FERC issued an annual license for the Coosa developments in August 2007 and issued an annual license for the Warrior developments in September 2007. Both of these licenses were automatically renewed in 2008 and 2009 pursuant to FERC regulations. These annual licenses provide the FERC with additional time to complete its review of the license applications. In 2006, Alabama Power initiated the process of developing an application to relicense the Martin hydroelectric project located on the Tallapoosa River. The current Martin license will expire in 2013 and the application for a new license is expected to be filed with the FERC in 2011. In 2010, Alabama Power plans to initiate the process of developing an application to relicense the Holt hydroelectric project located on Warrior River. The current Holt license will expire in August 2015 and the application for a new license is expected to be filed prior to that time. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “FERC Matters” of Alabama Power in Item 7 herein for additional information.

Georgia Power and OPC also have a license, expiring in 2027, for the Rocky Mountain Plant, a pure pumped storage facility of 847,800 kilowatt capacity. See PROPERTIES – “Jointly-Owned Facilities” in Item 2 herein for additional information.

Licenses for all projects, excluding those discussed above, expire in the period 2023-2034 in the case of Alabama Power’s projects and in the period 2014-2039 in the case of Georgia Power’s projects.

Upon or after the expiration of each license, the United States Government, by act of Congress, may take over the project or the FERC may relicense the project either to the original licensee or to a new licensee. In the event of takeover or relicensing to another, the original licensee is to be compensated in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Power Act, such compensation to reflect the net investment of the licensee in the project, not in excess of the fair value of the property, plus reasonable damages to other property of the licensee resulting from the severance therefrom of the property. If the FERC does not act on the new license application prior to the expiration of the existing license, the FERC is required to issue annual licenses, under the same terms and conditions of the existing license, until a new license is issued.

Nuclear Regulation

Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern Nuclear are subject to regulation by the NRC. The NRC is responsible for licensing and regulating nuclear facilities and materials and for conducting research in support of the licensing and regulatory process, as mandated by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended; and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 1978; and in accordance with the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and other applicable statutes. These responsibilities also include protecting public health and safety, protecting the environment, protecting and safeguarding nuclear materials and nuclear power plants in the interest of national security, and assuring conformity with antitrust laws.

In January 2002, the NRC granted Georgia Power a 20-year extension of the licenses for both units at Plant Hatch which permits the operation of units 1 and 2 until 2034 and 2038, respectively. In May 2005, the NRC granted Alabama Power a 20-year extension of the licenses for both units at Plant Farley which permits operation of units 1 and 2 until 2037 and 2041, respectively. On June 3, 2009, the NRC approved 20-year extensions of the licenses for the operation of Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 to 2047 and 2049, respectively.

On August 26, 2009, the NRC issued an Early Site Permit and Limited Work Authorization to Southern Nuclear, on behalf of Georgia Power, OPC, MEAG Power, and Dalton (collectively, Owners), related to two additional nuclear units on the site of Plant Vogtle (Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4). In March 2008, Southern Nuclear filed an application with the NRC for a combined construction and operating license for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which, if licensed by the NRC, are scheduled to be placed in service in 2016 and 2017, respectively. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Construction — Nuclear” of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Retail Regulatory Matters — Georgia Power — Nuclear Construction” and Georgia Power under “Construction — Nuclear” in Item 8 herein for additional information.

See Notes 1 and 9 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power in Item 8 herein for information on nuclear decommissioning costs and nuclear insurance.

Environmental Statutes and Regulations

Southern Company’s operations are subject to extensive regulation by state and federal environmental agencies under a variety of statutes and regulations governing environmental media, including air, water, and land resources. Compliance with these existing environmental requirements involves significant capital and operating costs, a major portion of which is expected to be recovered through existing ratemaking provisions or market-based rates for Southern Power. There is no assurance, however, that all such costs will be recovered.

Compliance with the federal Clean Air Act and resulting regulations has been, and will continue to be, a significant focus for Southern Company, each traditional operating company, Southern Power, and SEGCO. In addition, existing environmental laws and regulations may be changed or new laws and regulations may be adopted or otherwise become applicable to Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, or SEGCO, including laws and regulations designed to address global climate change, air quality, water quality, management of waste materials and coal combustion byproducts, including coal ash, or other environmental, public health, and welfare concerns. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Environmental Matters” of Southern Company and each of the traditional operating companies in Item 7 herein for additional information about the Clean Air Act and other environmental issues, including, but not limited to, the litigation brought by the EPA under the New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act, possible additional and/or revised regulations related to air and water quality, possible climate change legislation and regulation, and possible regulation of coal combustion byproducts. Also see MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Environmental Matters” of Southern Power in Item 7 herein for information about the environmental issues and possible climate change legislation and regulation.

Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO are unable to predict at this time what additional steps they may be required to take as a result of the implementation of existing or future requirements pertaining to climate change, air quality, water quality, and management of waste materials and coal combustion byproducts, including coal ash, but such steps could adversely affect system operations and result in substantial additional costs.

The outcome of the matters mentioned above under “Regulation” cannot now be determined, except that these developments may affect unit retirement and replacement decisions and may result in delays in obtaining appropriate licenses for generating facilities, increased construction and operating costs, or reduced generation, the nature and extent of which, while not determinable at this time, could be substantial.

Rate Matters

Rate Structure and Cost Recovery Plans

The rates and service regulations of the traditional operating companies are uniform for each class of service throughout their respective service areas. Rates for residential electric service are generally of the block type based upon kilowatt-hours used and include minimum charges. Residential and other rates contain separate customer charges. Rates for commercial service are presently of the block type and, for large customers, the billing demand is generally used to determine capacity and minimum bill charges. These large customers’ rates are generally based upon usage by the customer and include rates with special features to encourage off-peak usage. Additionally, Alabama Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power are generally allowed by their respective state PSCs to negotiate the terms and cost of service to large customers. Such terms and cost of service, however, are subject to final state PSC approval.

Fuel and net purchased energy costs are recovered through specific fuel cost recovery provisions at the traditional operating companies. These fuel cost recovery provisions are adjusted to reflect increases or decreases in such costs as needed. Gulf Power’s and Mississippi Power’s fuel cost recovery provisions are adjusted annually to reflect increases or decreases in such costs. Georgia Power filed for an adjustment to its fuel cost recovery rate on December 15, 2009. If approved by the Georgia PSC, the adjustment would be effective on April 1, 2010. Alabama Power’s fuel clause is adjusted as required. Revenues are adjusted for differences between recoverable costs and amounts actually recovered in current rates.

Approved environmental compliance and storm damage costs are recovered at Alabama Power and Mississippi Power through cost recovery provisions approved by their respective state PSCs. Within limits approved by their respective PSCs, these rates are adjusted to reflect increases or decreases in such costs as required.

Georgia Power’s environmental compliance costs are recovered in base rates. Under the 2007 retail rate plan, an environmental compliance cost recovery tariff was implemented effective January 1, 2008 to allow recovery of environmental costs mandated by state and federal regulation. See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Retail Regulatory Matters — Georgia Power — Retail Rate Plans” and Georgia Power under “Retail Regulatory Matters — Rate Plans” in Item 8 herein for additional information.

See “Integrated Resource Planning” herein for a discussion of Georgia PSC certification of new demand-side or supply-side resources for Georgia Power. In addition, see MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Construction — Nuclear” of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Retail Regulatory Matters — Georgia Power — Nuclear Construction” and Georgia Power under “Construction — Nuclear” in Item 8 herein for a discussion of the Georgia Nuclear Financing Act and the Georgia PSC certification of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which allow Georgia Power to recover financing costs for construction of the new nuclear units during the construction period beginning in 2011.

Alabama Power recovers the cost of certificated new plant and purchased power capacity through cost recovery provisions which are approved annually. Gulf Power files a rate clause request annually with the Florida PSC to recover costs associated with purchased power capacity, energy conservation, and environmental compliance. Revenues are adjusted for differences between recoverable costs and amounts actually recovered in current rates.

See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “PSC Matters” of Southern Company and each of the traditional operating companies in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Retail Regulatory Matters” and Note 3 to the financial statements of each of the traditional operating companies under “Retail Regulatory Matters” in Item 8 herein for a discussion of rate matters. Also, see Note 1 to the financial statements of Southern Company and each of the traditional operating companies in Item 8 herein for a discussion of recovery of fuel costs, storm damage costs, and environmental compliance costs through rates.

The traditional operating companies and Southern Power are authorized by the FERC to sell power to non-affiliates, including short-term opportunity sales, at market-based prices. Specific FERC approval must be obtained with respect to a market-based contract with an affiliate.

Integrated Resource Planning

Georgia Power

Triennially, Georgia Power must file an IRP with the Georgia PSC that specifies how it intends to meet the future electrical needs of its customers through a combination of demand-side and supply-side resources. The Georgia PSC, under state law, must certify any new demand-side or supply-side resources for Georgia Power to get cost recovery. Once certified, the lesser of actual or certified construction costs and purchased power costs will be recoverable through rates.

