SOUTHERN COMPANY
Table of Contents

 
 
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
     
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008
OR
     
o    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Transition Period from            to
                 
Commission   Registrant, State of Incorporation,   I.R.S. Employer
File Number   Address and Telephone Number   Identification No.
1-3526  
The Southern Company
    58-0690070  
       
(A Delaware Corporation)
       
       
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
       
       
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
       
       
(404) 506-5000
       
       
 
       
1-3164  
Alabama Power Company
    63-0004250  
       
(An Alabama Corporation)
       
       
600 North 18th Street
       
       
Birmingham, Alabama 35291
       
       
(205) 257-1000
       
       
 
       
1-6468  
Georgia Power Company
    58-0257110  
       
(A Georgia Corporation)
       
       
241 Ralph McGill Boulevard, N.E.
       
       
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
       
       
(404) 506-6526
       
       
 
       
0-2429  
Gulf Power Company
    59-0276810  
       
(A Florida Corporation)
       
       
One Energy Place
       
       
Pensacola, Florida 32520
       
       
(850) 444-6111
       
       
 
       
001-11229  
Mississippi Power Company
    64-0205820  
       
(A Mississippi Corporation)
       
       
2992 West Beach
       
       
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
       
       
(228) 864-1211
       
       
 
       
333-98553  
Southern Power Company
    58-2598670  
       
(A Delaware Corporation)
       
       
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
       
       
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
       
       
(404) 506-5000
       
 
 

 


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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
     
 
Senior Notes
     
5 5/8% Series AA
5.875% Series II  
5 7/8% Series GG
6.375% Series JJ  
5.875% Series 2007B
     
 
Class A Preferred Stock, non-cumulative,
    Georgia Power Company
Par value $25 per share
     
6 1/8% Series
     
 
Senior Notes
     
5.90% Series O
6% Series R 5.70% Series X
5.75% Series T
6% Series W 5.75% Series G2
6.375% Series 2007D
8.20% Series 2008C  
 
Long-term debt payable to affiliated trusts,
$25 liquidation amount
     
5 7/8% Trust Preferred Securities3
     
 
Senior Notes
    Gulf Power Company
5.25% Series H
5.75% Series I  
5.875% Series J
     
 
 
1   As of December 31, 2008.
 
2   Assumed by Georgia Power Company in connection with its merger with Savannah Electric and Power Company, effective July 1, 2006.
 
3   Issued by Georgia Power Capital Trust VII and guaranteed by Georgia Power Company.

 


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Senior Notes
      Mississippi Power Company
5 5/8% Series E
       
 
Depositary preferred shares, each representing one-fourth
of a share of preferred stock, cumulative, $100 par value
       
5.25% Series
       
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:4
             
Title of each class           Registrant
Preferred stock, cumulative, $100 par value       Alabama Power Company
4.20% Series
  4.60% Series   4.72% Series    
4.52% Series
  4.64% Series   4.92% Series    
 
Preferred stock, cumulative, $100 par value       Mississippi Power Company
4.40% Series
  4.60% Series        
4.72% Series
           
 
 
 
4   As of December 31, 2008.

 


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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
         
Registrant   Yes   No
The Southern Company
  ü    
Alabama Power Company
  ü    
Georgia Power Company
  ü    
Gulf Power Company
      ü
Mississippi Power Company
      ü
Southern Power Company
      ü
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 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):
                 
    Large           Smaller
    Accelerated   Accelerated   Non-accelerated   Reporting
Registrant   Filer   Filer   Filer   Company
The Southern Company
  ü            
Alabama Power Company
          ü    
Georgia Power Company
          ü    
Gulf Power Company
          ü    
Mississippi Power Company
          ü    
Southern Power Company
          ü    
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.)

 


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Aggregate market value of The Southern Company’s common stock held by non-affiliates of The Southern Company at June 30, 2008: $26.9 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:
             
    Description of   Shares Outstanding
Registrant   Common Stock   at January 31, 2009
The Southern Company
  Par Value $5 Per Share     777,621,764  
Alabama Power Company
  Par Value $40 Per Share     25,475,000  
Georgia Power Company
  Without Par Value     9,261,500  
Gulf Power Company
  Without Par Value     3,142,717  
Mississippi Power Company
  Without Par Value     1,121,000  
Southern Power Company
  Par Value $0.01 Per Share     1,000  
Documents incorporated by reference: specified portions of The Southern Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2009 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 2009 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) and (c) 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    
 
       
  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-13
  Risk Factors   I-15
  Unresolved Staff Comments   I-26
  Properties   I-27
  Legal Proceedings   I-31
  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    
 
       
  Market for Registrants’ Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities   II-1
  Selected Financial Data   II-2
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   II-2
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   II-3
  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data   II-4
  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   II-5
  Controls and Procedures   II-6
  Controls and Procedures   II-6
  Other Information   II-7
 
       
 
  PART III    
 
       
  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance   III-1
  Executive Compensation   III-4
  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   III-41
  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence   III-42
  Principal Accountant Fees and Services   III-43
 
       
 
  PART IV    
 
       
  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules   IV-1
 
  Signatures   IV-2

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DEFINITIONS
When used in Items 1 through 5 and Items 9A through 15, the following terms will have the meanings indicated.
     
Term   Meaning
AFUDC
  Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
Alabama Power
  Alabama Power Company
AMEA
  Alabama Municipal Electric Authority
Clean Air Act
  Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
Dalton
  Dalton Utilities
DOE
  United States Department of Energy
Duke Energy
  Duke Energy Corporation
Energy Act of 1992
  Energy Policy Act of 1992
Energy Act of 2005
  Energy Policy Act of 2005
Energy Solutions
  Southern Company Energy Solutions, Inc.
EPA
  United States Environmental Protection Agency
FASB
  Financial Accounting Standards Board
FERC
  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FMPA
  Florida Municipal Power Agency
FP&L
  Florida Power & Light Company
Georgia Power
  Georgia Power Company
Gulf Power
  Gulf Power Company
Hampton
  City of Hampton, Georgia
IBEW
  International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
IIC
  Intercompany Interchange Contract
IPP
  Independent Power Producer
IRP
  Integrated Resource Plan
IRS
  Internal Revenue Service
KUA
  Kissimmee Utility Authority
MEAG
  Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia
Mirant
  Mirant Corporation
Mississippi Power
  Mississippi Power Company
Moody’s
  Moody’s Investors Service
NRC
  Nuclear Regulatory Commission
OPC
  Oglethorpe Power Corporation
OUC
  Orlando Utilities Commission
power pool
  The operating arrangement whereby the integrated generating resources of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power are subject to joint commitment and dispatch in order to serve their combined load obligations
PowerSouth
  PowerSouth Energy Cooperative (formerly, Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc.)
PPA
  Power Purchase Agreement
Progress Energy Carolinas
  Carolina Power & Light Company, d/b/a Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc.
Progress Energy Florida
  Florida Power Corporation, d/b/a Progress Energy Florida, Inc.
PSC
  Public Service Commission
registrants
  The Southern Company, Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company, Mississippi Power Company, and Southern Power Company

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DEFINITIONS
(continued)
     
Term   Meaning
RFP
  Request for Proposal
RUS
  Rural Utility Service (formerly Rural Electrification Administration)
S&P
  Standard and Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies
Savannah Electric
  Savannah Electric and Power Company (merged into Georgia Power on July 1, 2006)
SCS
  Southern Company Services, Inc. (the system service company)
SEC
  Securities and Exchange Commission
SEGCO
  Southern Electric Generating Company
SEPA
  Southeastern Power Administration
SERC
  Southeastern Electric Reliability Council
SMEPA
  South Mississippi Electric Power Association
Southern Company
  The Southern Company
Southern Company system
  Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, SEGCO, Southern Nuclear, SCS, SouthernLINC Wireless, and other subsidiaries
Southern Holdings
  Southern Company Holdings, Inc.
SouthernLINC Wireless
  Southern Communications Services, Inc.
Southern Nuclear
  Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
Southern Power
  Southern Power Company
Stone & Webster
  Stone & Webster, Inc.
traditional operating companies
  Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company, and Mississippi Power Company
TVA
  Tennessee Valley Authority
Westinghouse
  Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

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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 growth, customer growth, storm damage cost recovery and repairs, fuel cost recovery and other rate actions, environmental regulations and expenditures, earnings growth, dividend payout ratios, access to sources of capital, projections for postretirement benefit and nuclear decommissioning trust contributions, financing activities, completion of construction projects, plans and estimated costs for new generation resources, impacts of adoption of new accounting rules, unrecognized tax benefits related to leveraged lease transactions, 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, or particulate matter 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, 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;
 
  investment performance of Southern Company’s employee benefit plans;
 
  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 storm restoration cost recovery;
 
  regulatory approvals related to the potential Plant Vogtle expansion, including Georgia PSC and NRC approvals;
 
  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 neighboring utilities and other 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 an avian influenza, or other similar occurrences;
 
  the direct or indirect effects on Southern Company’s business resulting from incidents similar to the August 2003 power outage in the Northeast;
 
  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.

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PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
Southern Company was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945. Southern Company is domesticated under the laws of Georgia and is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under the laws of Alabama. Southern Company owns all of the outstanding common stock of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power, each of which is an operating public utility company. The traditional operating companies supply electric service in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. More particular information relating to each of the traditional operating companies is as follows:
Alabama Power is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Alabama on November 10, 1927, by the consolidation of a predecessor Alabama Power Company, Gulf Electric Company, and Houston Power Company. The predecessor Alabama Power Company had been in continuous existence since its incorporation in 1906.
Georgia Power was incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia on June 26, 1930, and admitted to do business in Alabama on September 15, 1948. Effective July 1, 2006, Savannah Electric, formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company, was merged with and into Georgia Power.
Gulf Power is a Florida corporation that has had a continuous existence since it was originally organized under the laws of the State of Maine on November 2, 1925. Gulf Power was admitted to do business in Florida on January 15, 1926, in Mississippi on October 25, 1976, and in Georgia on November 20, 1984. Gulf Power became a Florida corporation after being domesticated under the laws of the State of Florida on November 2, 2005.
Mississippi Power was incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi on July 12, 1972, was admitted to do business in Alabama on November 28, 1972, and effective December 21, 1972, by the merger into it of the predecessor Mississippi Power Company, succeeded to the business and properties of the latter company. The predecessor Mississippi Power Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maine on November 24, 1924 and was admitted to do business in Mississippi on December 23, 1924 and in Alabama on December 7, 1962.
In addition, Southern Company owns all of the common stock of Southern Power, which is also an operating public utility company. Southern Power constructs, acquires, owns, and manages generation assets and sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market. Southern Power is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware on January 8, 2001 and was admitted to do business in the States of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia on January 10, 2001, in the State of Mississippi on January 30, 2001, and in the State of North Carolina on February 19, 2007.
Southern Company also owns all the outstanding common stock or membership interests of SouthernLINC Wireless, Southern Nuclear, SCS, Southern Holdings, and other direct and indirect subsidiaries. SouthernLINC Wireless provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and markets these services to the public and also provides wholesale fiber optic solutions to telecommunication providers in the Southeast. Southern Nuclear operates and provides services to Alabama Power’s and Georgia Power’s nuclear plants. SCS is the system service company providing, at cost, specialized services to Southern Company and its subsidiary companies. Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding subsidiary for Southern Company’s investments in leveraged leases and various other energy-related businesses.
Alabama Power and Georgia Power each own 50% of the outstanding common stock of SEGCO. SEGCO is an operating public utility company that owns electric generating units with an aggregate capacity of 1,019,680 kilowatts at Plant Gaston on the Coosa River near Wilsonville, Alabama. Alabama Power and Georgia Power are each entitled to one-half of SEGCO’s capacity and energy. Alabama Power acts as SEGCO’s agent in the operation of SEGCO’s units and furnishes coal to SEGCO as fuel for its units. SEGCO also owns one 230,000 volt transmission line extending from Plant Gaston to the Georgia state line at which point connection is made with the Georgia Power transmission line system.

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Southern Company’s segment information is included in Note 11 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. The transmission facilities of each of the traditional operating companies are connected to the respective company’s own generating plants and other sources of power and are interconnected with the transmission facilities of the other traditional operating companies and SEGCO by means of heavy-duty high voltage lines. For information on Georgia Power’s integrated transmission system, see “Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power” herein.
Operating contracts covering arrangements in effect with principal neighboring utility systems provide for capacity exchanges, capacity purchases and sales, transfers of economy energy, and other similar transactions. 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 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 IIC provides for coordinating operations of the power producing facilities of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power and the capacities available to such companies from non-affiliated sources and for the pooling of surplus energy available for interchange. Coordinated operation of the entire interconnected system is conducted through a central power supply coordination office maintained by SCS. The available sources of energy are allocated to the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to provide the most economical sources of power consistent with reliable operation. The resulting benefits and savings are apportioned among each of the companies. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “FERC Matters – Intercompany Interchange Contract” of each registrant in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of each registrant, all under “FERC Matters – Intercompany Interchange Contract” in Item 8 herein for information on the settlement of the FERC proceeding related to the IIC.
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. See “Regulation – Nuclear Regulation” herein for additional information.

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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 the 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. As of December 31, 2008, Southern Power had 7,555 megawatts of nameplate capacity in commercial operation.
Other Businesses
Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding subsidiary for Southern Company’s investments in leveraged leases and various other energy-related businesses.
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 128,000 square miles in the Southeast. SouthernLINC Wireless also provides wholesale fiber optic solutions to telecommunication providers in the Southeast under the name Southern Telecom.
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.

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Construction Programs
The subsidiary companies of Southern Company are engaged in continuous construction programs to accommodate existing and estimated future loads on their respective systems. For estimated construction and environmental expenditures for the periods 2009 through 2011, see Note 7 to the financial statements of each traditional operating company and Southern Power under “Construction Program” and “Expansion Program”, respectively, in Item 8 herein. Estimated construction costs in 2009 are expected to be apportioned approximately as follows: (in millions)
                                                 
 
    Southern                    
    Company   Alabama   Georgia   Gulf   Mississippi   Southern
    System*   Power   Power   Power   Power   Power
               
New generation
  $ 1,953     $     $ 1,209     $ 6     $ 48     $ 690  
Environmental
    1,448       584       472       335       28        
Other generating facilities, including associated plant substations
    543       232       178       42       11       59  
New business
    411       196       170       29       16        
Transmission
    434       76       313       25       20        
Distribution
    404       157       189       29       30        
Nuclear fuel
    238       90       148                    
General plant
    222       79       75       12       10        
               
 
  $ 5,653     $ 1,414     $ 2,754     $ 478     $ 163     $ 749  
               
 
*   These amounts include the traditional operating companies and Southern Power (as detailed in the table above) as well as the amounts for the other subsidiaries. See “Other Businesses” herein for additional information.
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; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment, and materials; 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 2006 through 2008.

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The traditional operating companies have agreements in place from which they expect to receive approximately 100% of their coal burn requirements in 2009. These agreements have terms ranging between one and seven years. In 2008, the weighted average sulfur content of all coal burned by the traditional operating companies was 0.74% 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 2008, Southern Company purchased approximately $63.5 million of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emission 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 emission allowances and the timing of capital expenditures for emission 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 2009, SCS has contracted for 220 billion cubic feet of natural gas supply. These agreements cover remaining terms up to 10 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) 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.

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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, Dalton, Hampton, and 30 electric cooperatives.
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 energy 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 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 6 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, which was established by a Georgia state statute in 1975. MEAG 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 also has a pseudo scheduling and services agreement with

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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 pursuant to their partial requirements tariff. 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, 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 above) by

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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 nine industrial customers. Under the terms of these contracts, Alabama Power purchases excess generation of such companies. During 2008, Alabama Power purchased approximately 114 million kilowatt-hours from such companies at a cost of $5.6 million.
Georgia Power currently has contracts in effect with eight small power producers whereby Georgia Power purchases their excess generation. During 2008, Georgia Power purchased 7.2 million kilowatt-hours from such companies at a cost of $1.0 million. Georgia Power has PPAs for electricity with two cogeneration facilities. Payments are subject to reductions for failure to meet minimum capacity output. During 2008, Georgia Power purchased 222.9 million kilowatt-hours at a cost of $67.9 million from these facilities.
Also during 2008, Georgia Power purchased energy from seven customer-owned generating facilities. Six of the seven customers provide only energy to Georgia Power. These six 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 2008, Georgia Power purchased a total of 59.1 million kilowatt-hours from the seven customers at a cost of approximately $3.0 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 2008, Gulf Power purchased 41.1 million kilowatt-hours from such companies for approximately $2.7 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 2008, this customer had no excess generation.
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.

