Southern Company

American energy company and one of the largest utility providers in the United States, serving millions of customers across the Southeast and beyond through multiple subsidiaries.

Company Type

public

Founded

1945

Headquarters

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Stock

NYSE: SO

About Southern Company

Southern Company is an American energy company that operates through multiple business segments including regulated electric utilities, wholesale power generation, natural gas distribution, and telecommunications services. The company is one of the largest energy providers in the United States, serving over 9 million customers across multiple states.

The company's three primary retail electric operating companies—Georgia Power, Alabama Power, and Mississippi Power—serve customers across the Southeast. Southern Power operates as a wholesale power generator serving municipalities, cooperatives, and other utilities across the United States. Southern Company Gas operates natural gas distribution companies across multiple states.

Southern Company employs approximately 31,300 people and maintains a strong focus on reliable, affordable, and clean energy delivery. The company is committed to the energy transition and has made significant investments in renewable energy and nuclear power generation.

History of Southern Company

Southern Company was founded in 1945 as a holding company for various utility operations in the Southeast. The company grew through the consolidation of regional utility companies and strategic acquisitions throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

Over the decades, Southern Company expanded its operations significantly, acquiring and developing utility companies across the Southeast and beyond. The company invested heavily in nuclear power generation, operating multiple nuclear power plants including the Farley, Hatch, and Vogtle facilities.

In recent years, Southern Company has focused on the energy transition, investing in renewable energy infrastructure and modernizing its generation portfolio. The company completed the opening of new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle near Augusta, Georgia, marking the first new nuclear units in the United States in 30 years. Southern Company has also expanded its natural gas distribution operations through acquisitions of companies like Nicor Gas and Virginia Natural Gas.

Brands Owned by Southern Company

View all 7 brands

Southern Company owns 7 brands in our database. Showing featured brands below.

Alabama Power

Owned by Southern Company

Alabama-based electric utility company serving millions of customers across the state, owned by Southern Company.

electricityutilitiesalabama

Atlanta Gas Light

Owned by Southern Company

Georgia-based natural gas utility company serving millions of customers across the state, owned by Southern Company.

natural-gasutilitiesgeorgia

Georgia Power

Owned by Southern Company

Georgia-based electric utility company serving millions of customers across the state, owned by Southern Company.

electricityutilitiesgeorgia

Mississippi Power

Owned by Southern Company

Mississippi-based electric utility company serving customers along the Gulf Coast, owned by Southern Company.

electricityutilitiesmississippi

Nicor Gas

Owned by Southern Company

Illinois-based natural gas utility company serving customers across northern Illinois, owned by Southern Company.

natural-gasutilitiesillinois

Southern Power

Owned by Southern Company

Wholesale power generation company serving utilities and municipalities across the United States, owned by Southern Company.

electricitywholesale-powerrenewable-energy

View all 7 brands owned by Southern Company

Stock Information

Southern Company Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+One of the largest energy providers in the United States with extensive infrastructure
+Diversified portfolio across electric utilities, wholesale generation, and natural gas distribution
+Strong financial resources enabling significant infrastructure investment and modernisation
+Established distribution networks serving over 9 million customers
+Industry-leading operational performance and customer satisfaction
+Publicly traded status providing transparency and access to capital markets
+Commitment to clean energy transition with investments in nuclear and renewable energy

Considerations

-Regulatory oversight across multiple state jurisdictions creates operational complexity
-Exposure to energy market dynamics and commodity price fluctuations
-Dependency on regulatory approval for rate increases and major projects
-Environmental and social compliance requirements across diverse operating regions
-Integration challenges managing multiple subsidiary brands with different market conditions
-Exposure to weather-related impacts on customer demand and operations
-Political and regulatory risk across multiple jurisdictions

Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Company

Is Southern Company a publicly traded company?

Yes, Southern Company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SO. The company is owned by its shareholders and is not controlled by a single parent company.

What does Southern Company do?

Southern Company operates as an energy holding company providing electricity and natural gas services through multiple subsidiaries. The company serves over 9 million customers across multiple states and operates generation facilities including nuclear, fossil fuel, hydro, and renewable energy plants.

When was Southern Company founded?

Southern Company was founded in 1945 as a holding company for various utility operations in the Southeast.

How many customers does Southern Company serve?

Southern Company serves over 9 million customers through its subsidiaries, making it one of the largest energy providers in the United States.

What are Southern Company's main subsidiaries?

Southern Company's main subsidiaries include Georgia Power, Alabama Power, Mississippi Power (electric utilities), Southern Power (wholesale generation), and Southern Company Gas (natural gas distribution).

About Southern Company

History of Southern Company