On August 31, 2009, Georgia Power filed with the Georgia PSC its first semi-annual construction monitoring report for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 for the period ended June 30, 2009, which did not include any proposed change to the estimated construction cost as certified by the Georgia PSC in March 2009. On February 25, 2010, the Georgia PSC approved the expenditures made by Georgia Power pursuant to the certification through June 30, 2009. The Georgia PSC also ordered that in its future semi-annual construction monitoring reports, Georgia Power will report against a total certified cost of approximately $6.1 billion, which is the effective certified amount after giving effect to the Georgia Nuclear Energy Financing Act. Georgia Power will continue to file construction monitoring reports by February 28 and August 31 of each year during the construction period.

In connection with its approval of the updated IRP on March 17, 2009, the Georgia PSC also approved Georgia Power’s plan for the installation of emissions controls at its Plant Branch Units 1 — 4 and Plant Yates Units 6 and 7. However, Georgia Power has suspended further engineering and construction activity on the emissions control projects at Plant Branch Units 1 and 2 and Plant Yates Units 6 and 7 until more information is available from the rulemaking and legislative process, thereby mitigating the risk related to significant capital expenditures associated with those projects. Georgia Power continues to review the economic feasibility of installing controls at Plant Branch Units 3 and 4. Georgia Power intends to continue to operate these units in the near term and reevaluate the economics of installing emissions controls on these units as more information becomes available.

Georgia Power plans to convert the 155-megawatt coal-fired Plant Mitchell Unit 3 to a renewable biomass facility fueled primarily with wood chips. Georgia Power filed a request for approval of the certification of the Plant Mitchell biomass conversion with the Georgia PSC in August 2008. On March 17, 2009, the Georgia PSC approved Georgia Power’s request for certification of the Plant Mitchell biomass conversion. Georgia Power filed an air permit application for the conversion with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in December 2008. Georgia Power expects to be granted an air permit in 15 to 18 months from the filing date. With the uncertainty of how future EPA regulations might affect allowable industrial boiler emissions, Georgia Power has decided to delay the conversion of Plant Mitchell Unit 3 to biomass until the EPA rules are better defined, which is expected in April 2010. Georgia Power had originally planned to begin retrofit construction at Plant Mitchell in April 2011 with the unit becoming operational in June 2012. A new project schedule has yet to be determined.

On January 29, 2010, Georgia Power filed its 2010 IRP for approval by the Georgia PSC. The 2010 IRP projected that Georgia Power’s current supply-side and demand-side resources are sufficient to provide a cost effective and reliable source of capacity and energy at least through 2014. The 2010 IRP identifies potential regulations relating to coal combustion byproducts and maximum achievable control technology for hazardous air pollutants, as well as potential legislation or regulations that would impose mandatory restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Environmental Matters — Environmental Statutes and Regulations — Air Quality,” “Environmental Matters — Environmental Statutes and Regulations — Coal Combustion Byproducts,” and “Environmental Matters — Global Climate Issues” of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein. While neither proposed nor final EPA regulations have been released at this time with respect to hazardous air pollutants or coal combustion byproducts, Georgia Power currently estimates that compliance would be required by about January 2015. The 2010 IRP includes preliminary retirement studies under a variety of potential scenarios for units at seven of Georgia Power’s coal-fired generating plants. These studies indicated that, depending on the final requirements in both of these anticipated EPA regulations and any legislation or regulation relating to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as estimates of long-term fuel prices, Georgia Power may conclude that it is more economical to retire certain coal-fired generating units than to install the required controls and/or that Georgia Power may not be able to complete installation of required controls on all such units by 2015 where such installation is determined to be more economical. Given the uncertainty and the amount of capacity at

risk of retirement, Georgia Power has restarted its 2015 RFP for 1,000 megawatts of capacity and energy. However, Georgia Power’s capacity needs could change significantly depending on the final requirements resulting from these environmental regulations.

The Georgia PSC certified the construction of Plant McDonough Units 4, 5, and 6 (natural gas-fired units) and the retirement of Plant McDonough Units 1 and 2 (coal-fired units) in 2007. On August 10, 2009, Georgia Power filed its quarterly construction monitoring report for Plant McDonough Units 4, 5, and 6 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. On September 30, 2009, Georgia Power amended the report. As amended, the report includes a request for an increase in the certified costs to construct Plant McDonough. The Georgia PSC held a hearing in December 2009 and is scheduled to render its decision on March 16, 2010.

The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.

See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding the proposed Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.

Gulf Power

Annually by April 1, Gulf Power must file a 10-year site plan with the Florida PSC containing Gulf Power’s estimate of its power-generating needs in the period and the general location of its proposed power plant sites. The 10-year site plans submitted by the state’s electric utilities are reviewed by the Florida PSC and subsequently classified as either “suitable” or “unsuitable.” The Florida PSC then reports its findings along with any suggested revisions to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for its consideration at any subsequent electrical power plant site certification proceedings. Under Florida law, any 10-year site plans submitted by an electric utility are considered tentative information for planning purposes only and may be amended at any time at the discretion of the utility with written notification to the Florida PSC. At least every five years, the Florida PSC must conduct proceedings to establish numerical goals for all investor-owned electric utilities and certain municipal or cooperative electric utilities in the state to reduce the growth rates of weather-sensitive peak demand, to reduce and control the growth rates of electric consumption, and to increase the conservation of expensive resources, such as petroleum fuels. Overall residential kilowatts and kilowatt hours goals and overall commercial/industrial kilowatt and kilowatt hours goals for each utility are set by the Florida PSC for each year over a 10-year period. The goals are to be based on an estimate of the total cost effective kilowatts and kilowatt hours savings reasonably achievable through demand-side management in each utility’s service area over a 10-year period. Once goals have been set, each affected utility must develop and submit plans and programs to meet the overall goals within its service area to the Florida PSC for review and approval. Once approved, the utilities are required to submit periodic reports which the Florida PSC then uses to prepare its annual report to the Governor and Legislature of the goals that have been established and the progress towards meeting those goals.

Gulf Power’s most recent 10-year site plan was classified by the Florida PSC as “suitable” in December 2009. Gulf Power’s most recent 10-year site plan and environmental compliance plan identify potential environmental regulations relating to maximum achievable control technology for hazardous air pollutants and potential legislation or regulation that would impose mandatory restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Environmental Matters — Environmental Statutes and Regulations — Air Quality,” “Environmental Matters — Environmental Statutes and Regulations — Coal Combustion Byproducts,” and “Environmental Matters — Global Climate Issues” of Gulf Power in Item 7 herein. The site plan and environmental compliance plan include preliminary retirement studies under a variety of potential scenarios for units at each of Gulf Power’s coal-fired generating plants. These studies indicate that, depending on the final requirements in these anticipated EPA regulations and any legislation or regulations relating to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as estimates of long-term fuel prices, Gulf Power may conclude that it is more economical to retire certain of its coal-fired generating units prior to 2020 and to replace such units with new or purchased capacity.

Also in December 2009, the Florida PSC adopted new numerical conservation goals for Gulf Power along with other electric utilities in the state. The Florida PSC adopted more aggressive goals due in part to the consideration of possible greenhouse gas emissions costs incurred in connection with possible climate change legislation and a change in the manner in which the Florida PSC considers the effect of so-called “free-riders” on the level of

conservation reasonably achievable through utility programs. Gulf Power’s plans and programs to meet the new goals are scheduled to be submitted to the Florida PSC for review by the end of the first quarter 2010. The costs of implementing Gulf Power’s conservation plans and programs are recovered through specific conservation recovery rates set annually by the Florida PSC.

The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.

Mississippi Power

On December 7, 2009, Mississippi Power filed its 2010 IRP with the Mississippi PSC. The filing was made in connection with the Mississippi PSC certification proceedings relating to the proposed Kemper County IGCC project. In the 2010 IRP, Mississippi Power projected that it will have a need for new capacity in the 2013 to 2015 timeframe. The 2010 IRP indicated a need range of approximately 200 megawatts to 300 megawatts in 2014, which reflects growth in load and the anticipated retirement of older gas steam units Plant Eaton Units 1 through 3 and Plant Watson Units 1 through 3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In addition, due to potential retirements of existing coal units, the Mississippi PSC found a need in 2015 that ranges from 304 megawatts to 1,276 megawatts.

The range of needs for 2015 is based on potential environmental regulations relating to maximum achievable control technology for hazardous air pollutants, as well as potential legislation or regulations that would impose mandatory restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Environmental Matters — Environmental Statutes and Regulations — Air Quality” and “Environmental Matters — Global Climate Issues” of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein. Depending on the final requirements in the anticipated EPA regulations and any legislation or regulation relating to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as estimates of long-term fuel prices, Mississippi Power may conclude that it is more economical to discontinue burning coal at certain coal-fired generating units than to install the required controls.

Mississippi Power’s 2010 IRP indicated that Mississippi Power plans to construct the Kemper County IGCC to meet its identified needs, to add environmental controls at Plant Daniel Units 1 and 2, to defer environmental controls at Plant Watson Units 4 and 5, and to continue operation of the combined cycle Plant Daniel Units 3 and 4.

The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.