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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 1,074,696 kilowatts.
On May 22, 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 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. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “FERC Matters – Hydro Relicensing” 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 2015-2034 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

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materials and nuclear power plants in the interest of national security, and assuring conformity with antitrust laws.
The NRC operating licenses for Plant Vogtle units 1 and 2 currently expire in January 2027 and February 2029, respectively. 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. Georgia Power filed an application with the NRC in June 2007 to extend the licenses for Plant Vogtle units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years. Georgia Power anticipates the NRC may make a decision regarding the license extension for Plant Vogtle in 2009. 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.
In August 2006, Southern Nuclear, on behalf of Georgia Power, OPC, MEAG, and Dalton (collectively, Owners), filed an application with the NRC for an early site permit approving two additional nuclear units on the site of Plant Vogtle. See Note 4 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power in Item 8 herein for additional information on these co-owners. On March 31, 2008, Southern Nuclear filed an application with the NRC for a combined construction and operating license for the new units.
On April 8, 2008, Georgia Power, acting for itself and as agent for the Owners, and a consortium consisting of Westinghouse and Stone & Webster (collectively, Consortium) entered into an engineering, procurement, and construction agreement to design, engineer, procure, construct, and test two AP1000 nuclear units with electric generating capacity of approximately 1,100 megawatts each and related facilities, structures, and improvements at Plant Vogtle. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Construction Projects” of Southern Company and MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Nuclear — Construction” of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under “Nuclear” and “Nuclear Construction,” respectively 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.
FERC Matters
See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “FERC Matters” of each of the registrants in Item 7 herein for information on matters regarding the FERC.
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. 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, 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 the litigation brought by the EPA under the New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act and possible climate change legislation and regulation. 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.

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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 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 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 expects to file for an adjustment to its fuel cost recovery rate on March 13, 2009. 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, Gulf 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 were recovered in base rates through 2007. Under the 2007 retail rate plan, an environmental compliance cost recovery tariff was implemented effective January 1, 2008 to allow for recovery of most of the costs related to environmental controls scheduled for completion between 2008 and 2010 that are mandated by state and federal regulation. Georgia Power has also requested that the Georgia PSC certify the construction of environmental controls for Plants Branch and Hammond. Georgia Power also continues to recover storm damage and new plant costs through its base rates. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Construction Projects — Nuclear” of Southern Company and MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Nuclear — Construction” of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein for information regarding legislation currently being considered in the State of Georgia to allow recovery of financing costs for nuclear construction projects during the construction period.
Alabama Power recovers the cost of certificated new plant and purchased power capacity and Gulf Power recovers purchased power capacity and conservation costs through cost recovery provisions which are adjusted as required to reflect increases or decreases in such costs as needed. 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 “Alabama Power Retail Regulatory Matters” and “Georgia Power Retail

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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. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “FERC Matters – Market-Based Rate Authority” of each registrant in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of each registrant under “FERC Matters – Market-Based Rate Authority” in Item 8 herein for a discussion of rate matters.
Integrated Resource Planning
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 will certify any new demand-side or supply-side resources. Once certified, the lesser of actual or certified construction costs and purchased power costs will be recoverable through rates.
In July 2007, the Georgia PSC approved Georgia Power’s 2007 IRP including the following provisions: (1) retiring the coal units at Plant McDonough and replacing them with combined-cycle natural gas units; (2) approving new energy efficiency pilot programs and rate recovery of demand-side management programs; (3) approving pursuit of up to three new renewable generation projects with a Georgia Power ownership interest; and (4) establishing new nuclear units as a preferred option to meet demand in the 2015/2016 timeframe (2007 IRP Order).
On August 1, 2008, Georgia Power filed with the Georgia PSC an application for the certification of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and the 2008 IRP update (Updated IRP). The application requested that the Georgia PSC take the following actions: (1) certify the proposed Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4; (2) approve the Updated IRP; (3) allow construction work in progress in rate base for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4; (4) institute quarterly construction monitoring and treatment of indexed costs; (5) approve Georgia Power’s recommendation to install emissions controls at Plants Branch and Yates; and (6) approve the deferral for later cost recovery of the significant expenses incurred in developing and evaluating coal-fired generation, as required by the 2007 IRP Order. The Georgia PSC is scheduled to render a decision in March 2009.
Georgia Power also filed with the Georgia PSC an application for certification to convert the coal-fired unit at Plant Mitchell to a renewable wood biomass facility which would begin service in June 2012. The Georgia PSC is scheduled to render a decision in March 2009. If certified, construction on this conversion is expected to begin in the spring of 2011.
See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Construction Projects - Nuclear” of Southern Company and MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Nuclear — Construction” of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein for additional information regarding the proposed Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Mississippi Base Load Construction Legislation
In the 2008 regular session of the Mississippi legislature, a bill was passed and signed by the Governor on May 9, 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

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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. As part of its filing, Mississippi Power has requested certain rate recovery treatment in accordance with the base load construction legislation. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “Construction Projects – Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle” and “Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle” of Southern Company and Mississippi Power, respectively, in Item 7 herein for additional information.
Employee Relations
The Southern Company system had a total of 27,276 employees on its payroll at December 31, 2008.
         
 
    Employees at December 31, 2008
 
Alabama Power
    6,997  
Georgia Power*
    9,337  
Gulf Power
    1,342  
Mississippi Power
    1,317  
SCS
    4,536  
Southern Holdings**
     
Southern Nuclear
    3,346  
Southern Power***
     
Other
    401  
 
Total
    27,276  
 
 
*   Georgia Power has initiated a voluntary attrition plan under which participating employees may elect to resign from their positions as of March 31, 2009. Approximately 700 employees who have indicated an interest in participating in the plan have been selected by Georgia Power and are permitted to resign and receive severance. The ultimate number of employees who resign under the plan cannot be determined at this time.
 
**   Southern Holdings has agreements with SCS whereby all employee services are rendered at cost.
 
***    Southern Power has no employees. Southern Power has agreements with SCS and the traditional operating companies whereby employee services are rendered at amounts in compliance with FERC regulations.
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.
Alabama Power has agreements with the IBEW on a five-year contract extending to August 15, 2009. 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.
Georgia Power had an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which was in effect through June 30, 2008. The terms of the expired agreement are still being followed while negotiations on a new agreement are ongoing.
Gulf Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect through October 14, 2009. 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.
Mississippi Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect until

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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 continue in negotiations to ratify a new labor agreement for certain employees at Plants Hatch and Vogtle. The three-year agreement that was set to expire on June 30, 2008 was extended for one year and remains in full effect. A three-year agreement with the IBEW representing certain employees at Plant Farley is in effect through August 15, 2009. Upon notice given at least 60 days prior to August 15, 2009, negotiations may be initiated with respect to a new agreement after such date.
The agreements also subject the terms of the pension plans for the companies discussed above to collective bargaining with the unions at either a five-year or a 10-year cycle, depending upon union and company actions.

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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 customer rates, 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 and failure to maintain FERC market-based rate authority may impact the rates charged to wholesale customers. Additionally, the respective state PSCs must approve the traditional operating companies’ rates for retail customers. While the retail rates approved by the respective state PSCs are designed to provide for recovery of costs and a return on invested capital, there can be no assurance that a state PSC will not deem certain costs to be imprudently incurred and not subject to recovery.
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 and the traditional operating companies’ 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 and renewable energy standards, 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 2008, Southern Company had invested approximately $6.3 billion in capital projects to comply with these requirements, with annual totals of $1.6 billion, $1.5 billion, and $661 million for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Southern Company expects that capital expenditures to assure compliance with existing and new statutes and regulations will be an additional $1.4 billion, $737 million, and $871 million for 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. Because Southern Company’s compliance strategy is impacted by changes to existing environmental

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laws, statutes, and regulations, the cost, availability, and existing inventory of emission allowances, and Southern Company’s 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 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 cases 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.
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 claims for damages caused by alleged exposure to hazardous materials have become more frequent.
Existing environmental laws and regulations may be revised or new laws and regulations related to global climate change, air quality, 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 strongly considered in Congress, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been identified as a high priority by the current Administration. In addition, some states, including Florida, are considering or have undertaken actions to regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles. The EPA is currently developing its response to this decision. Regulatory decisions that will follow from this response may have implications for both new and existing stationary sources, such as power plants.
New or revised laws and regulations or new interpretations of existing laws and regulations, such as those related to climate change, could affect unit retirement and replacement decisions and/or result in significant additional expense and operating restrictions on the facilities of the traditional operating companies or Southern Power or increased compliance costs which may not be fully recoverable from customers and would therefore reduce the net income of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power. The cost impact of such legislation, regulation, or new interpretations would depend upon the specific requirements enacted and cannot be determined at this time.
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, as well as an inquiry into, among other things, market power by vertically integrated utilities. 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.
Deregulation or restructuring in the electric industry may result in increased competition and unrecovered costs which could negatively impact the net income of Southern Company and the traditional operating companies and the value of their respective assets.
Increased competition resulting from restructuring efforts could have a significant adverse financial impact on Southern Company and the traditional operating companies. Any adoption in the territories served by the traditional

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operating companies of retail competition and the unbundling of regulated energy service could have a significant adverse financial impact on Southern Company and the traditional operating companies due to an impairment of assets, a loss of retail customers, lower profit margins, an inability to recover reasonable costs, or increased costs of capital. Southern Company and the traditional operating companies cannot predict if or when they may be subject to changes in legislation or regulation, nor can Southern Company and the traditional operating companies predict the impact of these changes.
Additionally, the electric utility industry has experienced a substantial increase in competition at the wholesale level. As a result of changes in federal law and regulatory policy, competition in the wholesale electricity market has greatly increased due to a greater participation by traditional electricity suppliers, non-utility generators, IPPs, wholesale power marketers, and brokers and due to the trading of energy futures contracts on various commodities exchanges. In addition, FERC rules on transmission service are designed to facilitate competition in the wholesale market on a nationwide basis by providing greater flexibility and more choices to wholesale power customers.
Changes to the criteria used by the FERC for approval of market-based rate authority may negatively impact the traditional operating companies’ and Southern Power’s ability to charge market-based rates which could negatively impact the net income and cash flow of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power.
Each of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power have authorization from the FERC to sell power to nonaffiliates, including short-term opportunity sales, at market-based prices. Specific FERC approval must be obtained with respect to a market-based sale to an affiliate.
In 2004, the FERC initiated a proceeding to assess Southern Company’s generation dominance within its retail service territory. The ability to charge market-based rates in other markets is not an issue in the proceeding. Any new market-based rate sales by any subsidiary of Southern Company in Southern Company’s retail service territory entered into during a 15-month refund period that ended in May 2006 could be subject to refund to a cost-based rate level.
In November 2007, the presiding administrative law judge issued an initial decision regarding the methodology to be used in the generation dominance tests. The proceedings are ongoing. The ultimate outcome of this generation dominance proceeding cannot now be determined, but an adverse decision by the FERC in a final order could require the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to charge cost-based rates for certain wholesale sales in the Southern Company retail service territory, which may be lower than negotiated market-based rates, and could also result in total refunds of up to $19.7 million, plus interest. Southern Company and its subsidiaries believe that there is no meritorious basis for an adverse decision in this proceeding and are vigorously defending themselves in this matter.
In June 2007, the FERC issued its final rule in Order No. 697 regarding market-based rate authority. The FERC generally retained its current market-based rate standards. Responding to a number of requests for rehearing, the FERC issued Order No. 697-A on April 21, 2008 and Order No. 697-B on December 12, 2008. These orders largely affirmed the FERC’s prior revision and codification of the regulations governing market-based rates for public utilities. In accordance with the orders, Southern Company submitted to the FERC an updated market power analysis on September 2, 2008 related to its continued market-based rate authority. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot now be determined.
On October 17, 2008, Southern Company filed with the FERC a revised market-based rate (MBR) tariff and a new cost-based rate (CBR) tariff.   The revised MBR tariff provides for a “must offer” energy auction whereby Southern Company offers all of its available energy for sale in a day-ahead auction and an hour-ahead auction with reserve prices not to exceed the CBR tariff price, after considering Southern Company’s native load requirements, reliability obligations, and sales commitments to third parties. All sales under the energy auction would be at market clearing prices established under the auction rules. The new CBR tariff provides for a cost-based price for wholesale sales of less than a year. On December 18, 2008, the FERC issued an order conditionally accepting the MBR tariff subject to certain revisions to the auction proposal. On January 21, 2009, Southern Company made a compliance filing that accepted all the conditions of the MBR tariff order. When this order becomes final, Southern Company will have 30 days to implement the wholesale auction. On December 31, 2008, the FERC issued an order conditionally accepting

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the CBR tariff subject to providing additional information. On January 30, 2009, Southern Company filed a response addressing the FERC inquiry to the CBR tariff order. Implementation of the energy auction in accordance with the MBR tariff order is expected to adequately mitigate going forward any presumption of market power that Southern Company may have in the Southern Company retail service territory. The timing of when the FERC may issue final orders on the MBR and CBR tariffs and the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
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 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;
 
    information technology system failure; and
 
    catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, droughts, hurricanes, pandemic health events such as an avian influenza, or other similar occurrences.
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

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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 investment. 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 proposed new nuclear generating units and a proposed integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility, 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 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;
 
    adverse weather conditions;
 
    unforeseen engineering problems;
 
    changes in project design or scope;
 
    environmental and geological conditions;

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    delays or increased costs to interconnect facilities to transmission grids;
 
    unanticipated cost increases, including materials and labor; and
 
    attention to other projects.
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 two nuclear units and Georgia Power holds undivided interests in, and contracts for operation of, four nuclear units. These six 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, 2008. These 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

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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

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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.
The traditional operating companies have experienced underrecovered fuel cost balances and deficits in their storm cost recovery reserve balances and may continue to 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.
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 risks 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. 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. 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

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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 collectively 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.
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, Southern Company, 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.
Mirant and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Mirant Corporation have filed a claim against Southern Company seeking substantial monetary damages in connection with transfers made by Mirant to Southern Company prior to the Mirant spin-off. An adverse outcome of this litigation could negatively impact the net income and cash flows of Southern Company.
Mirant was an energy company with businesses that included independent power projects and energy trading and risk management companies in the U.S. and selected other countries. It was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company until its initial public offering in October 2000. In April 2001, Southern Company completed a spin-off to its shareholders of its remaining ownership, and Mirant became an independent corporate entity.
In July 2003, Mirant and certain of its affiliates filed for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In January 2006, Mirant’s plan of reorganization became effective, and Mirant emerged from bankruptcy. As part of the plan, Mirant transferred substantially all of its assets and its restructured debt to a new corporation that adopted the name Mirant Corporation (Reorganized Mirant).

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In December 2004, as a result of concluding an IRS audit for the tax years 2000 and 2001, Southern Company paid approximately $39 million in additional tax and interest related to Mirant tax items and filed a claim in Mirant’s bankruptcy case for that amount. Through December 2008, Southern Company received from the IRS approximately $38 million in refunds related to Mirant. Southern Company believes it has a right to recoup the $39 million tax payment owed by Mirant from such tax refunds. As a result, Southern Company intends to retain the tax refunds and reduce its claim against Mirant for the payment of Mirant taxes by the amount of such refunds.  MC Asset Recovery, a special purpose subsidiary of Reorganized Mirant, has objected to and sought to equitably subordinate the Southern Company tax claim in its fraudulent transfer litigation against Southern Company.  Southern Company has reserved the remaining amount with respect to its Mirant tax claim.
If Southern Company is ultimately required to make any additional payments either with respect to the IRS audit or its contingent obligations under guarantees of Mirant subsidiaries, Mirant’s indemnification obligation to Southern Company for these additional payments, if allowed, would constitute unsecured claims against Mirant, entitled to stock in Reorganized Mirant. The final outcome of this matter cannot now be determined.
In June 2005, Mirant, as a debtor in possession, and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Mirant Corporation filed a complaint against Southern Company in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, which was amended in July 2005, February 2006, May 2006, and March 2007. In January 2006, MC Asset Recovery was substituted as plaintiff. The fourth amended complaint (the complaint) alleges that Southern Company caused Mirant to engage in certain fraudulent transfers and to pay illegal dividends to Southern Company prior to the spin-off. The complaint also seeks to recharacterize certain advances from Southern Company to Mirant for investments in energy facilities from debt to equity. The complaint further alleges that Southern Company is liable to Mirant’s creditors for the full amount of Mirant’s liability under an alter ego theory of recovery and that Southern Company breached its fiduciary duties to Mirant and its creditors, caused Mirant to breach its fiduciary duties to creditors, and aided and abetted breaches of fiduciary duties by Mirant’s directors and officers. The complaint also seeks recoveries under the theories of restitution and unjust enrichment. In addition, the complaint alleged a claim under the Federal Debt Collection Procedure Act (FDCPA) to avoid certain transfers from Mirant to Southern Company; however, on July 7, 2008, the court ruled that the FDCPA does not apply and that Georgia law should apply instead. The complaint seeks monetary damages in excess of $2 billion plus interest, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs. Finally, the complaint includes an objection to Southern Company’s pending claims against Mirant in the Bankruptcy Court (which relate to reimbursement under the separation agreements of payments such as income taxes, interest, legal fees, and other guarantees described in Note 7 to the financial statements of Southern Company in Item 8 herein) and seeks equitable subordination of Southern Company’s claims to the claims of all other creditors. Southern Company served an answer to the complaint in April 2007.
In February 2006, the Company’s motion to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia was granted. In May 2006, Southern Company filed a motion for summary judgment seeking entry of judgment against the plaintiff as to all counts in the complaint. In December 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted in part and denied in part the motion. As a result, certain breach of fiduciary duty claims alleged in earlier versions of the complaint were barred; all other claims were allowed to proceed. On August 6, 2008, Southern Company filed a second motion for summary judgment. MC Asset Recovery filed its response to Southern Company’s motion for summary judgment on October 20, 2008. On February 5, 2009, the court denied Southern Company’s summary judgment motion in connection with the fraudulent conveyance and illegal dividend claims concerning certain advance return/loan repayments in 1999, dividends in 1999 and 2000, and transfers in connection with Mirant’s separation from Southern Company. The court granted the motion with respect to certain claims, including claims for restitution and unjust enrichment, claims that Southern Company aided and abetted Mirant’s directors’ breach of fiduciary duties to Mirant, and claims that Southern Company used Mirant as an alter ego. In addition, the court granted Southern Company’s motion in connection with the fraudulent transfer and illegal dividend claims concerning certain turbine termination payments. Southern Company believes there is no meritorious basis for the claims in the complaint and is vigorously defending itself in this action. See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Mirant Matters – MC Asset Recovery Litigation” in Item 8 herein. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot now be determined at this time.

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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 or a downgrade of the credit rating of Southern Company, any traditional operating company, or Southern Power may increase its cost of borrowing, 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, 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. If Southern Company is unable to successfully manage benefit plan assets and Alabama Power and Georgia

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Power are unable to successfully manage the decommissioning trust funds, results of operations and financial position could be negatively affected.
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, 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. These factors could adversely affect Southern Company’s subsidiaries’ ability to maintain energy sales, thereby decreasing Southern Company’s level of future net income.
Certain of the traditional operating companies have substantial investments in the Atlantic or Gulf Coast regions which can be subject to major storm activity. The ability of the traditional operating companies to recover costs and replenish reserves in the event of a major storm, other natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other catastrophic event generally will require regulatory action.
Each traditional operating company maintains a reserve for property damage to cover the cost of damages from major storms 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 a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other catastrophic event, 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 and/or cash flows.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.

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Item 2. PROPERTIES
Electric Properties – The Electric Utilities
The traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO, at December 31, 2008, 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.
             
        Nameplate
Generating Station   Location   Capacity (1)
        (Kilowatts)
FOSSIL STEAM
           
Gadsden
  Gadsden, AL     120,000  
Gorgas
  Jasper, AL     1,221,250  
Barry
  Mobile, AL     1,525,000  
Greene County
  Demopolis, AL     300,000 (2)
Gaston Unit 5
  Wilsonville, AL     880,000  
Miller
  Birmingham, AL     2,532,288 (3)
 
           
Alabama Power Total
        6,578,538  
 
           
 
           
Bowen
  Cartersville, GA     3,160,000  
Branch
  Milledgeville, GA     1,539,700  
Hammond
  Rome, GA     800,000  
Kraft
  Port Wentworth, GA     281,136  
McDonough
  Atlanta, GA     490,000  
McIntosh
  Effingham County, GA     163,117  
McManus
  Brunswick, GA     115,000  
Mitchell
  Albany, GA     125,000  
Scherer
  Macon, GA     750,924 (4)
Wansley
  Carrollton, GA     925,550 (5)
Yates
  Newnan, GA     1,250,000  
 
           
Georgia Power Total
        9,600,427  
 
           
 
           
Crist
  Pensacola, FL     970,000  
Daniel
  Pascagoula, MS     500,000 (6)
Lansing Smith
  Panama City, FL     305,000  
Scholz
  Chattahoochee, FL     80,000  
Scherer Unit 3
  Macon, GA     204,500 (4)
 
           
Gulf Power Total
        2,059,500  
 
           
 
Daniel
  Pascagoula, MS     500,000 (6)
Eaton
  Hattiesburg, MS     67,500  
Greene County
  Demopolis, AL     200,000 (2)
Sweatt
  Meridian, MS     80,000  
Watson
  Gulfport, MS     1,012,000  
 
           
Mississippi Power Total
        1,859,500  
 
           
 
           
Gaston Units 1-4
  Wilsonville, AL        
SEGCO Total
        1,000,000 (7)
 
           
Total Fossil Steam
        21,097,965  
 
           
 
           
NUCLEAR STEAM
           
Farley
  Dothan, AL        
Alabama Power Total
        1,720,000  
 
           
 
           
Hatch
  Baxley, GA     899,612 (8)
Vogtle
  Augusta, GA     1,060,240 (9)
 
           
Georgia Power Total
        1,959,852  
 
           
Total Nuclear Steam
        3,679,852  
 
           
 
           
COMBUSTION TURBINES
           
Greene County
  Demopolis, AL        
Alabama Power Total
        720,000  
 
           
 
           
Boulevard
  Savannah, GA     59,100  
Bowen
  Cartersville, GA     39,400  
Intercession City
  Intercession City, FL     47,667 (10)
Kraft
  Port Wentworth, GA     22,000  
McDonough
  Atlanta, GA     78,800  
McIntosh Units 1 through 8
  Effingham County, GA     640,000  
McManus
  Brunswick, GA     481,700  
Mitchell
  Albany, GA     118,200  
Robins
  Warner Robins, GA     158,400  
Wansley
  Carrollton, GA     26,322  
Wilson
  Augusta, GA     354,100  
 
           
Georgia Power Total
        2,025,689  
 
           
 
           
Lansing Smith Unit A
  Panama City, FL     39,400  
Pea Ridge Units 1-3
  Pea Ridge, FL     15,000  
 
           
Gulf Power Total
        54,400  
 
           
 
           
Chevron Cogenerating Station
  Pascagoula, MS     147,292 (11)
Sweatt
  Meridian, MS     39,400  

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        Nameplate
Generating Station   Location   Capacity (1)
        (Kilowatts)
Watson
  Gulfport, MS     39,360  
 
           
Mississippi Power Total
        226,052  
 
           
 
           
Dahlberg
  Jackson County, GA     756,000  
DeSoto
  Arcadia, FL     343,760  
Oleander
  Cocoa, FL     791,301  
Rowan
  Salisbury, NC     455,250  
 
           
Southern Power Total
        2,346,311  
 
           
 
           
Gaston (SEGCO)
  Wilsonville, AL     19,680 (7)
 
           
Total Combustion Turbines
        5,392,132  
 
           
 
           
COGENERATION
           
Washington County
  Washington County, AL     123,428  
GE Plastics Project
  Burkeville, AL     104,800  
Theodore
  Theodore, AL     236,418  
 
           
Total Cogeneration
        464,646  
 
           
 
           
COMBINED CYCLE
           
Barry
  Mobile, AL        
Alabama Power Total
        1,070,424  
 
           
McIntosh Units 10&11
  Effingham County, GA        
Georgia Power Total
        1,318,920  
 
           
Smith
  Lynn Haven, FL        
Gulf Power Total
        545,500  
 
           
Daniel (Leased)
  Pascagoula, MS        
Mississippi Power Total
        1,070,424  
 
           
Franklin
  Smiths, AL     1,857,820  
Harris
  Autaugaville, AL     1,318,920  
Rowan
  Salisbury, NC     530,550  
Stanton Unit A
  Orlando, FL     428,649 (12)
Wansley
  Carrollton, GA     1,073,000  
 
           
Southern Power Total
        5,208,939  
 
           
Total Combined Cycle
        9,214,207  
 
           
 
           
HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES
           
Bankhead
  Holt, AL     53,985  
Bouldin
  Wetumpka, AL     225,000  
Harris
  Wedowee, AL     132,000  
Henry
  Ohatchee, AL     72,900  
Holt
  Holt, AL     46,944  
Jordan
  Wetumpka, AL     100,000  
Lay
  Clanton, AL     177,000  
Lewis Smith
  Jasper, AL     157,500  
Logan Martin
  Vincent, AL     135,000  
Martin
  Dadeville, AL     182,000  
Mitchell
  Verbena, AL     170,000  
Thurlow
  Tallassee, AL     81,000  
Weiss
  Leesburg, AL     87,750  
Yates
  Tallassee, AL     47,000  
 
           
Alabama Power Total
        1,668,079  
 
           
 
           
Barnett Shoals (Leased)
  Athens, GA     2,800  
Bartletts Ferry
  Columbus, GA     173,000  
Goat Rock
  Columbus, GA     38,600  
Lloyd Shoals
  Jackson, GA     14,400  
Morgan Falls
  Atlanta, GA     16,800  
North Highlands
  Columbus, GA     29,600  
Oliver Dam
  Columbus, GA     60,000  
Rocky Mountain
  Rome, GA     215,256 (13)
Sinclair Dam
  Milledgeville, GA     45,000  
Tallulah Falls
  Clayton, GA     72,000  
Terrora
  Clayton, GA     16,000  
Tugalo
  Clayton, GA     45,000  
Wallace Dam
  Eatonton, GA     321,300  
Yonah
  Toccoa, GA     22,500  
6 Other Plants
        18,080  
 
           
Georgia Power Total
        1,090,336  
 
           
Total Hydroelectric Facilities
        2,758,415  
 
           
 
           
Total Generating Capacity
        42,607,217  
 
           
 
Notes:
 
(1)   See “Jointly-Owned Facilities” herein for additional information.
 
(2)   Owned by Alabama Power and Mississippi Power as tenants in common in the proportions of 60% and 40%, respectively.
 
(3)   Capacity shown is Alabama Power’s portion (91.84%) of total plant capacity.
 
(4)   Capacity shown for Georgia Power is 8.4% of Units 1 and 2 and 75% of Unit 3. Capacity shown for Gulf Power is 25% of Unit 3.

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(5)   Capacity shown is Georgia Power’s portion (53.5%) of total plant capacity.
 
(6)   Represents 50% of the plant which is owned as tenants in common by Gulf Power and Mississippi Power.
 
(7)   SEGCO is jointly-owned by Alabama Power and Georgia Power. See BUSINESS in Item 1 herein for additional information.
 
(8)   Capacity shown is Georgia Power’s portion (50.1%) of total plant capacity.
 
(9)   Capacity shown is Georgia Power’s portion (45.7%) of total plant capacity.
 
(10)   Capacity shown represents 33 1/3% of total plant capacity. Georgia Power owns a 1/3 interest in the unit with 100% use of the unit from June through September. Progress Energy Florida operates the unit.
 
(11)   Generation is dedicated to a single industrial customer.
 
(12)   Capacity shown is Southern Power’s portion (65%) of total plant capacity.
 
(13)   Capacity shown is Georgia Power’s portion (25.4%) of total plant capacity. OPC operates the plant.
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, 2008, the unamortized portion of this cost was approximately $23 million.
In 2008, the maximum demand on the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO was 37,166,000 kilowatts and occurred on August 6, 2008. 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, OPC, and SEPA. The reserve margin for the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO in 2008 was 15.3%. See SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA in Item 6 herein for additional information on peak demands.

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Jointly-Owned Facilities
Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern Power have undivided interests in certain generating plants and other related facilities to or from non-affiliated parties. The percentages of ownership are as follows:
                                                                                                 
            Percentage Ownership
                                                            Progress                
    Total   Alabama   Power   Georgia                           Energy   Southern            
    Capacity   Power   South   Power   OPC   MEAG   Dalton   Florida   Power   OUC   FMPA   KUA
    (Megawatts)                                                                                        
Plant Miller
Units 1 and 2
    1,320       91.8 %     8.2 %     %     %     %     %     %     %     %     %     %
Plant Hatch
    1,796                   50.1       30.0       17.7       2.2                                
Plant Vogtle
    2,320                   45.7       30.0       22.7       1.6                                
Plant Scherer
Units 1 and 2
    1,636                   8.4       60.0       30.2       1.4                                
Plant Wansley
    1,779                   53.5       30.0       15.1       1.4                                
Rocky Mountain
    848                   25.4       74.6                                            
Intercession City, FL
    143                   33.3                         66.7                          
Plant Stanton A
    660                                                 65 %     28 %     3.5 %     3.5 %
 
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 owned by MEAG that are in effect until the later of retirement of the plant or the latest stated maturity date of MEAG’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 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.
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.

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Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
(1) United States of America v. Alabama Power (United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama)
       United States of America v. Georgia Power (United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia)
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and each traditional operating company under “Environmental Matters – New Source Review Actions” in Item 8 herein for information.
(2) Environmental Remediation
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power under “Environmental Matters – Environmental Remediation” and Note 3 to the financial statements of Mississippi Power under “Retail Regulatory Matters – Environmental Compliance Overview Plan” in Item 8 herein for information related to environmental remediation.
(3) In re: Mirant Corporation, et al. (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas)
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Mirant Matters – Mirant Bankruptcy” in Item 8 herein for information.
(4) MC Asset Recovery, LLC v. Southern Company (United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia) (formerly styled In re: Mirant Corporation, et al. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas)
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Mirant Matters – MC Asset Recovery Litigation” in Item 8 herein for information.
(5) In re: Mirant Corporation Securities Litigation (United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia)
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under “Mirant Matters – Mirant Securities Litigation” in Item 8 herein for information.
(6) Right of Way Litigation
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under “Right of Way Litigation” in Item 8 herein for information.
See Note 3 to the financial statements of each registrant in Item 8 herein for descriptions of additional legal and administrative proceedings discussed therein.

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Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
Southern Company, Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, and Southern Power
None.

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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, 2008.
David M. Ratcliffe
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 60
Elected in 1999. President since April 2004; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since July 2004. Previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Power from June 1999 to April 2004.
W. Paul Bowers
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Age 52
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 51
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 59
Elected in 2004. Executive Vice President since January  2004. He also serves as President and Director of Georgia Power since January 2004 and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Power since April 2004.
G. Edison Holland, Jr.
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
Age 56
Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President and General Counsel since April 2001.
C. Alan Martin
President and Chief Executive Officer of SCS
Age 60
Elected in 2008. 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 57
Elected in 1998. Executive Vice President of Southern Company since February 2002; President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Alabama Power since October 2001.