Mississippi Base Load Construction Legislation

In the 2008 regular session of the Mississippi legislature, a bill was passed and signed by the Governor in May 2008 to enhance the Mississippi PSC’s authority to facilitate development and construction of base load generation in the State of Mississippi (Baseload Act). The Baseload Act authorizes, but does not require, the Mississippi PSC to adopt a cost recovery mechanism that includes in retail base rates, prior to and during construction, all or a portion of the prudently incurred pre-construction and construction costs incurred by a utility in constructing a base load electric generating plant. Prior to the passage of the Baseload Act, such costs would traditionally be recovered only after the plant was placed in service. The Baseload Act also provides for periodic prudence reviews by the Mississippi PSC and prohibits the cancellation of any such generating plant without the approval of the Mississippi PSC. In the event of cancellation of the construction of the plant without approval of the Mississippi PSC, the Baseload Act authorizes the Mississippi PSC to make a public interest determination as to whether and to what extent the utility will be afforded rate recovery for costs incurred in connection with such cancelled generating plant. The effect of this legislation on Southern Company and Mississippi Power cannot now be determined.

On January 16, 2009, Mississippi Power filed for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with the Mississippi PSC to allow construction of a new electric generating plant located in Kemper County, Mississippi. This certificate, if approved by the Mississippi PSC, would authorize Mississippi Power to acquire, construct, and operate the Kemper IGCC and related facilities. The Kemper IGCC, subject to federal and state reviews and certain regulatory approvals, is expected to begin commercial operation in May 2014. See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power in Item 8 herein for additional information.

The traditional operating companies have separate agreements with local unions of the IBEW generally covering wages, working conditions, and procedures for handling grievances and arbitration. These agreements apply with certain exceptions to operating, maintenance, and construction employees.

On August 15, 2009, a five-year labor agreement between Alabama Power and nine local unions with the IBEW expired. Prior to the expiration of this agreement, Alabama Power and the IBEW entered into a new five-year labor agreement with a ratification date of May 29, 2009. Parts of this new agreement took effect on August 15, 2009, when the original agreement expired, and the remainder took effect on January 1, 2010. The new agreement expires on August 15, 2014.

Georgia Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect through June 30, 2011. Upon notice given at least 60 days prior to that date, negotiations may be initiated with respect to agreement terms to be effective after such date.

The agreement between Gulf Power and the IBEW covering wages and working conditions was scheduled to expire on October 15, 2009. The agreement has not been terminated by either party and remains in effect through October 14, 2010. Negotiations for a new agreement began in September 2009 and are on-going.

Mississippi Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect until August 16, 2010. Upon notice given at least 60 days prior to that date, negotiations may be initiated with respect to agreement terms to be effective after such date.

Southern Nuclear and the IBEW ratified a labor agreement for certain employees at Plants Hatch and Vogtle on May 21, 2009. The agreement is effective through June 30, 2011. A five-year agreement between Southern Nuclear and the IBEW representing certain employees at Plant Farley was ratified on July 8, 2009. The agreement became effective on August 15, 2009 and will remain in effect through August 15, 2014.

The agreements also make the terms of the pension plans for the companies discussed above subject to collective bargaining with the unions at either a five-year or a 10-year cycle, depending upon union and company actions.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K, including MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL in Item 7 of each registrant, and other documents filed by Southern Company and/or its subsidiaries with the SEC from time to time, the following factors should be carefully considered in evaluating Southern Company and its subsidiaries. Such factors could affect actual results and cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Southern Company and/or its subsidiaries.

Risks Related to the Energy Industry

Southern Company and its subsidiaries are subject to substantial governmental regulation. Compliance with current and future regulatory requirements and procurement of necessary approvals, permits, and certificates may result in substantial costs to Southern Company and its subsidiaries.

Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, are subject to substantial regulation from federal, state, and local regulatory agencies. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are required to comply with numerous laws and regulations and to obtain numerous permits, approvals, and certificates from the governmental agencies that regulate various aspects of their businesses, including rates and charges, service regulations, retail service territories, sales of securities, asset acquisitions and sales, accounting policies and practices, and the operation of fossil-fuel, hydroelectric, and nuclear generating facilities. For example, the rates charged to wholesale customers by the traditional operating companies and by Southern Power must be approved by the FERC. These wholesale rates could be affected absent the ability to conduct business pursuant to FERC market-based rate authority. Additionally, the respective state PSCs must approve the traditional operating companies’ requested rates for retail customers. While the retail rates of the traditional operating companies are designed to provide for the full recovery of costs (including a reasonable return on invested capital), there can be no assurance that a state PSC, in a future rate proceeding, will not attempt to alter the timing or amount of certain costs for which recovery is sought or to modify the current authorized rate of return.

Southern Company and its subsidiaries believe the necessary permits, approvals, and certificates have been obtained for their respective existing operations and that their respective businesses are conducted in accordance with applicable laws; however, the impact of any future revision or changes in interpretations of existing regulations or the adoption of new laws and regulations applicable to Southern Company or any of its subsidiaries cannot now be predicted. Changes in regulation or the imposition of additional regulations could influence the operating environment of Southern Company and its subsidiaries and may result in substantial costs.

Risks Related to Environmental and Climate Change Legislation and Regulation

Southern Company’s, the traditional operating companies’, and Southern Power’s costs of compliance with environmental laws are significant. The costs of compliance with future environmental laws, including laws and regulations designed to address global climate change, renewable energy standards, air quality, coal combustion byproducts, and other matters and the incurrence of environmental liabilities could affect unit retirement decisions and negatively impact the net income, cash flows, and financial condition of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power.

Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental requirements which, among other things, regulate air emissions, water usage and discharges, and the management of hazardous and solid waste in order to adequately protect the environment. Compliance with these legal requirements requires Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power to commit significant expenditures for installation of pollution control equipment, environmental monitoring, emissions fees, and permits at all of their respective facilities. These expenditures are significant and Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power expect that they will increase in the future. Through 2009, Southern Company had invested approximately $7.5 billion in capital projects to comply with these requirements, with annual totals of $1.3 billion, $1.6 billion, and $1.5 billion for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. Southern Company expects that capital expenditures to assure compliance with existing and new statutes and regulations will be an additional $545 million, $721 million, and $1.2 billion for 2010, 2011, and 2012,

respectively. Because the compliance strategy is impacted by changes to existing environmental laws, statutes, and regulations, the cost, availability, and existing inventory of emissions allowances, and the fuel mix, the ultimate outcome cannot be determined at this time.

If Southern Company, any traditional operating company, or Southern Power fails to comply with environmental laws and regulations, even if caused by factors beyond its control, that failure may result in the assessment of civil or criminal penalties and fines. The EPA has filed civil actions against Alabama Power and Georgia Power and issued notices of violation to Gulf Power and Mississippi Power alleging violations of the new source review provisions of the Clean Air Act. Southern Company is a party to suits alleging emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, contribute to global warming. An adverse outcome in any of these matters could require substantial capital expenditures that cannot be determined at this time and could possibly require payment of substantial penalties. Such expenditures could affect unit retirement and replacement decisions, and results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates or market-based rates for Southern Power.

Litigation over environmental issues and claims of various types, including property damage, personal injury, common law nuisance, and citizen enforcement of environmental requirements such as opacity and air and water quality standards, has increased generally throughout the United States. In particular, personal injury and other claims for damages caused by alleged exposure to hazardous materials, and common law nuisance claims for injunctive relief and property damage allegedly caused by greenhouse gas and other emissions, have become more frequent.

Existing environmental laws and regulations may be revised or new laws and regulations related to global climate change, air quality, coal combustion byproducts, including coal ash, or other environmental and health concerns may be adopted or become applicable to Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power. For example, federal legislative proposals that would impose mandatory requirements on greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy standards continue to be actively considered in Congress, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been identified as a high priority by the current Administration. On June 26, 2009, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which would impose mandatory greenhouse gas restrictions through implementation of a cap and trade program, a renewable energy standard, and other measures, was passed by the House of Representatives. Similar legislation is being considered by the Senate. In 2007, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles. On December 15, 2009, the EPA published a final determination, which became effective on January 14, 2010, that certain greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles endanger public health and welfare due to climate change. The EPA has stated that finalization of this rule will cause carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to become regulated pollutants under certain provisions of the Clean Air Act applicable to stationary sources, including power plants. On October 27, 2009, the EPA published a proposed rule governing how these programs would be applied to such sources. The EPA has stated that it expects to finalize these proposed rules in March 2010.

In addition, the EPA is expected to issue additional regulations and designations with respect to air quality under the Clean Air Act, including eight-hour ozone standards, sulfur dioxide standards, a replacement Clean Air Interstate Rule relating to nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, and a Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule for coal and oil-fired electric generating units, which will likely address numerous hazardous air pollutants, including mercury.

In addition, the EPA is currently evaluating whether additional regulation of coal combustion byproducts is merited under federal solid and hazardous waste laws. The EPA is expected to issue a proposal regarding additional regulation of coal combustion byproducts in early 2010.

International climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also continue. A nonbinding agreement was announced during the most recent round of negotiations in December 2009 that included a pledge from both developed and developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The cost impact of such legislation, regulation, new interpretations, or international negotiations would depend upon the specific requirements enacted and cannot be determined at this time. For example, the impact of currently proposed legislation relating to greenhouse gas emissions would depend on a variety of factors, including the specific greenhouse gas emissions limits or renewable energy requirements, the timing of implementation of these

limits or requirements, the level of emissions allowances allocated and the level that must be purchased, the purchase price of emissions allowances, the development and commercial availability of technologies for renewable energy and for the reduction of emissions, the degree to which offsets may be used for compliance, provisions for cost containment (if any), the impact on coal and natural gas prices, and cost recovery through regulated rates or market-based rates for Southern Power.