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James H. Miller, III
President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Nuclear
Age 59
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 and Vice President and Associate General Counsel for SCS and Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary of Southern Power from August 2001 through February 2004.
Christopher C. Womack
Executive Vice President
Age 50
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 28, 2008) for one year until the first board meeting after the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected and have qualified, except for Mr. Miller whose election was effective on August 27, 2008 and Mr. Womack whose election was effective on January 1, 2009.

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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, 2008.
Charles D. McCrary
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 57
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 54
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 46
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 53
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 59
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 last annual organizational meeting of the directors (April 25, 2008) for one year until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected and have qualified.

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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, 2008.
Michael D. Garrett
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 59
Elected in 2003. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Georgia Power since April 2004. Previously served as President and Director of Georgia Power from January 2004 to April 2004.
Mickey A. Brown
Executive Vice President
Age 61
Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President of the Customer Service Organization since January 2005. Previously served as Senior Vice President of Distribution from May 2001 through December 2004.
Cliff S. Thrasher
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Age 58
Elected in 2005. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer since March 2005. Previously served as Senior Vice President, Comptroller, and Chief Financial Officer of Southern Power from November 2002 to March 2005 and Vice President of SCS from June 2002 to March 2005.
Judy M. Anderson
Senior Vice President
Age 60
Elected in 2001. Senior Vice President of Charitable Giving since 2001.
W. Craig Barrs
Senior Vice President
Age 51
Elected in 2008. Senior Vice President of External Affairs since January 2009. Previously served as 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 50
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 48
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 and Managing Attorney for SCS from April 1997 to July 2004.
Each of the above is currently an executive officer of Georgia Power, serving a term running from the last annual organizational meeting of the directors (May 21, 2008) for one year until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected and qualified, except for Mr. Bishop and Mr. Barrs whose elections were effective September 22, 2008 and January 1, 2009, respectively.

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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, 2008.
Anthony J. Topazi
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 58
Elected in 2003. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director since January 1, 2004.
John W. Atherton
Vice President
Age 48
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 54
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 60
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 last annual organizational meeting of the directors (April 9, 2008) for one year until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected and have qualified.

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PART II
Item 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS’ COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
(a)(1) The common stock of Southern Company is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The common stock is also traded on regional exchanges across the United States. The high and low stock prices as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for each quarter of the past two years were as follows:
                 
     
    High   Low
2008
               
First Quarter
  $ 40.60     $ 33.71  
Second Quarter
    37.81       34.28  
Third Quarter
    40.00       34.46  
Fourth Quarter
    38.18       29.82  
 
               
2007
               
First Quarter
  $ 37.25     $ 34.85  
Second Quarter
    38.90       33.50  
Third Quarter
    37.70       33.16  
Fourth Quarter
    39.35       35.15  
     
There is no market for the other registrants’ common stock, all of which is owned by Southern Company.
(a)(2) Number of Southern Company’s common stockholders of record at December 31, 2008:  97,324
Each of the other registrants have one common stockholder, Southern Company.
(a)(3) Dividends on each registrant’s common stock are payable at the discretion of their respective board of directors. The dividends on common stock declared by Southern Company and the traditional operating companies to their stockholder(s) for the past two years were as follows:
                     
Registrant   Quarter   2008   2007
        (in thousands)
Southern Company
  First   $ 307,960     $ 290,292  
 
  Second     322,634       303,699  
 
  Third     323,844       304,775  
 
  Fourth     325,681       306,039  
 
                   
Alabama Power
  First     122,825       116,250  
 
  Second     122,825       116,250  
 
  Third     122,825       116,250  
 
  Fourth     122,825       116,250  
 
                   
Georgia Power
  First     180,300       172,475  
 
  Second     180,300       172,475  
 
  Third     180,300       172,475  
 
  Fourth     180,300       172,475  
 
                   
Gulf Power
  First     20,425       18,525  
 
  Second     20,425       18,525  
 
  Third     20,425       18,525  
 
  Fourth     20,425       18,525  
 
                   
Mississippi Power
  First     17,100       16,825  
 
  Second     17,100       16,825  
 
  Third     17,100       16,825  
 
  Fourth     17,100       16,825  

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In 2007 and 2008, Southern Power paid dividends to Southern Company as follows:
                     
     
Registrant   Quarter   2008   2007
        (in millions)
Southern Power
  First   $ 23.63     $ 22.45  
 
  Second     23.63       22.45  
 
  Third     23.63       22.45  
 
  Fourth     23.63       22.45  
     
The dividend paid per share of Southern Company’s common stock was 38.75¢ for the first quarter of 2007 and 40.25¢ for the remaining quarters in 2007 and the first quarter of 2008. For the second, third, and fourth quarters of 2008, the dividend paid per share of Southern Company’s common stock was 42¢.
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, 2008, 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.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Southern Company. See “SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA,” contained herein at pages II-106 and II-107.
Alabama Power. See “SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA,” contained herein at pages II-170 and II-171.
Georgia Power. See “SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA,” contained herein at pages II-239 and II-240.
Gulf Power. See “SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA,” contained herein at pages II-298 and II-299.
Mississippi Power. See “SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA,” contained herein at pages II-363 and II-364.
Southern Power. See “SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA,” contained herein at page II-406.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Southern Company. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-12 through II-49.

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Alabama Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-111 through II-132.
Georgia Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-175 through II-198.
Gulf Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-244 through II-265.
Mississippi Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-303 through II-327.
Southern Power. See “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” contained herein at pages II-368 through II-386.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – “Market Price Risk” of each of the registrants in Item 7 herein and Note 1 of each of the registrant’s financial statements under “Financial Instruments” in Item 8 herein. See also Note 6 to the financial statements of Southern Company, each traditional operating company, and Southern Power under “Financial Instruments” in Item 8 herein.

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Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO 2008 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
         
        Page  
The Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies:
       
  II-9
  II-10
  II-50
  II-51
  II-52
  II-54
  II-56
  II-56
  II-57
 
       
Alabama Power:
       
  II-109
  II-110
  II-133
  II-134
  II-135
  II-137
  II-139
  II-139
  II-140
 
       
Georgia Power:
       
  II-173
  II-174
  II-199
  II-200
  II-201
  II-203
  II-204
  II-204
  II-205
 
       
Gulf Power:
       
  II-242
  II-243
  II-266
  II-267
  II-268
  II-270
  II-271
  II-271
  II-272

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    Page
Mississippi Power:
       
  II-301
  II-302
  II-328
  II-329
  II-330
  II-332
  II-333
  II-333
  II-334
 
       
Southern Power and Subsidiary Companies:
       
  II-366
  II-367
  II-387
  II-388
  II-389
  II-391
  II-391
  II-392
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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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 pages II-10 and II-11 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 2008 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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-109 of this Form 10-K.
Georgia Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-173 of this Form 10-K.
Gulf Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-242 of this Form 10-K.

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Mississippi Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-301 of this Form 10-K.
Southern Power’s Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting is included on page II-366 of this Form 10-K.
     (b) Changes in internal controls.
There have been no changes in Alabama Power’s, Georgia 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 2008 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect Alabama Power’s, Georgia Power’s, Gulf Power’s, Mississippi Power’s, or Southern Power’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
     None.

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THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
FINANCIAL SECTION

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 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, 2008.
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, 2008. 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, 2009

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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, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, common stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008.  We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, 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.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (continued)
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements (pages II-50 to II-104) referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, 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, 2008, 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, 2009

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 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 in the midst of the current economic downturn, 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. Since 2005, the traditional operating companies have completed a number of regulatory proceedings that provide for the timely recovery of costs. 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. 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. The Company continues to face regulatory challenges related to transmission and market power issues at the national level.
Southern Company’s other business activities include leveraged lease projects, telecommunications, and energy-related services. Management continues to evaluate the contribution of each of these remaining 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 charges related to leveraged leases. 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 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 2008 Peak Season EFOR of 1.68% was better than the target. The nuclear generating fleet also uses Peak Season EFOR as an indicator of availability and efficient generation fleet operations during the peak season. The nuclear 2008 Peak Season EFOR of 1.98% 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 2008 was better than the target for these reliability measures.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Southern Company’s investments include three leveraged lease transactions whose tax deductions have been challenged by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Ongoing settlement negotiations with the IRS resulted in a charge to income of $83 million, or 11 cents per share, in 2008. Southern Company management uses EPS, excluding leveraged lease charges, to evaluate the performance of Southern Company’s ongoing business activities. Southern Company believes the presentation of earnings and EPS excluding the leveraged lease charges is useful for investors because it provides investors with additional information for purposes of comparing Southern Company’s performance for such periods. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Southern Company’s 2008 results compared with its targets for some of these key indicators are reflected in the following chart:
                 
    2008 Target   2008 Actual
Key Performance Indicator   Performance   Performance
    Top quartile in    
Customer Satisfaction
  customer surveys   Top quartile
Peak Season EFOR — fossil/hydro
  2.75% or less     1.68 %
Peak Season EFOR — nuclear
  2.00% or less     1.98 %
Basic EPS
  $ 2.28 — $2.36     $ 2.26  
EPS, excluding leveraged lease charges
    $ 2.37  
See RESULTS OF OPERATIONS herein for additional information on the Company’s financial performance. The financial performance achieved in 2008 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 was $1.74 billion in 2008, an increase of $8 million from the prior year. Compared with the prior year, increases in retail rates and increases in revenues from market-response rates to large commercial and industrial customers were mostly offset by higher asset depreciation, milder summer temperatures compared to 2007, higher non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses, charges related to the leveraged lease business, and exiting the synthetic fuel business in 2007. Net income was $1.73 billion in 2007 and $1.57 billion in 2006, reflecting a 10.2% increase and a 1.1% decrease, respectively, over the prior year. Basic EPS was $2.26 in 2008, $2.29 in 2007, and $2.12 in 2006. Diluted EPS, which factors in additional shares related to stock-based compensation, was $2.25 in 2008, $2.28 in 2007, and $2.10 in 2006.
Dividends
Southern Company has paid dividends on its common stock since 1948. Dividends paid per share of common stock were $1.6625 in 2008, $1.595 in 2007, and $1.535 in 2006. In January 2009, Southern Company declared a quarterly dividend of 42 cents per share. This is the 245th 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 2008, the actual payout ratio was 73.5% while the payout ratio of net income excluding leveraged lease charges was 70.1%.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Electricity Business
Southern Company’s electric utilities generate and sell electricity to retail and wholesale customers in the Southeast. A condensed statement of income for the electricity business follows:
                                 
            Increase (Decrease)  
    Amount     from Prior Year  
    2008     2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
Electric operating revenues
  $ 17,000     $ 1,860     $ 1,052     $ 810  
 
Fuel
    6,817       973       701       655  
Purchased power
    815       300       (28 )     (188 )
Other operations and maintenance
    3,584       111       183       70  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,414       199       51       27  
Taxes other than income taxes
    794       56       23       39  
 
Total electric operating expenses
    13,424       1,639       930       603  
 
Operating income
    3,576       221       122       207  
Other income (expense), net
    145       24       68       (9 )
Interest expense and dividends
    837       25       61       75  
Income taxes
    1,037       87       1       50  
 
Net income
  $ 1,847     $ 133     $ 128     $ 73  
 
Electric Operating Revenues
Details of electric operating revenues were as follows:
                         
    Amount
    2008   2007   2006
    (in millions)
Retail — prior year
  $ 12,639     $ 11,801     $ 11,165  
Estimated change in —
                       
Rates and pricing
    668       161       9  
Sales growth
          60       115  
Weather
    (106 )     54       35  
Fuel and other cost recovery
    854       563       477  
 
Retail — current year
    14,055       12,639       11,801  
Wholesale revenues
    2,400       1,988       1,822  
Other electric operating revenues
    545       513       465  
 
Electric operating revenues
  $ 17,000     $ 15,140     $ 14,088  
 
Percent change
    12.3 %     7.5 %     6.1 %
 
Retail revenues increased $1.4 billion, $838 million, and $636 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The significant factors driving these changes are shown in the preceding table. The increase in rates and pricing in 2008 was primarily due to Alabama Power’s increase under its Rate Stabilization and Equalization Plan (Rate RSE), as ordered by the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC), and Georgia Power’s increase under its 2007 retail rate

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
plan, as ordered by the Georgia PSC. See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Alabama Power Retail Regulatory Matters” and “Georgia Power Retail Regulatory Matters” for additional information. Also contributing to the 2008 increase was an increase in revenues from market-response rates to large commercial and industrial customers at Georgia Power. The 2007 increase in rates and pricing when compared to the prior year was primarily due to Alabama Power’s increase under its Rate RSE, as ordered by the Alabama PSC. Partially offsetting the 2007 increase was a decrease in revenues from market-response rates to large commercial and industrial customers at Georgia Power. The 2006 increase in rates and pricing when compared to the prior year was not material. See “Energy Sales” below for a discussion of changes in the volume of energy sold, including changes related to sales growth and weather.
Electric rates for the traditional operating companies include provisions to adjust billings for fluctuations in fuel costs, including the energy component of purchased power costs. Under these provisions, fuel revenues generally equal fuel expenses, including the fuel component of purchased power, and do not affect net income. The traditional operating companies may also have one or more regulatory mechanisms to recover other costs such as environmental, storm damage, new plants, and PPAs.
Wholesale revenues consist of PPAs with investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives, unit power sales contracts, and short-term opportunity sales. Short-term opportunity sales are made at market-based rates that generally provide a margin above the Company’s variable cost to produce the energy. Southern Company’s average wholesale contract extends more than 14 years and, as a result, the Company has significantly limited its remarketing risk.
In 2008, wholesale revenues increased $412 million primarily as a result of a 21.8% increase in the average cost of fuel per net kilowatt-hour (KWH) generated, as well as revenues resulting from new and existing PPAs and revenues derived from contracts for Southern Power’s Plant Oleander Unit 5 and Plant Franklin Unit 3 placed in operation in December 2007 and June 2008, respectively. The 2008 increase was partially offset by a decrease in short-term opportunity sales and weather-related generation load reductions.
In 2007, wholesale revenues increased $166 million primarily as a result of a 9.9% increase in the average cost of fuel per net KWH generated. Excluding fuel, wholesale revenues were flat when compared to the prior year.
In 2006, wholesale revenues increased $155 million primarily as a result of a 10.0% increase in the average cost of fuel per net KWH generated, as well as revenues resulting from new PPAs in 2006. In addition, Southern Company assumed four PPAs through the acquisitions of Plants DeSoto and Rowan in June and September 2006, respectively. The 2006 increase was partially offset by a decrease in short-term opportunity sales.
Revenues associated with PPAs and opportunity sales were as follows:
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
Other power sales —
                       
Capacity and other
  $ 538     $ 533     $ 499  
Energy
    1,319       989       841  
 
Total
  $ 1,857     $ 1,522     $ 1,340  
 

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Capacity revenues under unit power sales contracts, principally sales to Florida utilities, reflect the recovery of fixed costs and a return on investment. Unit power KWH sales decreased 2.1% in 2008, decreased 0.8% in 2007, and increased 0.2% in 2006. Fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, which are the primary fuel sources for unit power sales customers, influence changes in these sales. However, because the energy is generally sold at variable cost, these fluctuations have a minimal effect on earnings. The capacity and energy components of the unit power sales contracts were as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (in millions)
Unit power sales —
                       
Capacity
  $ 223     $ 202     $ 208  
Energy
    320       264       274  
 
Total
  $ 543     $ 466     $ 482  
 
Energy Sales
Changes in revenues are influenced heavily by the change in the volume of energy sold from year to year. KWH sales for 2008 and the percent change by year were as follows:
                                 
    KWHs   Percent Change
     
    2008   2008   2007   2006
    (in billions)                        
Residential
    52.3       (2.0 )%     1.8 %     2.5 %
Commercial
    54.4       (0.4 )     3.2       2.2  
Industrial
    52.7       (3.7 )     (0.7 )     (0.2 )
Other
    0.9       (2.9 )     4.4       (7.6 )
 
Total retail
    160.3       (2.1 )     1.4       1.4  
Wholesale
    39.3       (3.4 )     5.9       3.7  
 
Total energy sales
    199.6       (2.3 )     2.3       1.9  
 
KWH sales by quarter for 2008 compared to the same periods in 2007 were as follows:
                                                 
    KWHs   Percent Change
     
                    Total                   Total
Quarter Ended   Retail   Wholesale   Energy Sales   Retail   Wholesale   Energy Sales
    (in millions)                        
March 2008
    38,576       9,590       48,166       1.4 %     (1.9 )%     0.7 %
June 2008
    39,882       10,049       49,931       (1.2 )     1.0       (0.7 )
September 2008
    45,800       10,969       56,769       (4.6 )     (2.2 )     (4.1 )
December 2008
    36,001       8,760       44,761       (3.3 )     (10.6 )     (4.8 )
Changes in retail energy sales are comprised of changes in electricity usage by customers, changes in weather, and changes in the number of customers. Retail energy sales in 2008 decreased 3.4 billion KWHs as a result of a 1.4% decrease in electricity usage mainly due to a slowing economy that worsened during the fourth quarter. The 2008 decrease in residential sales resulted primarily from lower home occupancy rates in Southern Company’s service area when compared to 2007. Throughout the year, reduced demand in the textile sector; the lumber sector; and the stone, clay, and glass sector contributed to the decrease in 2008 industrial sales. Additional weakness in the fourth quarter 2008 affected all major industrial segments. Significantly less favorable weather in 2008 when compared to

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
2007 also contributed to the 2008 decrease in retail energy sales. These decreases were partially offset by customer growth of 0.6%. Retail energy sales in 2007 increased 2.3 billion KWHs as a result of 1.3% customer growth and favorable weather in 2007 when compared to 2006. The 2007 decrease in industrial sales primarily resulted from reduced demand and closures within the textile sector, as well as decreased demand in the primary metals sector and the stone, clay, and glass sector. Retail energy sales in 2006 increased 2.3 billion KWHs as a result of customer growth of 1.7%, sustained economic growth primarily in the residential and commercial customer classes, and favorable weather in 2006 when compared to 2005.
Wholesale energy sales decreased by 1.4 billion KWHs in 2008, increased by 2.3 billion KWHs in 2007, and increased by 1.4 billion KWHs in 2006. The decrease in wholesale energy sales in 2008 was primarily related to longer planned maintenance outages at a fossil unit in 2008 as compared to 2007 which reduced the availability of this unit for wholesale sales. Lower short-term opportunity sales primarily related to higher coal prices also contributed to the 2008 decrease. These decreases were partially offset by Plant Oleander Unit 5 and Plant Franklin Unit 3 being placed in operation in December 2007 and June 2008, respectively. The increase in wholesale energy sales in 2007 was primarily related to new PPAs acquired by Southern Company through the acquisition of Plant Rowan in September 2006, as well as new contracts with EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation that commenced in September 2006 and January 2007. An increase in KWH sales under existing PPAs also contributed to the 2007 increase. The increase in wholesale energy sales in 2006 was related primarily to the new PPAs discussed previously under “Electric Operating Revenues.”
Fuel and Purchased Power Expenses
Fuel costs constitute the single largest expense for the electric utilities. The mix of fuel sources for generation of electricity is determined primarily by demand, the unit cost of fuel consumed, and the availability of generating units. Additionally, the electric utilities purchase a portion of their electricity needs from the wholesale market. Details of Southern Company’s electricity generated and purchased were as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
Total generation (billions of KWHs)
    198       206       201  
Total purchased power (billions of KWHs)
    11       8       8  
 
Sources of generation (percent) —
                       
Coal
    68       70       70  
Nuclear
    15       14       15  
Gas
    16       15       13  
Hydro
    1       1       2  
 
Cost of fuel, generated (cents per net KWH) 
                       
Coal
    3.27       2.60       2.40  
Nuclear
    0.50       0.50       0.47  
Gas
    7.58       6.64       6.63  
 
Average cost of fuel, generated (cents per net KWH)
    3.52       2.89       2.63  
Average cost of purchased power (cents per net KWH)
    7.85       7.20       6.82  
 
In 2008, fuel and purchased power expenses were $7.6 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion or 20.0% above 2007 costs. This increase was primarily the result of a $1.3 billion net increase in the average cost of fuel and purchased power partially resulting from a 25.8% increase in the cost of coal per net KWH generated and a 14.2% increase in the cost of gas per net KWH generated.
In 2007, fuel and purchased power expenses were $6.4 billion, an increase of $673 million or 11.8% above 2006 costs. This increase was primarily the result of a $543 million net increase in the average cost of fuel and purchased power partially resulting from a 51.4% decrease in hydro generation as a result of a severe drought. Also contributing to this increase was a $130 million increase related to higher net KWHs generated and purchased.

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
In 2006, fuel and purchased power expenses were $5.7 billion, an increase of $467 million or 8.9% above the prior year costs. This increase was primarily the result of a $367 million net increase in the average cost of fuel and purchased power and a $100 million increase related to higher net KWHs generated and purchased.
Over the last several years, coal prices have been influenced by a worldwide increase in demand from developing countries, as well as increases in mining and fuel transportation costs. In the first half of 2008, coal prices reached unprecedented high levels primarily due to increased demand following more moderate pricing in 2006 and 2007. Despite these fluctuations, fuel inventories have been adequate and fuel supply markets have been sufficient to meet expected fuel requirements. Demand for natural gas in the United States also increased in 2007 and the first half of 2008. However, natural gas supplies increased in the last half of 2008 as a result of increased production and higher storage levels due in part to weak industrial demand. Both coal and natural gas prices moderated in the second half of 2008 as the result of a recessionary economy. During 2008, uranium prices continued to moderate from the highs set during 2007. While worldwide uranium production levels appear to have increased slightly since 2007, secondary supplies and inventories were still required to meet worldwide reactor demand.
Fuel expenses generally do not affect net income, since they are offset by fuel revenues under the traditional operating companies’ fuel cost recovery provisions. See FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – “PSC Matters –Fuel Cost Recovery” herein for additional information. Likewise, Southern Power’s PPAs generally provide that the purchasers are responsible for substantially all of the cost of fuel.
Other Operations and Maintenance Expenses
Other operations and maintenance expenses were $3.6 billion, $3.5 billion, and $3.3 billion, increasing $111 million, $183 million, and $70 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Discussion of significant variances for components of other operations and maintenance expenses follows.
Other production expenses at fossil, hydro, and nuclear plants increased $63 million, $128 million, and $3 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Production expenses fluctuate from year to year due to variations in outage schedules and normal increases in costs. Other production expenses increased in 2008 primarily due to a $64 million increase related to expenses incurred for maintenance outages at generating units and a $30 million increase related to labor and materials expenses, partially offset by a $15 million decrease in nuclear refueling costs. See Note 1 to the financial statements under “Property, Plant, and Equipment” for additional information regarding nuclear refueling costs. The 2008 increase was also partially offset by a $24 million decrease related to new facilities, mainly lower costs associated with the 2007 write-off of Southern Power’s integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) project with the Orlando Utilities Commission. Other production expenses increased in 2007 primarily due to a $40 million increase related to expenses incurred for maintenance outages at generating units and a $29 million increase related to new facilities, mainly costs associated with the write-off of Southern Power’s IGCC project and the acquisitions of Plants DeSoto and Rowan by Southern Power in June and September 2006, respectively. A $25 million increase related to labor and materials expenses and a $22 million increase in nuclear refueling costs also contributed to the 2007 increase. The 2006 increase in other production expenses when compared to the prior year was not material.
Transmission and distribution expenses increased $4 million, $21 million, and $30 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Transmission and distribution expenses fluctuate from year to year due to variations in maintenance schedules and normal increases in costs. The 2008 increase in transmission and distribution expenses was not material when compared to the prior year. Transmission and distribution expenses increased in 2007 primarily as a result of increases in labor and materials costs and maintenance associated with additional investment to meet customer growth. Transmission and distribution expenses increased in 2006 primarily due to expenses associated

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
with recovery of prior year storm costs through natural disaster recovery clauses in accordance with an accounting order approved by the Alabama PSC and maintenance associated with additional investment in distribution to meet customer growth.
Customer sales and service expenses increased $32 million, $7 million, and $9 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Customer sales and service expenses increased in 2008 primarily as a result of an increase in customer account expenses, including a $13 million increase in uncollectible accounts expense, a $9 million increase in meter reading and related supervision expenses, and an $8 million increase for records and collections. The 2007 and 2006 increases in customer sales and service expenses were not material when compared to the prior years.
Administrative and general expenses increased $10 million, $28 million, and $29 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The 2008 increase in administrative and general expenses was not material when compared to the prior year. Administrative and general expenses increased in 2007 primarily as a result of a $16 million increase in legal costs and expenses associated with an increase in employees. Also contributing to the 2007 increase was a $14 million increase in accrued expenses for the litigation and workers’ compensation reserve, partially offset by an $8 million decrease in property damage expense. Administrative and general expenses increased in 2006 primarily as a result of a $17 million increase in salaries and wages and a $24 million increase in pension expense, partially offset by a $16 million reduction in medical expenses.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization increased $199 million in 2008 primarily as a result of an increase in plant in service related to environmental, transmission, and distribution projects mainly at Alabama Power and Georgia Power and generation projects at Georgia Power. An increase in depreciation rates at Georgia Power and Southern Power also contributed to the 2008 increase, as well as the expiration of a rate order previously allowing Georgia Power to levelize certain purchased power capacity costs and the completion of Plant Oleander Unit 5 in December 2007 and Plant Franklin Unit 3 in June 2008.
Depreciation and amortization increased $51 million in 2007 primarily as a result of an increase in plant in service related to environmental, transmission, and distribution projects mainly at Alabama Power and Georgia Power. An increase in the amortization expense of a regulatory liability recorded in 2003 in connection with the Mississippi PSC’s accounting order on Plant Daniel capacity also contributed to the 2007 increase. Partially offsetting the 2007 increase was a reduction in amortization expense due to a Georgia Power regulatory liability related to the levelization of certain purchased power capacity costs as ordered by the Georgia PSC under the terms of the retail rate order effective January 1, 2005. See Note 1 to the financial statements under “Depreciation and Amortization” for additional information.
Depreciation and amortization increased $27 million in 2006 primarily as a result of the acquisitions of Plants DeSoto, Rowan, and Oleander in June 2006, September 2006, and June 2005, respectively, and an increase in the amortization expense of the Mississippi Power regulatory liability related to Plant Daniel capacity. An increase in depreciation rates at Southern Power also contributed to the 2006 increase. Partially offsetting the 2006 increase was a reduction in the amortization expense of a Georgia Power regulatory liability related to the levelization of certain purchased power capacity costs.
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes
Taxes other than income taxes increased $56 million in 2008 primarily as a result of increases in franchise fees and municipal gross receipt taxes associated with increases in revenues from energy sales, as well as increases in property taxes associated with property tax actualizations and additional plant in service. Taxes other than income taxes increased $23 million in 2007 primarily as a result of increases in franchise and municipal gross receipts taxes

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
associated with increases in revenues from energy sales, partially offset by a decrease in property taxes resulting from the resolution of a dispute with Monroe County, Georgia. Taxes other than income taxes increased $39 million in 2006 primarily as a result of increases in franchise and municipal gross receipts taxes associated with increases in revenues from energy sales, as well as increases in property taxes associated with additional plant in service.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net increased $24 million in 2008 primarily as a result of an increase in allowance for equity funds used during construction related to additional investments in environmental equipment at generating plants at Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Gulf Power, as well as additional investments in transmission and distribution projects mainly at Alabama Power and Georgia Power. Other income (expense), net increased $68 million in 2007 primarily as a result of an increase in allowance for equity funds used during construction related to additional investments in environmental equipment at generating plants and transmission and distribution projects mainly at Alabama Power and Georgia Power. The 2006 decrease in other income (expense), net when compared to the prior year was not material.
Interest Expense and Dividends
Total interest charges and other financing costs increased by $25 million in 2008 primarily as a result of an $82 million increase associated with $1.7 billion in additional debt and preference stock outstanding at December 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007. Also contributing to the 2008 increase was $5 million in other interest costs. The 2008 increase was partially offset by $55 million related to lower average interest rates on existing variable rate debt and $7 million of additional capitalized interest as compared to 2007.
Total interest charges and other financing costs increased by $61 million in 2007 primarily as a result of a $72 million increase associated with $1.2 billion in additional debt and preference stock outstanding at December 31, 2007 compared to December 31, 2006 and higher interest rates associated with the issuance of new long-term debt. Also contributing to the 2007 increase was $7 million related to higher average interest rates on existing variable rate debt and $19 million in other interest costs. The 2007 increase was partially offset by $38 million of additional capitalized interest as compared to 2006.
Total interest charges and other financing costs increased by $75 million in 2006 primarily due to a $78 million increase associated with $708 million in additional debt outstanding at December 31, 2006 compared to December 31, 2005 and higher interest rates associated with the issuance of new long-term debt. Also contributing to the 2006 increase was $7 million associated with higher average interest rates on existing variable rate debt, partially offset by $6 million of additional capitalized interest associated with construction projects and $3 million in lower other interest costs.
Income Taxes
Income taxes increased $87 million in 2008 primarily due to higher pre-tax earnings as compared to 2007 and a 2007 deduction for a Georgia Power land donation. The 2008 increase was partially offset by an increase in allowance for equity funds used during construction, which is not taxable. See Note 5 to the financial statements under “Effective Tax Rate” for additional information.
Income taxes were relatively flat in 2007 as higher pre-tax earnings as compared to 2006 were largely offset due to a deduction for a Georgia Power land donation; an increase in allowance for equity funds used during construction, which is not taxable; and an increase in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Internal Revenue Code), Section 199 production activities deduction.

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Income taxes increased $50 million in 2006 primarily due to higher pre-tax earnings as compared to 2005 and the impact of a 2005 accounting order approved by the Alabama PSC to return certain regulatory liabilities related to deferred taxes to Alabama Power’s retail customers.
Other Business Activities
Southern Company’s other business activities include the parent company (which does not allocate operating expenses to business units), investments in leveraged lease and synthetic fuel projects, telecommunications, and energy-related services. These businesses are classified in general categories and may comprise one or more of the following subsidiaries: Southern Company Holdings invests in various energy-related projects, including leveraged lease and synthetic fuel projects that receive tax benefits, which have contributed significantly to the economic results of these investments; SouthernLINC Wireless provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and also markets these services to the public and provides fiber cable services within the Southeast.
Southern Company’s investment in synthetic fuel projects ended at December 31, 2007. A condensed statement of income for Southern Company’s other business activities follows:
                                 
            Increase (Decrease)
    Amount   from Prior Year
    2008   2008   2007   2006
            (in millions)        
Operating revenues
  $ 127     $ (86 )   $ (55 )   $ (8 )
 
Other operations and maintenance
    165       (44 )     (29 )     (59 )
Depreciation and amortization
    29       (1 )     (6 )     (3 )
Taxes other than income taxes
    3                   (1 )
 
Total operating expenses
    197       (45 )     (35 )     (63 )
 
Operating income (loss)
    (70 )     (41 )     (20 )     55  
Equity in income (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    10       35       35       62  
Leveraged lease income (losses)
    (85 )     (125 )     (29 )     (5 )
Other income (expense), net
    12       (29 )     73       (19 )
Interest expense
    94       (28 )     (27 )     48  
Income taxes
    (122 )     (7 )     53       136  
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (105 )   $ (125 )   $ 33     $ (91 )
 
Operating Revenues
Southern Company’s non-electric operating revenues from these other businesses decreased $86 million in 2008 primarily as a result of a $60 million decrease associated with Southern Company terminating its investment in synthetic fuel projects at December 31, 2007 and a $21 million decrease in revenues at SouthernLINC Wireless related to lower average revenue per subscriber and fewer subscribers due to increased competition in the industry. Also contributing to the 2008 decrease was a $5 million decrease in revenues from Southern Company’s energy-related services business. The $55 million decrease in 2007 primarily resulted from a $14 million decrease in fuel procurement service revenues following a contract termination, a $13 million decrease in revenues at SouthernLINC Wireless related to lower average revenue per subscriber and fewer subscribers due to increased competition in the industry, and an $11 million decrease in revenues from Southern Company’s energy-related services business. The $8 million decrease in 2006 primarily resulted from a $21 million decrease in revenues at SouthernLINC Wireless related to lower average revenue per subscriber and lower equipment and accessory sales. The 2006 decrease was partially offset by a $12 million increase in fuel procurement service revenues.