Although the outcome cannot be determined at this time, legislation or regulation related to greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy standards, air quality, coal combustion byproducts and other matters, individually or together, are likely to result in significant and additional compliance costs, including significant capital expenditures, and could result in additional operating restrictions. These costs could affect future unit retirement and replacement decisions, and could result in the retirement of a significant number of coal-fired generating units of the traditional operating companies. Additional compliance costs and costs related to potential unit retirements could affect results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if such costs are not recovered from customers. Further, higher costs that are recovered through regulated rates could contribute to reduced demand for electricity, which could negatively impact results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.

General Risks Related to Operation of Southern Company’s Utility Subsidiaries

The regional power market in which Southern Company and its utility subsidiaries compete may have changing transmission regulatory structures, which could affect the ownership of these assets and related revenues and expenses.

The traditional operating companies currently own and operate transmission facilities as part of a vertically integrated utility. Transmission revenues are not separated from generation and distribution revenues in their approved retail rates. Current FERC efforts that may potentially change the regulatory and/or operational structure of transmission include rules related to the standardization of generation interconnection. The financial condition, net income, and cash flows of Southern Company and its utility subsidiaries could be adversely affected by future changes in the federal regulatory or operational structure of transmission.

The net income of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power could be negatively impacted by competitive activity in the wholesale electricity markets.

Competition at the wholesale level continues to expand and evolve in the electricity markets. As a result of changes in federal law and regulatory policy, competition in the wholesale electricity markets has increased due to greater participation by traditional electricity suppliers, non-utility generators, IPPs, wholesale power marketers, and brokers. FERC rules related to transmission are designed to facilitate competition in the wholesale market on a nationwide basis by providing greater flexibility and more choices to wholesale power customers, including initiatives designed to promote and encourage the integration of renewable sources of supply. Moreover, along with transactions contemplating physical delivery of energy, futures contracts and derivatives are traded on various commodities exchanges. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power cannot predict the impact of these and other such developments, nor can they predict the effect of changes in levels of wholesale supply and demand, which are typically driven by factors beyond their control.

Risks Related to Southern Company and its Business

Southern Company may be unable to meet its ongoing and future financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock if its subsidiaries are unable to pay upstream dividends or repay funds to Southern Company.

Southern Company is a holding company and, as such, Southern Company has no operations of its own. Substantially all of Southern Company’s consolidated assets are held by subsidiaries. Southern Company’s ability to meet its financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock is primarily dependent on the net income and cash flows of its subsidiaries and their ability to pay upstream dividends or to repay funds to Southern Company. Prior to funding Southern Company, Southern Company’s subsidiaries have regulatory restrictions and financial obligations that must be satisfied, including among others, debt service and preferred and preference stock dividends. Southern Company’s subsidiaries are separate legal entities and have no obligation to provide Southern Company with funds for its payment obligations.

The financial performance of Southern Company and its subsidiaries may be adversely affected if they are unable to successfully operate their facilities or perform certain corporate functions.

The financial performance of Southern Company and its subsidiaries depends on the successful operation of its subsidiaries’ electric generating, transmission, and distribution facilities. Operating these facilities involves many risks, including:

	•		operator error or failure of equipment or processes;
	•		operating limitations that may be imposed by environmental or other regulatory requirements;
	•		labor disputes;
	•		terrorist attacks;
	•		fuel or material supply interruptions;
	•		compliance with mandatory reliability standards, including mandatory cyber security standards;
	•		information technology system failure;
	•		cyber intrusion; and
	•		catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, droughts, hurricanes, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences.

A severe drought could reduce the availability of water and restrict or prevent the operation of certain generating facilities. A decrease or elimination of revenues from the electric generation, transmission, or distribution facilities or an increase in the cost of operating the facilities would reduce the net income and cash flows and could adversely impact the financial condition of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company.

The traditional operating companies could be subject to higher costs and penalties as a result of mandatory reliability standards.

As a result of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, owners and operators of bulk power transmission systems, including the traditional operating companies, are subject to mandatory reliability standards enacted by the North American Reliability Corporation and enforced by the FERC. Compliance with the mandatory reliability standards may subject the traditional operating companies and Southern Company to higher operating costs and may result in increased capital expenditures. If any traditional operating company is found to be in noncompliance with the mandatory reliability standards, the traditional operating company could be subject to sanctions, including substantial monetary penalties.

The revenues of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power depend in part on sales under PPAs. The failure of a counterparty to one of these PPAs to perform its obligations, or the failure to renew the PPAs, could have a negative impact on the net income and cash flows of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company.

Most of Southern Power’s generating capacity has been sold to purchasers under PPAs. In addition, the traditional operating companies enter into PPAs with non-affiliated parties. Revenues are dependent on the continued performance by the purchasers of their obligations under these PPAs. Even though Southern Power and the traditional operating companies have a rigorous credit evaluation process, the failure of one of the purchasers to perform its obligations could have a negative impact on the net income and cash flows of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company. Although these credit evaluations take into account the possibility of default by a purchaser, actual exposure to a default by a purchaser may be greater than the

credit evaluation predicts. Additionally, neither Southern Power nor any traditional operating company can predict whether the PPAs will be renewed at the end of their respective terms or on what terms any renewals may be made. If a PPA is not renewed, a replacement PPA cannot be assured.

Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power may incur additional costs or delays in the construction of new plants or other facilities and may not be able to recover their investments. The facilities of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power require ongoing capital expenditures.

The businesses of the registrants require substantial capital expenditures for investments in new facilities and capital improvements to transmission, distribution, and generation facilities, including those to meet environmental standards. Certain of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power are in the process of constructing new generating facilities and adding environmental controls equipment at existing generating facilities. Southern Company intends to continue its strategy of developing and constructing other new facilities, including new nuclear generating units, combined cycle units, including the proposed integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility, and the proposed biomass generating units, expanding existing facilities, and adding environmental control equipment. These types of projects are long-term in nature and may involve facility designs that have not been finalized or previously constructed. The completion of these types of projects without delays or significant cost overruns is subject to substantial risks, including:

	•		shortages and inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor;
	•		work stoppages;
	•		contractor or supplier non-performance under construction or other agreements;
	•		delays in or failure to receive necessary permits, approvals, and other regulatory authorizations;
	•		impacts of new and existing laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations;
	•		continued public and policymaker support for such projects;
	•		adverse weather conditions;
	•		unforeseen engineering problems;
	•		changes in project design or scope;
	•		environmental and geological conditions;
	•		delays or increased costs to interconnect facilities to transmission grids;
	•		unanticipated cost increases, including materials and labor; and
	•		attention to other projects.

In addition, with respect to the construction of new nuclear units, a major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the NRC to delay or prohibit construction of new nuclear units. If a traditional operating company or Southern Power is unable to complete the development or construction of a facility or decides to delay or cancel construction of a facility, it may not be able to recover its investment in that facility and may incur substantial cancellation payments under equipment purchase orders or construction contracts. Even if a construction project is completed, the total costs may be higher than estimated and there is no assurance that the traditional operating company will be able to recover such expenditures through regulated rates. In addition, construction delays and contractor performance shortfalls can result in the loss of revenues and may, in turn, adversely affect the net income and financial position of a traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company.

Furthermore, if construction projects are not completed according to specification, a traditional operating company or Southern Power and Southern Company may incur liabilities and suffer reduced plant efficiency, higher operating costs, and reduced net income.

Once facilities come into commercial operation, ongoing capital expenditures are required to maintain reliable levels of operation. Significant portions of the traditional operating companies’ existing facilities were constructed many years ago. Older generation equipment, even if maintained in accordance with good engineering practices, may require significant capital expenditures to maintain efficiency, to comply with changing environmental requirements, or to provide reliable operations.

Changes in technology may make Southern Company’s electric generating facilities owned by the traditional operating companies and Southern Power less competitive.

A key element of the business model of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power is that generating power at central station power plants achieves economies of scale and produces power at a competitive cost. There are distributed generation technologies that produce power, including fuel cells, microturbines, wind turbines, and solar cells. It is possible that advances in technology will reduce the cost of alternative methods of producing power to a level that is competitive with that of most central station power electric production. If this were to happen and if these technologies achieved economies of scale, the market share of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power could be eroded, and the value of their respective electric generating facilities could be reduced. It is also possible that rapid advances in central station power generation technology could reduce the value of the current electric generating facilities owned by Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power. Changes in technology could also alter the channels through which electric customers buy or utilize power, which could reduce the revenues or increase the expenses of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power.

Operation of nuclear facilities involves inherent risks, including environmental, health, regulatory, terrorism, and financial risks, that could result in fines or the closure of Southern Company’s nuclear units owned by Alabama Power or Georgia Power and which may present potential exposures in excess of insurance coverage.

Alabama Power owns, and contracts for the operation of, two nuclear units and Georgia Power holds undivided interests in, and contracts for the operation of, four existing nuclear units and the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. The six existing units are operated by Southern Nuclear and represent approximately 3,680 megawatts, or 8.6%, of Southern Company’s generation capacity as of December 31, 2009. Nuclear facilities are subject to environmental, health, and financial risks such as on-site storage of spent nuclear fuel, the ability to dispose of such spent nuclear fuel, the ability to maintain adequate reserves for decommissioning, potential liabilities arising out of the operation of these facilities, and the threat of a possible terrorist attack. Alabama Power and Georgia Power maintain decommissioning trusts and external insurance coverage to minimize the financial exposure to these risks; however, it is possible that damages could exceed the amount of insurance coverage.

The NRC has broad authority under federal law to impose licensing and safety-related requirements for the operation of nuclear generation facilities. In the event of non-compliance, the NRC has the authority to impose fines or shut down any unit, depending upon its assessment of the severity of the situation, until compliance is achieved. NRC orders or regulations related to increased security measures and any future safety requirements promulgated by the NRC could require Alabama Power and Georgia Power to make substantial operating and capital expenditures at their nuclear plants. In addition, although Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern Company have no reason to anticipate a serious nuclear incident at their plants, if an incident did occur, it could result in substantial costs to Alabama Power or Georgia Power and Southern Company. A major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the NRC to limit or prohibit the operation or licensing of any domestic nuclear unit.

In addition, potential terrorist threats and increased public scrutiny of utilities could result in increased nuclear licensing or compliance costs that are difficult or impossible to predict.

The generation operations and energy marketing operations of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are subject to risks, many of which are beyond their control, including

changes in power prices and fuel costs, that may reduce Southern Company’s, the traditional operating companies’, and Southern Power’s revenues and increase costs.

The generation operations and energy marketing operations of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are subject to changes in power prices or fuel costs, which could increase the cost of producing power or decrease the amount Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power receive from the sale of power. The market prices for these commodities may fluctuate significantly over relatively short periods of time. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power attempt to mitigate risks associated with fluctuating fuel costs by passing these costs on to customers through the traditional operating companies’ fuel cost recovery clauses or through PPAs. Among the factors that could influence power prices and fuel costs are:

	•		prevailing market prices for coal, natural gas, uranium, fuel oil, and other fuels used in the generation facilities of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power including associated transportation costs, and supplies of such commodities;
	•		demand for energy and the extent of additional supplies of energy available from current or new competitors;
	•		liquidity in the general wholesale electricity market;
	•		weather conditions impacting demand for electricity;
	•		seasonality;
	•		transmission or transportation constraints or inefficiencies;
	•		availability of competitively priced alternative energy sources;
	•		forced or unscheduled plant outages for the Southern Company system, its competitors, or third party providers;
	•		the financial condition of market participants;
	•		the economy in the service territory, the nation, and worldwide, including the impact of economic conditions on industrial and commercial demand for electricity and the worldwide demand for fuels;
	•		natural disasters, wars, embargos, acts of terrorism, and other catastrophic events; and
	•		federal, state, and foreign energy and environmental regulation and legislation.

Certain of these factors could increase the expenses of the traditional operating companies or Southern Power and Southern Company. For the traditional operating companies, such increases may not be fully recoverable through rates. Other of these factors could reduce the revenues of the traditional operating companies or Southern Power and Southern Company.

Historically, the traditional operating companies from time to time have experienced underrecovered fuel cost balances and deficits in their storm cost recovery reserve balances and may experience such balances in the future. While the traditional operating companies are generally authorized to recover underrecovered fuel costs through fuel cost recovery clauses and storm recovery costs through special rate provisions administered by the respective PSCs, recovery may be denied if costs are deemed to be imprudently incurred and delays in the authorization of such recovery could negatively impact the cash flows of the affected traditional operating company and Southern Company.

A downgrade in the credit ratings of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power could negatively affect their ability to access capital at reasonable costs and/or could require Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power to post collateral or replace certain indebtedness.

There are a number of factors that rating agencies evaluate to arrive at credit ratings for Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power, including capital structure, regulatory environment, the ability to cover liquidity requirements, and other commitments for capital. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power could experience a downgrade in their ratings if any of the rating agencies conclude that the level of business or financial risk of the industry or Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power has deteriorated. Changes in ratings methodologies by the agencies could also have a negative impact on credit ratings. If one or more rating agencies downgrade Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power, borrowing costs would increase, its pool of investors and funding sources would likely decrease, and, particularly for any downgrade to below investment grade, collateral requirements may be triggered in a number of contracts.

The use of derivative contracts by Southern Company and its subsidiaries in the normal course of business could result in financial losses that negatively impact the net income of Southern Company and its subsidiaries.

Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, use derivative instruments, such as swaps, options, futures, and forwards, to manage their commodity and interest rate exposures and, to a lesser extent, engage in limited trading activities. Southern Company and its subsidiaries could recognize financial losses as a result of volatility in the market values of these contracts or if a counterparty fails to perform. These risks are managed through risk management policies, limits, and procedures. These risk management policies, limits, and procedures might not work as planned and cannot entirely eliminate the risks associated with these activities. In addition, derivative contracts entered for hedging purposes might not off-set the underlying exposure being hedged as expected resulting in financial losses. In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the valuation of these financial instruments can involve management’s judgment or use of estimates. The factors used in the valuation of these instruments become more difficult to predict and the calculations become less reliable the further into the future these estimates are made. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the value of the reported fair value of these contracts.

The traditional operating companies and Southern Power may not be able to obtain adequate fuel supplies, which could limit their ability to operate their facilities.

The traditional operating companies and Southern Power purchase fuel, including coal, natural gas, uranium, and fuel oil, from a number of suppliers. Disruption in the delivery of fuel, including disruptions as a result of, among other things, transportation delays, weather, labor relations, force majeure events, or environmental regulations affecting any of these fuel suppliers, could limit the ability of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to operate their respective facilities, and thus reduce the net income of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and Southern Company.

The traditional operating companies are dependent on coal for much of their electric generating capacity. Each traditional operating company has coal supply contracts in place; however, there can be no assurance that the counterparties to these agreements will fulfill their obligations to supply coal to the traditional operating companies. The suppliers under these agreements may experience financial or technical problems which inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations to the traditional operating companies. In addition, the suppliers under these agreements may not be required to supply coal to the traditional operating companies under certain circumstances, such as in the event of a natural disaster. If the traditional operating companies are unable to obtain their coal requirements under these contracts, the traditional operating companies may be required to purchase their coal requirements at higher prices, which may not be fully recoverable through rates.

In addition, Southern Power in particular, and the traditional operating companies to a lesser extent, are dependent on natural gas for a portion of their electric generating capacity. Natural gas supplies can be subject to disruption in

the event production or distribution is curtailed, such as in the event of a hurricane.

In addition, world market conditions for fuels can impact the availability of natural gas, coal, and uranium.

Demand for power could exceed supply capacity, resulting in increased costs for purchasing capacity in the open market or building additional generation capabilities.

Through the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, Southern Company is currently obligated to supply power to retail customers and wholesale customers under long-term PPAs. At peak times, the demand for power required to meet this obligation could exceed Southern Company’s available generation capacity. Market or competitive forces may require that the traditional operating companies or Southern Power purchase capacity on the open market or build additional generation capabilities. Because regulators may not permit the traditional operating companies to pass all of these purchase or construction costs on to their customers, the traditional operating companies may not be able to recover any of these costs or may have exposure to regulatory lag associated with the time between the incurrence of costs of purchased or constructed capacity and the traditional operating companies’ recovery in customers’ rates. Under Southern Power’s long-term fixed price PPAs, Southern Power would not have the ability to recover any of these costs. These situations could have negative impacts on net income and cash flows for the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and Southern Company.

Demand for power could decrease or fail to grow at expected rates, resulting in stagnant or reduced revenues, limited growth opportunities, and potentially stranded generation assets.

Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power each engage in a long-term planning process to determine the optimal mix and timing of new generation assets required to serve future load obligations. This planning process must look many years into the future in order to accommodate the long lead times associated with the permitting and construction of new generation facilities. Inherent risk exists in predicting demand this far into the future as these future loads are dependent on many uncertain factors, including regional economic conditions, customer usage patterns, efficiency programs, and customer technology adoption. Because regulators may not permit the traditional operating companies to adjust rates to recover the costs of new generation assets while such assets are being constructed, the traditional operating companies may not be able to fully recover these costs or may have exposure to regulatory lag associated with the time between the incurrence of costs of additional capacity and the traditional operating companies’ recovery in customers’ rates. Under Southern Power’s model of selling capacity and energy at negotiated market-based rates under long-term PPAs, Southern Power might not be able to fully execute its business plan if market prices drop below original forecasts. Southern Power may not be able to extend its existing PPAs or to find new buyers for existing generation assets as existing PPAs expire, or it may be forced to market these assets at prices lower than originally intended. These situations could have negative impacts on net income and cash flows for the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and Southern Company.

The operating results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are affected by weather conditions and may fluctuate on a seasonal and quarterly basis. In addition, significant weather events, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and droughts, or a terrorist attack could result in substantial damage to or limit the operation of the properties of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power and could negatively impact results of operation, financial condition, and liquidity.

Electric power supply is generally a seasonal business. In many parts of the country, demand for power peaks during the summer months, with market prices also peaking at that time. In other areas, power demand peaks during the winter. As a result, the overall operating results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, the traditional operating companies and Southern Power have historically sold less power when weather conditions are milder. Unusually mild weather in the future could reduce the revenues, net income, available cash, and borrowing ability of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power.