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Other Operations and Maintenance Expenses
Other operations and maintenance expenses for these other businesses decreased $44 million in 2008 primarily as a result of $11 million of lower coal expenses related to Southern Company terminating its investment in synthetic fuel projects at December 31, 2007; $9 million of lower sales expenses at SouthernLINC Wireless related to lower sales volume; and $5 million of lower parent company expenses related to advertising, litigation, and property insurance costs. Other operations and maintenance expenses decreased $29 million in 2007 primarily as a result of $11 million of lower production expenses related to the termination of Southern Company’s membership interest in one of the synthetic fuel entities and $8 million attributed to the wind-down of one of the Company’s energy-related services businesses. Other operations and maintenance expenses decreased $59 million in 2006 primarily as a result of $32 million of lower production expenses related to the termination of Southern Company’s membership interest in one of the synthetic fuel entities, $13 million attributed to the wind-down of one of the Company’s energy-related services businesses, and $7 million of lower expenses resulting from the March 2006 sale of a subsidiary that provided rail car maintenance services.
Equity in Income (Losses) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries
Southern Company made investments in two synthetic fuel production facilities that generated operating losses. These investments allowed Southern Company to claim federal income tax credits that offset these operating losses and made the projects profitable. Equity in income of unconsolidated subsidiaries increased $35 million in 2008 as a result of Southern Company terminating its investment in synthetic fuel projects at December 31, 2007. Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries decreased $35 million in 2007 as a result of terminating Southern Company’s membership interest in one of the synthetic fuel entities which reduced the amount of the Company’s share of the losses and, therefore, the funding obligation for the year. Also contributing to the 2007 decrease were adjustments to the phase-out of the related federal income tax credits, partially offset by higher operating expenses due to idled production in 2006 and decreased production in 2007 in anticipation of exiting the business. Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries decreased $62 million in 2006 as a result of terminating Southern Company’s membership interest in one of the synthetic fuel entities which reduced the amount of the Company’s share of the losses and, therefore, the funding obligation for the year. The 2006 decrease also resulted from lower operating expenses while the production facilities at the other synthetic fuel entity were idled from May to September 2006 due to higher oil prices.
Leveraged Lease Income (Losses)
Southern Company has several leveraged lease agreements which relate to international and domestic energy generation, distribution, and transportation assets. Southern Company receives federal income tax deductions for depreciation and amortization, as well as interest on long-term debt related to these investments. Leveraged lease losses increased $125 million in 2008 as a result of Southern Company’s decision to participate in a settlement with the IRS related to deductions for several sale-in-lease-out (SILO) transactions and the resulting application of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Staff Position No. FAS 13-2, “Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction” (FSP 13-2). See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Income Tax Matters — Leveraged Leases” for further information. Leveraged lease income decreased $29 million in 2007 as a result of the adoption of FSP 13-2, as well as an expected decline in leveraged lease income over the terms of the leases. The 2006 decrease in leveraged lease income when compared to the prior year was not material.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net for these other businesses decreased $29 million in 2008 primarily as a result of the 2007 gain on a derivative transaction in the synthetic fuel business which settled on December 31, 2007. Other income (expense), net increased $73 million in 2007 primarily as a result of a $60 million increase related to changes in the value of derivative transactions in the synthetic fuel business and a $16 million increase related to the 2006 impairment of investments in the synthetic fuel entities, partially offset by the release of $6 million in certain contractual obligations associated with these investments in 2006. Other income (expense), net decreased $19 million in 2006 primarily as a result of a $25 million decrease related to changes in the value of derivative transactions in the synthetic fuel business and the previously mentioned impairment and release of contractual obligations.
Interest Expense
Total interest charges and other financing costs for these other businesses decreased $28 million in 2008 primarily as a result of $29 million associated with lower average interest rates on existing variable rate debt and a $4 million decrease attributed to lower interest rates associated with new debt issued to replace maturing securities. At December 31, 2008, these other businesses had $92 million in additional debt outstanding compared to December 31, 2007. The 2008 decrease was partially offset by a $5 million increase in other interest costs. Total interest charges and other financing costs decreased by $27 million in 2007 primarily as a result of $16 million of losses on debt that was reacquired in 2006. Also contributing to the 2007 decrease was $97 million less debt outstanding at December 31, 2007 compared to December 31, 2006, lower interest rates associated with the issuance of new long-term debt, and a $4 million decrease in other interest costs. Total interest charges and other financing costs increased by $48 million in 2006 primarily as a result of a $19 million increase associated with $149 million in additional debt outstanding at December 31, 2006 as compared to December 31, 2005 and higher interest rates associated with the issuance of new long-term debt. Also contributing to the increase were $12 million associated with higher average interest rates on existing variable rate debt, a $6 million loss on the early redemption of long-term debt payable to affiliated trusts in January 2006, and a $16 million loss on the repayment of long-term debt payable to affiliated trusts in December 2006. The 2006 increase was partially offset by $4 million in lower other interest costs.
Income Taxes
Income taxes for these other businesses decreased $7 million in 2008 primarily as a result of leveraged lease losses discussed previously under “Leveraged Lease Income (Losses),” partially offset by a $36 million decrease in net synthetic fuel tax credits as a result of Southern Company terminating its investment in synthetic fuel projects at December 31, 2007. Income taxes increased $53 million in 2007 primarily as a result of a $30 million decrease in net synthetic fuel tax credits as a result of terminating Southern Company’s membership interest in one of the synthetic fuel entities in 2006 and increasing the synthetic fuel tax credit reserves due to an anticipated phase-out of synthetic fuel tax credits due to higher oil prices. Income taxes increased $136 million in 2006 primarily as a result of a $111 million decrease in net synthetic fuel tax credits as a result of terminating Southern Company’s membership interest in one of the synthetic fuel entities, curtailing production at the other synthetic fuel entity from May to September 2006, and increasing the synthetic fuel tax credit reserves due to an anticipated phase-out of synthetic fuel tax credits due to higher oil prices. See Note 5 to the financial statements under “Effective Tax Rate” for further information.

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Effects of Inflation
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power are subject to rate regulation and party to long-term contracts that are generally based on the recovery of historical costs. When historical costs are included, or when inflation exceeds projected costs used in rate regulation or in market-based prices, the effects of inflation can create an economic loss since the recovery of costs could be in dollars that have less purchasing power. In addition, the income tax laws are based on historical costs. While the inflation rate has been relatively low in recent years, it continues to have an adverse effect on Southern Company because of the large investment in utility plant with long economic lives. Conventional accounting for historical cost does not recognize this economic loss or the partially offsetting gain that arises through financing facilities with fixed-money obligations such as long-term debt, preferred securities, preferred stock, and preference stock. Any recognition of inflation by regulatory authorities is reflected in the rate of return allowed in the traditional operating companies’ approved electric rates.
FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL
General
The four traditional operating companies operate as vertically integrated utilities providing electricity to customers within their service areas in the Southeastern United States. Prices for electricity provided to retail customers are set by state PSCs under cost-based regulatory principles. Prices for wholesale electricity sales, interconnecting transmission lines, and the exchange of electric power are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Retail rates and earnings are reviewed and may be adjusted periodically within certain limitations. Southern Power continues to focus on long-term capacity contracts, optimized by limited energy trading activities. See ACCOUNTING POLICIES – “Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates – Electric Utility Regulation” herein and Note 3 to the financial statements for additional information about regulatory matters.
The results of operations for the past three years are not necessarily indicative of future earnings potential. The level of Southern Company’s future earnings depends on numerous factors that affect the opportunities, challenges, and risks of Southern Company’s primary business of selling electricity. These factors include the traditional operating companies’ ability to maintain a constructive regulatory environment that continues to allow for the recovery of all prudently incurred costs during a time of increasing costs. Other major factors include the profitability of the competitive wholesale supply business and federal regulatory policy which may impact Southern Company’s level of participation in this market. Future earnings for the electricity business in the near term will depend, in part, upon maintaining energy sales during the current economic downturn, which is subject to a number of factors. These factors include weather, competition, new energy contracts with neighboring utilities and other wholesale customers, energy conservation practiced by customers, the price of electricity, the price elasticity of demand, and the rate of economic growth or decline in the service area. In addition, the level of future earnings for the wholesale supply business also depends on numerous factors including creditworthiness of customers, total generating capacity available in the Southeast, and the successful remarketing of capacity as current contracts expire. Recent recessionary conditions have negatively impacted sales growth for the traditional operating companies and may negatively impact wholesale capacity revenues at Southern Power. The timing and extent of the economic recovery will impact future earnings.
Southern Company system generating capacity increased 659 megawatts due to Southern Power’s completion of Franklin Unit 3 in June 2008. In general, Southern Company has constructed or acquired new generating capacity only after entering into long-term capacity contracts for the new facilities or to meet requirements of Southern Company’s regulated retail markets, both of which are optimized by limited energy trading activities. See FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “Construction Projects” herein for additional information.

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As part of its ongoing effort to adapt to changing market conditions, Southern Company continues to evaluate and consider a wide array of potential business strategies. These strategies may include business combinations, partnerships, acquisitions involving other utility or non-utility businesses or properties, disposition of certain assets, internal restructuring, or some combination thereof. Furthermore, Southern Company may engage in new business ventures that arise from competitive and regulatory changes in the utility industry. Pursuit of any of the above strategies, or any combination thereof, may significantly affect the business operations, risks, and financial condition of Southern Company.
Environmental Matters
Compliance costs related to the Clean Air Act and other environmental statutes and regulations could affect earnings if such costs cannot continue to be fully recovered in rates on a timely basis. Environmental compliance spending over the next several years may exceed amounts estimated. Some of the factors driving the potential for such an increase are higher commodity costs, market demand for labor, and scope additions and clarifications. The timing, specific requirements, and estimated costs could also change as environmental statutes and regulations are adopted or modified. See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Environmental Matters” for additional information.
New Source Review Actions
In November 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brought a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against certain Southern Company subsidiaries, including Alabama Power and Georgia Power, alleging that these subsidiaries had violated the New Source Review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act and related state laws at certain coal-fired generating facilities. Through subsequent amendments and other legal procedures, the EPA filed a separate action in January 2001 against Alabama Power in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama after Alabama Power was dismissed from the original action. In these lawsuits, the EPA alleged that NSR violations occurred at eight coal-fired generating facilities operated by Alabama Power and Georgia Power. The civil actions request penalties and injunctive relief, including an order requiring the installation of the best available control technology at the affected units. The action against Georgia Power has been administratively closed since the spring of 2001, and the case has not been reopened.
In June 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama entered a consent decree between Alabama Power and the EPA, resolving a portion of the Alabama Power lawsuit relating to the alleged NSR violations at Plant Miller. The consent decree required Alabama Power to pay $100,000 to resolve the government’s claim for a civil penalty and to donate $4.9 million of sulfur dioxide emission allowances to a nonprofit charitable organization. It also formalized specific emissions reductions to be accomplished by Alabama Power, consistent with other Clean Air Act programs that require emissions reductions. In August 2006, the district court in Alabama granted Alabama Power’s motion for summary judgment and entered final judgment in favor of Alabama Power on the EPA’s claims related to all of the remaining plants: Plants Barry, Gaston, Gorgas, and Greene County.
The plaintiffs appealed the district court’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, where the appeal was stayed, pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in a similar case against Duke Energy. The Supreme Court issued its decision in the Duke Energy case in April 2007, and in December 2007, the Eleventh Circuit vacated the district court’s decision in the Alabama Power case and remanded the case back to the district court for consideration of the legal issues in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Duke Energy case. On July 24, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama granted partial summary judgment in favor of Alabama Power regarding the proper legal test for determining whether projects are routine maintenance, repair, and replacement and therefore are excluded from NSR permitting. The decision did not resolve the case, and the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.

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Southern Company believes that the traditional operating companies complied with applicable laws and the EPA regulations and interpretations in effect at the time the work in question took place. The Clean Air Act authorizes maximum civil penalties of $25,000 to $37,500 per day, per violation at each generating unit, depending on the date of the alleged violation. An adverse outcome in either of these cases could require substantial capital expenditures or affect the timing of currently budgeted capital expenditures that cannot be determined at this time and could possibly require payment of substantial penalties. Such expenditures could affect future results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates.
Carbon Dioxide Litigation
New York Case
In July 2004, three environmental groups and attorneys general from eight states, each outside of Southern Company’s service territory, and the corporation counsel for New York City filed complaints in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Southern Company and four other electric power companies. The complaints allege that the companies’ emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, contribute to global warming, which the plaintiffs assert is a public nuisance. Under common law public and private nuisance theories, the plaintiffs seek a judicial order (1) holding each defendant jointly and severally liable for creating, contributing to, and/or maintaining global warming and (2) requiring each of the defendants to cap its emissions of carbon dioxide and then reduce those emissions by a specified percentage each year for at least a decade. The plaintiffs have not, however, requested that damages be awarded in connection with their claims. Southern Company believes these claims are without merit and notes that the complaint cites no statutory or regulatory basis for the claims. In September 2005, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Southern Company’s and the other defendants’ motions to dismiss these cases. The plaintiffs filed an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in October 2005, but no decision has been issued. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Kivalina Case
On February 26, 2008, the Native Village of Kivalina and the City of Kivalina filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against several electric utilities (including Southern Company), several oil companies, and a coal company. The plaintiffs are the governing bodies of an Inupiat village in Alaska. The plaintiffs contend that the village is being destroyed by erosion allegedly caused by global warming that the plaintiffs attribute to emissions of greenhouse gases by the defendants. The plaintiffs assert claims for public and private nuisance and contend that the defendants have acted in concert and are therefore jointly and severally liable for the plaintiffs’ damages. The suit seeks damages for lost property values and for the cost of relocating the village, which is alleged to be $95 million to $400 million. On June 30, 2008, all defendants filed motions to dismiss this case. Southern Company believes that these claims are without merit and notes that the complaint cites no statutory or regulatory basis for the claims. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time.
Environmental Statutes and Regulations
General
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. Applicable statutes include the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act; the Endangered Species Act; and related federal and state regulations. Compliance with these environmental requirements involves significant capital and operating

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costs, a major portion of which is expected to be recovered through existing ratemaking provisions. Through 2008, Southern Company had invested approximately $6.3 billion in capital projects to comply with these requirements, with annual totals of $1.6 billion, $1.5 billion, and $661 million for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The Company expects that capital expenditures to assure compliance with existing and new statutes and regulations will be an additional $1.4 billion, $737 million, and $871 million for 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. The Company’s compliance strategy can be affected by changes to existing environmental laws, statutes, and regulations, the cost, availability, and existing inventory of emission allowances, and the Company’s fuel mix. Environmental costs that are known and estimable at this time are included in capital expenditures discussed under FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY — “Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations” herein.
Compliance with any new federal or state legislation or regulations related to global climate change, air quality, combustion byproducts, including coal ash, or other environmental and health concerns could also significantly affect Southern Company. Although new or revised environmental legislation or regulations could affect many areas of Southern Company’s operations, the full impact of any such changes cannot be determined at this time.
Air Quality
Compliance with the Clean Air Act and resulting regulations has been and will continue to be a significant focus for Southern Company. Through 2008, the Company had spent approximately $5.4 billion in reducing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and in monitoring emissions pursuant to the Clean Air Act. Additional controls are currently being installed at several plants to further reduce air emissions, maintain compliance with existing regulations, and meet new requirements.
In 2004, the EPA designated nonattainment areas under an eight-hour ozone standard. Areas within Southern Company’s service area that were designated as nonattainment under the eight-hour ozone standard included Macon (Georgia), Birmingham (Alabama), and a 20-county area within metropolitan Atlanta. The Macon and Birmingham areas have since been redesignated as attainment areas by the EPA, and maintenance plans to address future exceedances of the standard have been approved for both areas. State plans for bringing the Atlanta area into attainment with this standard were due to the EPA in 2007; however, in December 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the EPA rules designed to provide states with the guidance necessary to develop those plans. State plans could require additional reductions in NOx emissions from power plants. On March 12, 2008, the EPA issued a final rule establishing a more stringent eight-hour ozone standard which will likely result in designation of new nonattainment areas within Southern Company’s service territory. The EPA is expected to publish those designations in 2010 and require state implementation plans for any nonattainment areas by 2013.
During 2005, the EPA’s annual fine particulate matter nonattainment designations became effective for several areas within Southern Company’s service area in Alabama and Georgia. State plans for addressing the nonattainment designations for this standard were due by April 5, 2008 but have not been finalized. These state plans could require further reductions in SO2 and NOx emissions from power plants. In September 2006, the EPA published a final rule which increased the stringency of the 24-hour average fine particulate matter air quality standard. On December 18, 2008, the EPA designated the Birmingham, Alabama area as nonattainment for the 24-hour standard. A state implementation plan for this nonattainment area is due in 2012.
The EPA issued the final Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) in March 2005. This cap-and-trade rule addresses power plant SO2 and NOx emissions that were found to contribute to nonattainment of the eight-hour ozone and fine particulate matter standards in downwind states. Twenty-eight eastern states, including each of the states within Southern Company’s service area, are subject to the requirements of the rule. The rule calls for additional