In addition, volatile or significant weather events or a terrorist attack could result in substantial damage to the transmission and distribution lines of the traditional operating companies and the generating facilities of the

traditional operating companies and Southern Power. The traditional operating companies and Southern Power have significant investments in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions which could be subject to major storm activity. Further, severe drought conditions can reduce the availability of water and restrict or prevent the operation of certain generating facilities.

Each traditional operating company maintains a reserve for property damage to cover the cost of damages from weather events to its transmission and distribution lines and the cost of uninsured damages to its generating facilities and other property. In the event a traditional operating company experiences any of these weather events or any natural disaster, or other catastrophic event, such as a terrorist attack, recovery of costs in excess of reserves and insurance coverage is subject to the approval of its state PSC. While the traditional operating companies generally are entitled to recover prudently incurred costs incurred in connection with such an event, any denial by the applicable state PSC or delay in recovery of any portion of such costs could have a material negative impact on a traditional operating company’s and Southern Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

In addition, damages resulting from significant weather events within the service territory of any traditional operating company or affecting Southern Power’s customers may result in the loss of customers and reduced demand for electricity. For example, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of Mississippi in August 2005 and caused substantial damage within Mississippi Power’s service territory. As of December 31, 2009, Mississippi Power had approximately 4.6% fewer retail customers as compared to pre-storm levels. Any significant loss of customers or reduction in demand for electricity could have a material negative impact on a traditional operating company’s, Southern Power’s, and Southern Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

Failure to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce could negatively impact Southern Company’s and its subsidiaries’ results of operations.

Events such as an aging workforce without appropriate replacements, mismatch of skillset to future needs, or unavailability of contract resources may lead to operating challenges or increased costs. Such operating challenges include lack of resources, loss of knowledge, and a lengthy time period associated with skill development, especially with the workforce needs associated with new nuclear construction. Failure to hire and adequately obtain replacement employees, including the ability to transfer significant internal historical knowledge and expertise to the new employees, or the future availability and cost of contract labor may adversely affect Southern Company and its subsidiaries’ ability to manage and operate their businesses. If Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including the traditional operating companies, are unable to successfully attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, results of operations could be negatively impacted.

Risks Related to Market and Economic Volatility

The business of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power is dependent on their ability to successfully access funds through capital markets and financial institutions. The inability of Southern Company, any traditional operating company, or Southern Power to access funds may limit its ability to execute its business plan by impacting its ability to fund capital investments or acquisitions that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power may otherwise rely on to achieve future earnings and cash flows.

Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power rely on access to both short-term money markets and longer-term capital markets as a significant source of liquidity for capital requirements not satisfied by the cash flow from their respective operations. If Southern Company, any traditional operating company, or Southern Power is not able to access capital at competitive rates, its ability to implement its business plan will be limited by impacting its ability to fund capital investments or acquisitions that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power may otherwise rely on to achieve future earnings and cash flows. In addition, Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power rely on committed bank lending agreements as back-up liquidity which allows them to access low cost money markets. Each of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power believes that it will maintain sufficient access to these financial markets based upon current credit ratings. However, certain market disruptions may increase its cost of borrowing or adversely affect its ability to raise capital through the issuance of securities or other borrowing arrangements or its ability to secure committed bank lending agreements used as back-up sources of

capital. Such disruptions could include:

	•		an economic downturn or uncertainty;
	•		the bankruptcy of an unrelated energy company or financial institution;
	•		capital markets volatility and interruption;
	•		financial institution distress;
	•		market prices for electricity and gas;
	•		terrorist attacks or threatened attacks on Southern Company’s facilities or unrelated energy companies’ facilities;
	•		war or threat of war; or
	•		the overall health of the utility and financial institution industries.

Market performance and other changes may decrease the value of benefit plans and decommissioning trust assets or may increase medical costs, which then could require significant additional funding.

The performance of the capital markets affects the values of the assets held in trust under Southern Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans and the assets held in trust to satisfy obligations to decommission Alabama Power’s and Georgia Power’s nuclear plants. Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power have significant obligations in these areas and hold significant assets in these trusts. These assets are subject to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which may fall below projected return rates. A decline in the market value of these assets, as has been experienced in prior periods, may increase the funding requirements relating to Southern Company’s benefit plan liabilities and Alabama Power’s and Georgia Power’s decommissioning obligations. Additionally, changes in interest rates affect the liabilities under Southern Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans; as interest rates decrease, the liabilities increase, potentially requiring additional funding. Further, changes in demographics, including increased numbers of retirements or changes in life expectancy assumptions, may also increase the funding requirements of the obligations related to the pension benefit plans. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are also facing rising medical benefit costs, including the current costs for active and retired employees. It is possible that these costs may increase at a rate that is significantly higher than anticipated. If Southern Company is unable to successfully manage benefit plan assets and medical benefit costs and Alabama Power and Georgia Power are unable to successfully manage the decommissioning trust funds, results of operations and financial position could be negatively affected. Additionally, Southern Company and its subsidiaries may also be affected by the potential passage of healthcare legislation.

Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are subject to risks associated with a changing economic environment, which could impact their ability to obtain adequate insurance and the financial stability of the customers of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power.

The financial condition of some insurance companies, the threat of terrorism, and the hurricanes that affected the Gulf Coast, among other things, have had disruptive effects on the insurance industry. The availability of insurance covering risks that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and their respective competitors typically insure against may decrease, and the insurance that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are able to obtain may have higher deductibles, higher premiums, and more restrictive policy terms.

Additionally, Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are exposed to risks related to general economic conditions in their applicable service territory and are thus impacted by the economic cycles of the customers each serves. Any economic downturn or disruption of financial markets could negatively affect the financial stability of the customers and counterparties of the traditional operating companies and Southern

Power. As territories served by the traditional operating companies and Southern Power experience economic downturns, energy consumption patterns may change and revenues may be negatively impacted. Additionally, customers could voluntarily reduce their consumption of electricity in response to decreases in their disposable income or individual conservation efforts. If commercial and industrial customers experience economic downturns, their consumption of electricity may decline. As a result, revenues may be negatively impacted.

Further, the results of operations of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power are affected by customer growth in their applicable service territory. Customer growth and customer usage can be affected by economic factors in the service territory of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power and elsewhere, including, for example, job and income growth, housing starts, and new home prices. A population decline and/or business closings in the territory served by the traditional operating companies or Southern Power or slower than anticipated customer growth as a result of the current recession or otherwise could also have a negative impact on revenues and could result in greater expense for uncollectible customer balances.

As with other parts of the country, the territories served by the traditional operating companies and Southern Power have been impacted by the current economic recession. The traditional operating companies have experienced some decline in the rate of residential and commercial sales growth, and also have experienced declining sales to commercial and industrial customers due to the economic recession. Southern Power is expected to experience reduced future revenues for its requirements customers due to the economic recession. The timing and extent of the recovery cannot be predicted.

These and the other factors discussed above could adversely affect Southern Company’s, the traditional operating companies’, and Southern Power’s level of future net income.

Energy conservation and energy price increases could negatively impact financial results.

A number of regulatory and legislative bodies have proposed or introduced requirements and/or incentives to reduce energy consumption by certain dates. Conservation programs could impact the financial results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power in different ways. To the extent conservation results in reduced energy demand or significantly slows the growth in demand, the value of wholesale generation assets of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power and other unregulated business activities could be adversely impacted. In addition, conservation could negatively impact the traditional operating companies depending on the regulatory treatment of the associated impacts. If any traditional operating company is required to invest in conservation measures that result in reduced sales from effective conservation, regulatory lag in adjusting rates for the impact of these measures could have a negative financial impact on such traditional operating company and Southern Company. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power could also be impacted if any future energy price increases result in a decrease in customer usage. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are unable to determine what impact, if any, conservation and increases in energy prices will have on financial condition or results of operations.

Item 2. PROPERTIES

Electric Properties – The Electric Utilities

The traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO, at December 31, 2009, owned and/or operated 34 hydroelectric generating stations, 34 fossil fuel generating stations, three nuclear generating stations, and 12 combined cycle/cogeneration stations. The amounts of capacity for each company are shown in the table below.

Except as discussed below under “Titles to Property,” the principal plants and other important units of the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO are owned in fee by the respective companies. It is the opinion of management of each such company that its operating properties are adequately maintained and are substantially in good operating condition.

Mississippi Power owns a 79-mile length of 500-kilovolt transmission line which is leased to Entergy Gulf States. The line, completed in 1984, extends from Plant Daniel to the Louisiana state line. Entergy Gulf States is paying a use fee over a 40-year period covering all expenses and the amortization of the original $57 million cost of the line. At December 31, 2009, the unamortized portion of this cost was approximately $21 million.

In 2009, the maximum demand on the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO was 34,471,000 kilowatts and occurred on June 22, 2009. The all-time maximum demand of 38,777,000 kilowatts on the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO occurred on August 22, 2007. These amounts exclude demand served by capacity retained by MEAG Power, OPC, and SEPA. The reserve margin for the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO in 2009 was 26.4%. See SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA in Item 6 herein for additional information on peak demands.

Alabama Power and Georgia Power have contracted to operate and maintain the respective units in which each has an interest (other than Rocky Mountain and Intercession City) as agent for the joint owners. SCS provides operation and maintenance services for Plant Stanton A.

In addition, Georgia Power has commitments regarding a portion of a five percent interest in Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 owned by MEAG Power that are in effect until the later of retirement of the plant or the latest stated maturity date of MEAG Power’s bonds issued to finance such ownership interest. The payments for capacity are required whether any capacity is available. The energy cost is a function of each unit’s variable operating costs. Except for the portion of the capacity payments related to the Georgia PSC’s disallowances of Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 costs, the cost of such capacity and energy is included in purchased power from non-affiliates in Georgia Power’s statements of income in Item 8 herein. Also see Note 7 to the financial statements of Georgia Power under “Commitments – Purchased Power Commitments” in Item 8 herein for additional information.

Titles to Property

The traditional operating companies’, Southern Power’s, and SEGCO’s interests in the principal plants (other than certain pollution control facilities, one small hydroelectric generating station leased by Georgia Power, combined cycle units at Plant Daniel leased by Mississippi Power, and the land on which five combustion turbine generators of Mississippi Power are located, which is held by easement) and other important units of the respective companies are owned in fee by such companies, subject only to the liens pursuant to pollution control revenue bonds of Alabama Power and Gulf Power on specific pollution control facilities. See Note 6 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Gulf Power under “Assets Subject to Lien” and Note 7 to the financial statements of Mississippi Power under “Operating Leases – Plant Daniel Combined Cycle Generating Units” in Item 8 herein for additional information. The traditional operating companies own the fee interests in certain of their principal plants as tenants in common. See “Jointly-Owned Facilities” herein for additional information. Properties such as electric transmission and distribution lines and steam heating mains are constructed principally on rights-of-way which are maintained under franchise or are held by easement only. A substantial portion of lands submerged by reservoirs is held under flood right easements.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF SOUTHERN COMPANY

(Identification of executive officers of Southern Company is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2009.

David M. Ratcliffe

Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 61

Elected in 1999. President since April 2004; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since July 2004.

W. Paul Bowers

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Age 53

Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 2008 and Executive Vice President since May 2007. Previously served as President of Southern Company Generation, a business unit of Southern Company, and Executive Vice President of SCS from May 2001 through January 2008; and President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Power from May 2001 through March 2005.

Thomas A. Fanning

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Age 52

Elected in 2003. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since February 2008. Previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2007 through January 2008 and Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer from April 2003 to May 2007.

Michael D. Garrett

Executive Vice President
Age 60

Elected in 2004. Executive Vice President since January 2004. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Georgia Power since April 2004.

G. Edison Holland, Jr.

Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
Age 57

Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President and General Counsel since April 2001.

C. Alan Martin

Executive Vice President
Age 61

Elected in 2008. Executive Vice President since February 2008. He also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of SCS since February 2008. Previously served as Executive Vice President of the Customer Service Organization at Alabama Power from May 2001 through January 2008.

Charles D. McCrary

Executive Vice President
Age 58

Elected in 1998. Executive Vice President since February 2002. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Alabama Power since October 2001.

James H. Miller, III

President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Nuclear
Age 60

Elected in 2008. President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Nuclear since August 27, 2008. Previously served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Georgia Power from March 2004 through August 2008.

Susan N. Story

President and Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Power
Age 49

Elected in 2003. President and Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Power since April 2003.

Anthony J. Topazi

President and Chief Executive Officer of Mississippi Power
Age 59

Elected in 2003. President and Chief Executive Officer of Mississippi Power since January 2004.

Christopher C. Womack

Executive Vice President
Age 51

Elected in 2008. Executive Vice President and President of External Affairs since January 1, 2009. Previously served as Executive Vice President of External Affairs of Georgia Power from March 2006 through December 2008 and Senior Vice President of Fossil and Hydro Generation and Senior Production Officer of Georgia Power from December 2001 to February 2006.

The officers of Southern Company were elected for a term running from the first meeting of the directors following the last annual meeting (May 27, 2009) for one year until the first board meeting after the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected and have qualified.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ALABAMA POWER

(Identification of executive officers of Alabama Power is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2009.

Charles D. McCrary

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 58

Elected in 2001. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director since October 2001; Executive Vice President of Southern Company since February 2002.

Art P. Beattie

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Age 55

Elected in 2004. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer since February 2005. Previously served as Vice President and Comptroller of Alabama Power from 1998 through January 2005.

Mark A. Crosswhite

Executive Vice President
Age 47

Elected in 2008. Executive Vice President of External Affairs since February 1, 2008. Previously served as Senior Vice President and Counsel of Alabama Power from July 2006 through January 2008; Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary of Southern Power from March 2004 through January 2005; and Vice President of SCS from March 2004 through January 2008.

Steven R. Spencer

Executive Vice President
Age 54

Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President of the Customer Service Organization since February 1, 2008. Previously served as Executive Vice President of External Affairs from 2001 through January 2008.

Jerry L. Stewart

Senior Vice President
Age 60

Elected in 1999. Senior Vice President of Fossil and Hydro Generation since 1999.

The officers of Alabama Power were elected for a term running from the meeting of the directors held on April 24, 2009 for one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF GEORGIA POWER

(Identification of executive officers of Georgia Power is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2009.

Michael D. Garrett

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 60

Elected in 2003. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Georgia Power since April 2004.

Mickey A. Brown

Executive Vice President
Age 62

Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President of the Customer Service Organization since January 2005.

Ronnie R. Labrato

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Age 56

Elected in 2009. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer since April 2009. Previously served as Vice President of Internal Auditing at SCS from April 2008 to March 2009 and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gulf Power from July 2001 to March 2008.

Joseph A. Miller

Executive Vice President
Age 48

Elected in 2009. Executive Vice President of Nuclear Development since May 2009. Also serves as Executive Vice President of Nuclear Development at Southern Nuclear since February 2006. Previously served as Vice President of Government Relations at SCS from May 1999 to January 2006.

W. Craig Barrs

Executive Vice President
Age 52

Elected in 2008. Executive Vice President of External Affairs since January 2010. Previously served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs from January 2009 to January 2010, Vice President of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs from April 2008 to December 2008, Vice President of the Coastal Region from August 2006 to March 2008, President and Chief Executive Officer of Savannah Electric and Power Company from January 2006 until its merger with and into Georgia Power which was completed in July 2006, and Vice President of Community and Economic Development from November 2002 to December 2005.

Douglas E. Jones

Senior Vice President
Age 51

Elected in 2005. Senior Vice President of Fossil and Hydro Generation since March 2006. Previously served as Senior Vice President of Customer Service and Sales from January 2005 to February 2006 and Executive Vice President of Southern Power from January 2004 to January 2005.

Thomas P. Bishop

Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, and General Counsel
Age 49

Elected in 2008. Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, and General Counsel since September 2008. Previously served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel for SCS from July 2004 to September 2008.

The officers of Georgia Power were elected for a term running from the meeting of the directors held on May 20, 2009 for one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF MISSISSIPPI POWER

(Identification of executive officers of Mississippi Power is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2009.

Anthony J. Topazi

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 59

Elected in 2003. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director since January 1, 2004.

Thomas O. Anderson, IV

Vice President
Age 50

Elected in 2009. Vice President of Generation Development since July 2009. Previously served as Project Director, Mississippi Power Generation Development from March 2008 to July 2009; Project Manager, Southern Power Generation from June 2007 to March 2008; and Generation Development Manager, SCS Generation Development from September 1998 to June 2007.

John W. Atherton

Vice President
Age 49

Elected in 2004. Vice President of External Affairs since January 2005. Previously served as the Director of Economic Development from September 2003 to January 2005.

Kimberly D. Flowers

Vice President
Age 45

Elected in 2005. Vice President and Senior Production Officer since March 2005. Previously served as Plant Manager, Plant Bowen, Georgia Power from November 2000 until March 2005.

Donald R. Horsley

Vice President
Age 55

Elected in 2006. Vice President of Customer Services and Retail Marketing since April 2006. Previously served as Vice President of Transmission at Alabama Power from March 2005 to March 2006 and Manager, Transmission Lines at Alabama Power from February 2001 to March 2005.

Frances Turnage

Vice President, Treasurer, and
Chief Financial Officer

Age 61

Elected in 2005. Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer since March 2005. Previously served as Comptroller from 1993 to March 2005.

The officers of Mississippi Power were elected for a term running from the meeting of the directors held on April 8, 2009 for one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified.

PART II

In 2009 and 2008, Southern Power paid dividends to Southern Company as follows:

Registrant		Quarter				2009				2008
							(in millions)
Southern Power		First				$	26.525			$	23.63
		Second					26.525				23.63
		Third					26.525				23.63
		Fourth					26.525				23.63

The dividend paid per share of Southern Company’s common stock was 40.25¢ for the first quarter of 2008 and 42¢ for the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2008. In 2009, Southern Company paid a dividend per share of 42¢ in the first quarter of 2009 and 43.75¢ for the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2009.

The traditional operating companies and Southern Power can only pay dividends to Southern Company out of retained earnings or paid-in-capital.