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reductions of NOx and/or SO2 to be achieved in two phases, 2009/2010 and 2015. On July 11, 2008, in response to petitions brought by certain states and regulated industries challenging particular aspects of CAIR, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision vacating CAIR in its entirety and remanding it to the EPA for further action consistent with its opinion. On December 23, 2008, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit altered its July decision in response to a rehearing petition and remanded CAIR to the EPA without vacatur, thereby leaving CAIR compliance requirements in place while the EPA develops a revised rule.  States in the Southern Company service territory have completed plans to implement CAIR.  Emission reductions are being accomplished by the installation of emission controls at Southern Company’s coal-fired facilities and/or by the purchase of emission allowances. The full impact of the court’s remand and the outcome of the EPA’s future rulemaking in response cannot be determined at this time. 
The Clean Air Visibility Rule (formerly called the Regional Haze Rule) was finalized in July 2005. The goal of this rule is to restore natural visibility conditions in certain areas (primarily national parks and wilderness areas) by 2064. The rule involves (1) the application of Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) to certain sources built between 1962 and 1977 and (2) the application of any additional emissions reductions which may be deemed necessary for each designated area to achieve reasonable progress by 2018 toward the natural conditions goal. Thereafter, for each 10-year planning period, additional emissions reductions will be required to continue to demonstrate reasonable progress in each area during that period. For power plants, the Clean Air Visibility Rule allows states to determine that CAIR satisfies BART requirements for SO2 and NOx. Extensive studies were performed for each of the Company’s affected units to demonstrate that additional particulate matter controls are not necessary under BART. The states of Alabama and Mississippi have determined that no additional SO2 controls beyond CAIR are needed to satisfy reasonable progress. At the request of the State of Georgia, additional analyses were performed for certain units in Georgia to demonstrate that no additional SO2 controls were required to demonstrate reasonable progress. States have completed or are currently completing implementation plans that contain strategies for BART and any other measures required to achieve the first phase of reasonable progress.
The impacts of the eight-hour ozone nonattainment designations, the fine particulate matter nonattainment designations, and the Clean Air Visibility Rule on the Company cannot be determined at this time and will depend on the resolution of any pending legal challenges and the development and implementation of rules at the state level. For example, the State of Georgia has approved a “multi-pollutant rule” that requires plant-specific emission controls on all but the smallest generating units in Georgia to be installed according to a schedule set forth in the rule. The rule is designed to ensure reductions in emissions of SO2, NOx, and mercury in Georgia.
The Company has developed and continually updates a comprehensive environmental compliance strategy to assess compliance obligations associated with the continuing and new environmental requirements discussed above. As part of this strategy, the Company plans to install additional SO2 and NOx emission controls within the next several years to ensure continued compliance with applicable air quality requirements.
In March 2005, the EPA published the final Clean Air Mercury Rule, a cap-and-trade program for the reduction of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The final Clean Air Mercury Rule was challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The petitioners alleged that the EPA was not authorized to establish a cap-and-trade program for mercury emissions and instead the EPA must establish maximum achievable control technology standards for coal-fired electric utility steam generating units. On February 8, 2008, the court ruled in favor of the petitioners and vacated the Clean Air Mercury Rule. The Company’s overall environmental compliance strategy relies primarily on a combination of SO2 and NOx controls to reduce mercury emissions. Any significant changes in the strategy will depend on the outcome of any appeals and/or future federal and state rulemakings. Future rulemakings necessitated by the court’s decision could require emission reductions more stringent than those required by the Clean Air Mercury Rule.

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Water Quality
In July 2004, the EPA published its final technology-based regulations under the Clean Water Act for the purpose of reducing impingement and entrainment of fish, shellfish, and other forms of aquatic life at existing power plant cooling water intake structures. The rules require baseline biological information and, perhaps, installation of fish protection technology near some intake structures at existing power plants. In January 2007, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned and remanded several provisions of the rule, including the use of cost-benefit analysis, to the EPA for revisions. The decision has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The full impact of these regulations will depend on subsequent legal proceedings, further rulemaking by the EPA, the results of studies and analyses performed as part of the rules’ implementation, and the actual requirements established by state regulatory agencies and, therefore, cannot be determined at this time.
Environmental Remediation
Southern Company must comply with other environmental laws and regulations that cover the handling and disposal of waste and releases of hazardous substances. Under these various laws and regulations, the traditional operating companies could incur substantial costs to clean up properties. The traditional operating companies conduct studies to determine the extent of any required cleanup and have recognized in their respective financial statements the costs to clean up known sites. Amounts for cleanup and ongoing monitoring costs were not material for any year presented. The traditional operating companies may be liable for some or all required cleanup costs for additional sites that may require environmental remediation. See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Environmental Matters – Environmental Remediation” for additional information.
Global Climate Issues
Federal legislative proposals that would impose mandatory requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy standards continue to be strongly considered in Congress, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been identified as a high priority by the current Administration. The ultimate outcome of these proposals cannot be determined at this time; however, mandatory restrictions on the Company’s greenhouse gas emissions could result in significant additional compliance costs that could affect future unit retirement and replacement decisions and results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates.
In April 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles. The EPA is currently developing its response to this decision. Regulatory decisions that will follow from this response may have implications for both new and existing stationary sources, such as power plants. The ultimate outcome of these rulemaking activities cannot be determined at this time; however, as with the current legislative proposals, mandatory restrictions on the Company’s greenhouse gas emissions could result in significant additional compliance costs that could affect future unit retirement and replacement decisions and results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if such costs are not recovered through regulated rates.
In addition, some states are considering or have undertaken actions to regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, on June 25, 2008, Florida’s Governor signed comprehensive energy-related legislation that includes authorization for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules for a cap-and-trade regulatory program to address greenhouse gas emissions from electric utilities, conditioned upon their ratification by the legislature no sooner than the 2010 legislative session.  This legislation also authorizes the Florida PSC to adopt a renewable portfolio standard for public utilities, subject to legislative ratification. The impact of this and any similar legislation on Southern Company will depend on the future development, adoption, legislative ratification,

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implementation, and potential legal challenges to rules governing greenhouse gas emissions and mandates regarding the use of renewable energy, and the ultimate outcome cannot be determined at this time.
International climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also continue. Current efforts focus on a potential successor to the Kyoto Protocol for the post 2012 timeframe, with a conclusion to this round of negotiations targeted for the end of 2009. The outcome and impact of the international negotiations cannot be determined at this time.
The Company is actively evaluating and developing electric generating technologies with lower greenhouse gas emissions. These include new nuclear generation, including proposed construction of two additional generating units at Plant Vogtle in Georgia; proposed construction of an advanced IGCC unit with approximately 50% carbon capture in Kemper County, Mississippi; and renewables investments, including the proposed conversion of Plant Mitchell in Georgia from coal-fired to biomass generation. The Company is currently considering additional projects and is pursuing research into the costs and viability of other renewable technologies for the Southeast.
FERC Matters
Market-Based Rate Authority
Each of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power has authorization from 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.
In December 2004, the FERC initiated a proceeding to assess Southern Company’s generation dominance within its retail service territory. The ability to charge market-based rates in other markets is not an issue in the proceeding. Any new market-based rate sales by any subsidiary of Southern Company in Southern Company’s retail service territory entered into during a 15-month refund period that ended in May 2006 could be subject to refund to a cost-based rate level.
In November 2007, the presiding administrative law judge issued an initial decision regarding the methodology to be used in the generation dominance tests. The proceedings are ongoing. The ultimate outcome of this generation dominance proceeding cannot now be determined, but an adverse decision by the FERC in a final order could require the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to charge cost-based rates for certain wholesale sales in the Southern Company retail service territory, which may be lower than negotiated market-based rates, and could also result in total refunds of up to $19.7 million, plus interest. Southern Company and its subsidiaries believe that there is no meritorious basis for an adverse decision in this proceeding and are vigorously defending themselves in this matter.
In June 2007, the FERC issued its final rule in Order No. 697 regarding market-based rate authority. The FERC generally retained its current market-based rate standards. Responding to a number of requests for rehearing, the FERC issued Order No. 697-A on April 21, 2008 and Order No. 697-B on December 12, 2008. These orders largely affirmed the FERC’s prior revision and codification of the regulations governing market-based rates for public utilities. In accordance with the orders, Southern Company submitted to the FERC an updated market power analysis on September 2, 2008 related to its continued market-based rate authority. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot now be determined.
On October 17, 2008, Southern Company filed with the FERC a revised market-based rate (MBR) tariff and a new cost-based rate (CBR) tariff.   The revised MBR tariff provides for a “must offer” energy auction whereby Southern Company offers all of its available energy for sale in a day-ahead auction and an hour-ahead auction with reserve prices not to exceed the CBR tariff price, after considering Southern Company’s native load requirements, reliability

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obligations, and sales commitments to third parties. All sales under the energy auction would be at market clearing prices established under the auction rules. The new CBR tariff provides for a cost-based price for wholesale sales of less than a year. On December 18, 2008, the FERC issued an order conditionally accepting the MBR tariff subject to certain revisions to the auction proposal. On January 21, 2009, Southern Company made a compliance filing that accepted all the conditions of the MBR tariff order. When this order becomes final, Southern Company will have 30 days to implement the wholesale auction. On December 31, 2008, the FERC issued an order conditionally accepting the CBR tariff subject to providing additional information concerning one aspect of the tariff. On January 30, 2009, Southern Company filed a response addressing the FERC inquiry to the CBR tariff order. Implementation of the energy auction in accordance with the MBR tariff order is expected to adequately mitigate going forward any presumption of market power that Southern Company may have in the Southern Company retail service territory. The timing of when the FERC may issue the final orders on the MBR and CBR tariffs and the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Generation Interconnection Agreements
In November 2004, generator company subsidiaries of Tenaska, Inc. (Tenaska), as counterparties to three previously executed interconnection agreements with subsidiaries of Southern Company, filed complaints at the FERC requesting that the FERC modify the agreements and that those Southern Company subsidiaries refund a total of $19 million previously paid for interconnection facilities. No other similar complaints are pending with the FERC.
In January 2007, the FERC issued an order granting Tenaska’s requested relief. Although the FERC’s order required the modification of Tenaska’s interconnection agreements, under the provisions of the order, Southern Company determined that no refund was payable to Tenaska. Southern Company requested rehearing asserting that the FERC retroactively applied a new principle to existing interconnection agreements. Tenaska requested rehearing of FERC’s methodology for determining the amount of refunds. The requested rehearings were denied, and Southern Company and Tenaska have appealed the orders to the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia. The final outcome of this matter cannot now be determined.
PSC Matters
Alabama Power
Effective January 2007 and thereafter, Rate RSE adjustments are based on forward-looking information for the applicable upcoming calendar year. Retail rate adjustments for any two-year period, when averaged together, cannot exceed 4% per year and any annual adjustment is limited to 5%. Retail rates remain unchanged when the retail return on common equity (ROE) is projected to be between 13.0% and 14.5%. If Alabama Power’s actual retail ROE is above the allowed equity return range, customer refunds will be required; however, there is no provision for additional customer billings should the actual retail ROE fall below the allowed equity return range.
On October 7, 2008, the Alabama PSC approved a corrective rate package primarily providing for adjustments associated with customer charges to certain existing rate structures. This package, effective in January 2009, is expected to generate additional annual revenues of approximately $168 million. Alabama Power agreed to a moratorium on any increase in 2009 under Rate RSE. Alabama Power also agreed to defer any increase in rates during 2009 under the portion of Rate Certificated New Plant which permits recovery of costs associated with environmental laws and regulations until 2010. The deferral of the retail rate adjustments will have no significant effect on Southern Company’s revenues or net income, but will have an immaterial impact on annual cash flows. On December 1, 2008, Alabama Power made its submission of projected data for calendar year 2009. See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Alabama Power Retail Regulatory Matters” for further information.

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Georgia Power
In December 2007, the Georgia PSC approved the retail rate plan for the years 2008 through 2010 (2007 Retail Rate Plan). Under the 2007 Retail Rate Plan, Georgia Power’s earnings will continue to be evaluated against a retail ROE range of 10.25% to 12.25%. Two-thirds of any earnings above 12.25% will be applied to rate refunds with the remaining one-third applied to an environmental compliance cost recovery (ECCR) tariff. Georgia Power has agreed that it will not file for a general base rate increase during this period unless its projected retail ROE falls below 10.25%. Retail base rates increased by approximately $99.7 million effective January 1, 2008 to provide for cost recovery of transmission, distribution, generation, and other investments, as well as increased operating costs. In addition, the ECCR tariff was implemented to allow for the recovery of costs for required environmental projects mandated by state and federal regulations. The ECCR tariff increased rates by approximately $222 million effective January 1, 2008. Georgia Power is required to file a general rate case by July 1, 2010, in response to which the Georgia PSC would be expected to determine whether the 2007 Retail Rate Plan should be continued, modified, or discontinued. See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Georgia Power Retail Regulatory Matters” for additional information.
Fuel Cost Recovery
The traditional operating companies each have established fuel cost recovery rates approved by their respective state PSCs. Over the past several years, the traditional operating companies have continued to experience higher than expected fuel costs for coal, natural gas, and uranium. The traditional operating companies continuously monitor the under recovered fuel cost balance in light of these higher fuel costs. Each of the traditional operating companies received approval in 2007 and/or 2008 to increase its fuel cost recovery factor to recover existing under recovered amounts as well as projected future costs. At December 31, 2008, the amount of under recovered fuel costs included in the balance sheets was $1.2 billion compared to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2007.
Fuel cost recovery revenues as recorded on the financial statements are adjusted for differences in actual recoverable costs and amounts billed in current regulated rates. Accordingly, changing the billing factor has no significant effect on the Company’s revenues or net income, but does impact annual cash flow. Based on their respective state PSC orders, a portion of the under recovered regulatory clause revenues for Alabama Power and Georgia Power was reclassified from current assets to deferred charges and other assets in the balance sheets. See Note 1 to the financial statements under “Revenues” and Note 3 to the financial statements under “Alabama Power Retail Regulatory Matters”, “Georgia Power Retail Regulatory Matters”, and “Gulf Power Retail Regulatory Matters” for additional information.
Storm Damage Cost Recovery
Each traditional operating company maintains a reserve to cover the cost of damages from major storms to its transmission and distribution lines and generally the cost of uninsured damages to its generation facilities and other property. In addition, each of the traditional operating companies has been authorized by its state PSC to defer the portion of the major storm restoration costs that exceeded the balance in its storm damage reserve account. As of December 31, 2008, the under recovered balance in Southern Company’s storm damage reserve accounts totaled approximately $27 million, of which approximately $21 million and $6 million, respectively, are included in the balance sheets herein under “Other Current Assets” and “Other Regulatory Assets.”
See Notes 1 and 3 to the financial statements under “Storm Damage Reserves” and “Storm Damage Cost Recovery,” respectively, for additional information on these reserves. The final outcome of these matters cannot now be determined.