Southern Power’s credit facility and senior note indenture contain potential limitations on the payment of common stock dividends. At December 31, 2009, Southern Power was in compliance with the conditions of this credit facility and thus had no restrictions on its ability to pay common stock dividends. See Note 8 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Common Stock Dividend Restrictions” and Note 6 to the financial statements of Southern Power under “Dividend Restrictions” in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding these restrictions.

(a)(4) Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.

See Part III, Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information” herein.

(b) Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.

Alabama Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-100 through II-122.

Georgia Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-172 through II-195.

Gulf Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-247 through II-267.

Mississippi Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-313 through II-338.

Southern Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-387 through II-406.

Item 8.		FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEX TO 2009 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

		Page
The Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting		II-9
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		II-10
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-40
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-41
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-42
Consolidated Statements of Capitalization at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-44
Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-46
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-47
Notes to Financial Statements		II-48
Alabama Power:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting		II-98
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		II-99
Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-123
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-124
Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-125
Statements of Capitalization at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-127
Statements of Common Stockholder’s Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-129
Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-130
Notes to Financial Statements		II-131
Georgia Power:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting		II-170
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		II-171
Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-196
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-197
Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-198
Statements of Capitalization at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-200
Statements of Common Stockholder’s Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-201
Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-202
Notes to Financial Statements		II-203
Gulf Power:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting		II-245
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		II-246
Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-268
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-269
Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-270
Statements of Capitalization at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-272
Statements of Common Stockholder’s Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-273
Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-274
Notes to Financial Statements		II-275

		Page
Mississippi Power:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting		II-311
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		II-312
Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-339
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-340
Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-341
Statements of Capitalization at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-343
Statements of Common Stockholder’s Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-344
Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-345
Notes to Financial Statements		II-346
Southern Power and Subsidiary Companies:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting		II-385
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		II-386
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-407
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-408
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2009 and 2008		II-409
Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholder’s Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-411
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007		II-412
Notes to Financial Statements		II-413

Item 9A.		CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls And Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this annual report, Southern Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of Southern Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Sections 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

      (a) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

Southern Company’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-9 of this Form 10-K.

      (b) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.

The report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Southern Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, regarding Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting is included on page II-10 of this Form 10-K.

      (c) Changes in internal controls.

There have been no changes in Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the fourth quarter 2009 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting other than as described in the next paragraph.

In October 2009, Georgia Power implemented a new general ledger system. The implementation of this system provides additional operational and internal control benefits including system security and automation of previously manual controls. This process improvement initiative was not in response to an identified internal control deficiency.

Item 9A(T).		CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls And Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this annual report, Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, and Southern Power conducted separate evaluations under the supervision and with the participation of each company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Sections 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon these evaluations, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, in each case, concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

      (a) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

Alabama Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-98 of this Form 10-K.

Georgia Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-170 of this Form 10-K.

Gulf Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-245 of this Form 10-K.

Mississippi Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-311 of this Form 10-K.

Southern Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-385 of this Form 10-K.

(b)

Changes in internal controls.

There have been no changes in Alabama Power’s, Gulf Power’s, Mississippi Power’s, or Southern Power’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the fourth quarter 2009 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect Alabama Power’s, Gulf Power’s, Mississippi Power’s, or Southern Power’s internal control over financial reporting.

There have been no changes in Georgia Power’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the fourth quarter 2009 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect Georgia Power’s internal control over financial reporting, other than as described in the next sentence. In October 2009, Georgia Power implemented a new general ledger system. The implementation of this system provides additional operational and internal control benefits including system security and automation of previously manual controls. This process improvement initiative was not in response to an identified internal control deficiency.

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

FINANCIAL SECTION

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2009 Annual Report

Southern Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and as defined 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 financial reporting was conducted based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as auditors of Southern Company’s financial statements, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009. Deloitte & Touche LLP’s report on Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting is included herein.

/s/ David M. Ratcliffe

David M. Ratcliffe
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ W. Paul Bowers

W. Paul Bowers
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

February 25, 2010

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Southern Company

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of capitalization of Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (page II-9). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements (pages II-40 to II-93) referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission .

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
February 25, 2010

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2009 Annual Report

OVERVIEW

Business Activities

The primary business of Southern Company (the Company) is electricity sales in the Southeast by the traditional operating companies – Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power – and Southern Power. The four traditional operating companies are vertically integrated utilities providing electric service in four Southeastern states. Southern Power constructs, acquires, owns, and manages generation assets and sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market.

Many factors affect the opportunities, challenges, and risks of Southern Company’s electricity business. These factors include the traditional operating companies’ ability to maintain a constructive regulatory environment, to maintain energy sales given the effects of the recession, and to effectively manage and secure timely recovery of rising costs. Each of the traditional operating companies has various regulatory mechanisms that operate to address cost recovery. Appropriately balancing required costs and capital expenditures with customer prices will continue to challenge the Company for the foreseeable future.

Another major factor is the profitability of the competitive market-based wholesale generating business and federal regulatory policy, which may impact Southern Company’s level of participation in this market. The Company continues to face regulatory challenges related to transmission issues at the national level. Southern Power continues to execute its strategy through a combination of acquiring and constructing new power plants and by entering into power purchase agreements (PPAs) with investor owned utilities, independent power producers, municipalities, and electric cooperatives.

Southern Company’s other business activities include investments in leveraged lease projects, renewable energy projects, and telecommunications. Management continues to evaluate the contribution of each of these activities to total shareholder return and may pursue acquisitions and dispositions accordingly.

Key Performance Indicators

In striving to maximize shareholder value while providing cost-effective energy to more than four million customers, Southern Company continues to focus on several key indicators. These indicators include customer satisfaction, plant availability, system reliability, and earnings per share (EPS), excluding the MC Asset Recovery, LLC (MC Asset Recovery) litigation settlement discussed below. Southern Company’s financial success is directly tied to the satisfaction of its customers. Key elements of ensuring customer satisfaction include outstanding service, high reliability, and competitive prices. Management uses customer satisfaction surveys and reliability indicators to evaluate the Company’s results.

Peak season equivalent forced outage rate (Peak Season EFOR) is an indicator of fossil/hydro and nuclear plant availability and efficient generation fleet operations during the months when generation needs are greatest. The rate is calculated by dividing the number of hours of forced outages by total generation hours. The fossil/hydro 2009 Peak Season EFOR of 1.44% was better than the target. The nuclear 2009 Peak Season EFOR of 2.61% was slightly better than the target. Transmission and distribution system reliability performance is measured by the frequency and duration of outages. Performance targets for reliability are set internally based on historical performance, expected weather conditions, and expected capital expenditures. The performance for 2009 was better than the target for these reliability measures.

Southern Company entered into a settlement agreement with MC Asset Recovery to resolve a complaint alleging that Southern Company caused Mirant Corporation (Mirant) to engage in certain fraudulent transfers and to pay illegal dividends to Southern Company prior to the spin-off of Mirant in 2001. Pursuant to the settlement, Southern Company recorded a charge of $202 million in 2009. The settlement has been completed and resolves all claims by MC Asset Recovery against Southern Company. Southern Company management uses the non-GAAP (defined below) measure of EPS, excluding the MC Asset Recovery litigation settlement, to evaluate the performance of Southern Company’s ongoing business activities. Southern Company believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure of earnings and EPS excluding the MC Asset Recovery litigation settlement is useful for investors because it provides earnings information that is consistent with the historical and ongoing business activities of the Company. The presentation of this information is not meant to be considered a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

See RESULTS OF OPERATIONS herein for additional information on the Company’s financial performance. The performance achieved in 2009 reflects the continued emphasis that management places on these indicators as well as the commitment shown by employees in achieving or exceeding management’s expectations.

Earnings

Southern Company’s net income after dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries was $1.64 billion in 2009, a decrease of $99 million from the prior year. This decrease was primarily the result of a litigation settlement with MC Asset Recovery, a decrease in revenues from lower kilowatt-hour (KWH) demand across all customer classes, a decrease in revenues from market-response rates to large commercial and industrial customers, higher depreciation and amortization, higher interest expense, and unfavorable weather. The 2009 decrease was partially offset by an increase in revenues from customer charges at Alabama Power, increased recognition of environmental compliance cost recovery (ECCR) revenues at Georgia Power in accordance with its retail rate plan for the years 2008 through 2010 (2007 Retail Rate Plan), lower operations and maintenance expenses, an increase in allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) equity, which is not taxable, a 2008 charge related to the tax treatment of leveraged lease investments, and a gain on the early retirement of two international leveraged lease investments. Net income after dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries was $1.74 billion in 2008 and $1.73 billion in 2007. Basic EPS was $2.07 in 2009, $2.26 in 2008, and $2.29 in 2007. Diluted EPS, which factors in additional shares related to stock-based compensation, was $2.06 in 2009, $2.25 in 2008, and $2.28 in 2007.

Dividends

Southern Company has paid dividends on its common stock since 1948. Dividends paid per share of common stock were $1.7325 in 2009, $1.6625 in 2008, and $1.595 in 2007. In January 2010, Southern Company declared a quarterly dividend of 43.75 cents per share. This is the 249th consecutive quarter that Southern Company has paid a dividend equal to or higher than the previous quarter. The Company targets a dividend payout ratio of approximately 65% to 70% of net income. For 2009, the actual payout ratio was 83.3% while the payout ratio of net income excluding the MC Asset Recovery litigation settlement was 74.2%.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2009 Annual Report