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Mississippi Base Load Construction Legislation
In the 2008 regular session of the Mississippi legislature, a bill was passed and signed by the Governor on May 9, 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 cannot now be determined.
Mirant Matters
Mirant was an energy company with businesses that included independent power projects and energy trading and risk management companies in the U.S. and selected other countries. It was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company until its initial public offering in October 2000. In April 2001, Southern Company completed a spin-off to its shareholders of its remaining ownership, and Mirant became an independent corporate entity.
In July 2003, Mirant and certain of its affiliates filed for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In January 2006, Mirant’s plan of reorganization became effective, and Mirant emerged from bankruptcy. As part of the plan, Mirant transferred substantially all of its assets and its restructured debt to a new corporation that adopted the name Mirant Corporation (Reorganized Mirant). Southern Company has certain contingent liabilities associated with guarantees of contractual commitments made by Mirant’s subsidiaries discussed in Note 7 to the financial statements under “Guarantees” and with various lawsuits discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements under “Mirant Matters.”
In December 2004, as a result of concluding an IRS audit for the tax years 2000 and 2001, Southern Company paid approximately $39 million in additional tax and interest related to Mirant tax items and filed a claim in Mirant’s bankruptcy case for that amount.  Through December 2008, Southern Company received from the IRS approximately $38 million in refunds related to Mirant. Southern Company believes it has a right to recoup the $39 million tax payment owed by Mirant from such tax refunds.  As a result, Southern Company intends to retain the tax refunds and reduce its claim against Mirant for the payment of Mirant taxes by the amount of such refunds.  MC Asset Recovery, a special purpose subsidiary of Reorganized Mirant, has objected to and sought to equitably subordinate the Southern Company tax claim in its fraudulent transfer litigation against Southern Company. Southern Company has reserved the remaining amount with respect to its Mirant tax claim.
If Southern Company is ultimately required to make any additional payments either with respect to the IRS audit or its contingent obligations under guarantees of Mirant subsidiaries, Mirant’s indemnification obligation to Southern Company for these additional payments, if allowed, would constitute unsecured claims against Mirant, entitled to stock in Reorganized Mirant. See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Mirant Matters — Mirant Bankruptcy.”
In June 2005, Mirant, as a debtor in possession, and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Mirant Corporation filed a complaint against Southern Company in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, which was amended in July 2005, February 2006, May 2006, and March 2007. In January 2006, MC Asset Recovery was substituted as plaintiff. The fourth amended complaint (the complaint) alleges that Southern Company caused Mirant to engage in certain fraudulent transfers and to pay illegal dividends to Southern Company

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prior to the spin-off. The complaint also seeks to recharacterize certain advances from Southern Company to Mirant for investments in energy facilities from debt to equity. The complaint further alleges that Southern Company is liable to Mirant’s creditors for the full amount of Mirant’s liability under an alter ego theory of recovery and that Southern Company breached its fiduciary duties to Mirant and its creditors, caused Mirant to breach its fiduciary duties to creditors, and aided and abetted breaches of fiduciary duties by Mirant’s directors and officers. The complaint also seeks recoveries under the theories of restitution and unjust enrichment. In addition, the complaint alleged a claim under the Federal Debt Collection Procedure Act (FDCPA) to avoid certain transfers from Mirant to Southern Company; however, on July 7, 2008, the court ruled that the FDCPA does not apply and that Georgia law should apply instead. The complaint seeks monetary damages in excess of $2 billion plus interest, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs. Finally, the complaint includes an objection to Southern Company’s pending claims against Mirant in the Bankruptcy Court (which relate to reimbursement under the separation agreements of payments such as income taxes, interest, legal fees, and other guarantees described in Note 7 to the financial statements) and seeks equitable subordination of Southern Company’s claims to the claims of all other creditors. Southern Company served an answer to the complaint in April 2007.
In February 2006, the Company’s motion to transfer the case to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia was granted. In May 2006, Southern Company filed a motion for summary judgment seeking entry of judgment against the plaintiff as to all counts in the complaint. In December 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia granted in part and denied in part the motion. As a result, certain breach of fiduciary duty claims alleged in earlier versions of the complaint were barred; all other claims were allowed to proceed. On August 6, 2008, Southern Company filed a second motion for summary judgment. MC Asset Recovery filed its response to Southern Company’s motion for summary judgment on October 20, 2008. On February 5, 2009, the court denied the summary judgment motion in connection with the fraudulent conveyance and illegal dividend claims concerning certain advance return/loan repayments in 1999, dividends in 1999 and 2000, and transfers in connection with Mirant’s separation from Southern Company. The court granted Southern Company’s motion for summary judgment with respect to certain claims, including claims for restitution and unjust enrichment, claims that Southern Company aided and abetted Mirant’s directors’ breach of fiduciary duties to Mirant, and claims that Southern Company used Mirant as an alter ego. In addition, the court granted Southern Company’s motion in connection with the fraudulent transfer and illegal dividend claims concerning certain turbine termination payments. Southern Company believes there is no meritorious basis for the claims in the complaint and is vigorously defending itself in this action. See Note 3 to the financial statements under “Mirant Matters — MC Asset Recovery Litigation” for additional information. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Mirant Securities Litigation
In November 2002, Southern Company, certain former and current senior officers of Southern Company, and 12 underwriters of Mirant’s initial public offering were added as defendants in a class action lawsuit that several Mirant shareholders originally filed against Mirant and certain Mirant officers in May 2002. Several other similar lawsuits filed subsequently were consolidated into this litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The amended complaint is based on allegations related to alleged improper energy trading and marketing activities involving the California energy market, alleged false statements and omissions in Mirant’s prospectus for its initial public offering and in subsequent public statements by Mirant, and accounting-related issues previously disclosed by Mirant. The lawsuit purports to include persons who acquired Mirant securities between September 26, 2000 and September 5, 2002.
In July 2003, the court dismissed all claims based on Mirant’s alleged improper energy trading and marketing activities involving the California energy market. The other claims do not allege any improper trading and marketing activity, accounting errors, or material misstatements or omissions on the part of Southern Company but seek to impose liability on Southern Company based on allegations that Southern Company was a “control person”

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as to Mirant prior to the spin-off date. Southern Company filed an answer to the consolidated amended class action complaint in September 2003. Plaintiffs also filed a motion for class certification.
During Mirant’s Chapter 11 proceeding, the securities litigation was stayed, with the exception of limited discovery. Since Mirant’s plan of reorganization has become effective, the stay has been lifted. In March 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration requesting that the court vacate that portion of its July 2003 order dismissing the plaintiffs’ claims based upon Mirant’s alleged improper energy trading and marketing activities involving the California energy market. Southern Company and the other defendants opposed the plaintiffs’ motion. In March 2007, the court granted plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration, reinstated the California energy market claims, and granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion to compel certain class certification discovery. In March 2007, defendants filed renewed motions to dismiss the California energy claims on grounds originally set forth in their 2003 motions to dismiss, but which were not addressed by the court. In July 2007, certain defendants, including Southern Company, filed motions for reconsideration of the court’s denial of a motion seeking dismissal of certain federal securities laws claims based upon, among other things, certain alleged errors included in financial statements issued by Mirant. On August 6, 2008, the court entered an order in regard to the defendants’ motions to dismiss and for partial summary judgment. The court granted the defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment in two respects concluding that certain holders of Mirant stock do not have standing under the securities laws. The court denied the defendants’ other motions and granted leave to the plaintiffs to re-plead their claims against the defendants. In accordance with the court’s order, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. The plaintiffs added allegations based upon claims asserted against Southern Company in the MC Asset Recovery litigation. Southern Company and the remaining defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaint on October 9, 2008. On January 7, 2009, the trial judge dismissed all counts of the plaintiffs’ second amended complaint with prejudice. This matter is now concluded.
Income Tax Matters
Legislation
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Major tax incentives in the ARRA include an extension of bonus depreciation and multiple renewable energy incentives. These incentives could have a significant impact on Southern Company’s future cash flow and net income. Additionally, the ARRA includes programs for renewable energy, transmission and smart grid enhancement, fossil energy and research, and energy efficiency and conservation. The ultimate impact cannot be determined at this time.
Georgia State Income Tax Credits
Georgia Power’s 2005 through 2008 income tax filings for the State of Georgia include state income tax credits for increased activity through Georgia ports. Georgia Power has also filed similar claims for the years 2002 through 2004. The Georgia Department of Revenue has not responded to these claims. In July 2007, Georgia Power filed a complaint in the Superior Court of Fulton County to recover the credits claimed for the years 2002 through 2004. An unrecognized tax benefit has been recorded related to these credits. If Georgia Power prevails, these claims could have a significant, and possibly material, positive effect on Southern Company’s net income. If Georgia Power is not successful, payment of the related state tax could have a significant, and possibly material, negative effect on Southern Company’s cash flow. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot now be determined.
Internal Revenue Code Section 199 Domestic Production Deduction
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deduction is equal to a stated percentage of qualified production activities net income. The percentage is phased in over the years 2005 through 2010 with a 3% rate applicable to the years 2005 and 2006, a 6% rate applicable for years 2007 through 2009, and a 9% rate thereafter. The IRS has not clearly defined a methodology for calculating this deduction. However, Southern Company has agreed with the IRS on a calculation methodology and signed a closing agreement on December 11, 2008. Therefore, Southern Company reversed the unrecognized tax benefit and adjusted the deduction to conform to the agreement. The net impact of the reversal of the unrecognized tax benefits combined with the application of the new methodology had no material effect on the Company’s financial statements. See Note 5 to the financial statements under “Effective Tax Rate” for additional information.
Construction Projects
Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle
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. The plant would utilize an advanced coal IGCC with an output capacity of 582 megawatts. The Kemper IGCC will use locally mined lignite (an abundant, lower heating value coal) from a proposed mine adjacent to the plant as fuel. 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 environmental reviews and certain regulatory approvals, is expected to begin commercial operation in November 2013. As part of its filing, Mississippi Power has requested certain rate recovery treatment in accordance with the base load construction legislation. See FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL — “PSC Matters – Mississippi Base Load Construction Legislation” herein for additional information.
Mississippi Power filed an application in June 2006 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for certain tax credits available to projects using clean coal technologies under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The DOE subsequently certified the Kemper IGCC, and in November 2006 the IRS allocated Internal Revenue Code Section 48A tax credits of $133 million to Mississippi Power. The utilization of these credits is dependent upon meeting the certification requirements for the Kemper IGCC, including an in-service date no later than November 2013. Mississippi Power has secured all environmental reviews and permits necessary to commence construction of the Kemper IGCC and has entered into a binding contract for the steam turbine generator, completing two milestone requirements for the Section 48A credits.
On February 14, 2008, Mississippi Power also requested that the DOE transfer the remaining funds previously granted to a cancelled Southern Company project that would have been located in Orlando, Florida. On December 12, 2008, an agreement was reached to assign the remaining funds to the Kemper IGCC. The estimated construction cost of the Kemper IGCC is approximately $2.2 billion, which is net of $220 million related to funding to be received from the DOE related to project construction. The remaining DOE funding of $50 million is projected to be used for demonstration over the first few years of operation.
Beginning in December 2006, the Mississippi PSC has approved Mississippi Power’s requested accounting treatment to defer the costs associated with Mississippi Power’s generation resource planning, evaluation, and screening activities as a regulatory asset. On December 22, 2008, Mississippi Power requested an amendment to its original order that would allow these costs to continue to be charged to and remain in a regulatory asset until January 1, 2010. In its application, Mississippi Power reported that it anticipated spending approximately $61 million by or before May 31, 2009. At December 31, 2008, Mississippi Power had spent $42.3 million of the $61 million, of which $3.7 million related to land purchases capitalized. Of the remaining amount, $0.8 million was expensed and $37.8 million was deferred in other regulatory assets.
The final outcome of this matter cannot now be determined.

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Nuclear
In August 2006, Southern Nuclear, on behalf of Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and the City of Dalton, Georgia, an incorporated municipality in the State of Georgia acting by and through its Board of Water, Light and Sinking Fund Commissioners (collectively, Owners), filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for an early site permit relating to two additional nuclear units on the site of Plant Vogtle. See Note 4 to the financial statements for additional information on these co-owners. On March 31, 2008, Southern Nuclear filed an application with the NRC for a combined construction and operating license (COL) for the new units.
On April 8, 2008, Georgia Power, acting for itself and as agent for the Owners, and a consortium consisting of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and Stone & Webster, Inc. (collectively, Consortium) entered into an engineering, procurement, and construction agreement to design, engineer, procure, construct, and test two AP1000 nuclear units with electric generating capacity of approximately 1,100 megawatts each and related facilities, structures, and improvements at Plant Vogtle (Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement).
The Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement is an arrangement whereby the Consortium supplies and constructs the entire facility with the exception of certain items provided by the Owners. Under the terms of the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement, the Owners will pay a purchase price that will be subject to certain price escalation and adjustments, adjustments for change orders, and performance bonuses. Each Owner is severally (and not jointly) liable for its proportionate share, based on its ownership interest, of all amounts owed to the Consortium under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement. Georgia Power’s proportionate share, based on its current ownership interest, is 45.7%. Under the terms of a separate joint development agreement, the Owners finalized their ownership percentages on July 2, 2008, except for allowed changes, under certain limited circumstances, during the Georgia PSC certification process.  
On August 1, 2008, Georgia Power submitted an application for the Georgia PSC to certify the project. Hearings began November 3, 2008 and a final certification decision is expected in March 2009.
If certified by the Georgia PSC and licensed by the NRC, Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are scheduled to be placed in service in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The total plant value to be placed in service will also include financing costs for each of the Owners, the impacts of inflation on costs, and transmission and other costs that are the responsibility of the Owners. Georgia Power’s proportionate share of the estimated in-service costs, based on its current ownership interest, is approximately $6.4 billion, subject to adjustments and performance bonuses under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement.
The Owners and the Consortium have agreed to certain liquidated damages upon the Consortium’s failure to comply with the schedule and performance guarantees. The Owners and the Consortium also have agreed to certain bonuses payable to the Consortium for early completion and unit performance. The Consortium’s liability to the Owners for schedule and performance liquidated damages and warranty claims is subject to a cap.
The obligations of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and Stone & Webster, Inc. under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement are guaranteed by Toshiba Corporation and The Shaw Group, Inc., respectively. In the event of certain credit rating downgrades of any Owner, such Owner will be required to provide a letter of credit or other credit enhancement.
The Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement is subject to certification by the Georgia PSC. In addition, the Owners may terminate the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement at any time for their convenience, provided that the Owners will be required to pay certain termination costs and, at certain stages of the work, cancellation fees to the Consortium. The Consortium may terminate the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement under certain circumstances, including delays in receipt of the COL or

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delivery of full notice to proceed, certain Owner suspension or delays of work, action by a governmental authority to permanently stop work, certain breaches of the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement by the Owners, Owner insolvency, and certain other events.  
In connection with the certification application, Georgia Power has requested Georgia PSC approval to include the construction work in progress accounts for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in rate base and allow Georgia Power to recover financing costs during the construction period.
On February 11, 2009, the Georgia State Senate passed Senate Bill 31 that would allow the Company to recover financing costs for nuclear construction projects by including the related construction work in progress accounts in rate base during the construction period. A similar bill is being considered in the Georgia State House of Representatives.
Southern Company also is participating in NuStart Energy Development, LLC (NuStart Energy), a broad-based nuclear industry consortium formed to share the cost of developing a COL and the related NRC review. NuStart Energy was organized to complete detailed engineering design work and to prepare COL applications for two advanced reactor designs. COLs for the two reactor designs were submitted to the NRC during the fourth quarter of 2007. The COLs ultimately are expected to be transferred to one or more of the consortium companies; however, at this time, none of them have committed to build a new nuclear plant.
Southern Company is also exploring other possibilities relating to additional nuclear power projects, both on its own or in partnership with other utilities.
The final outcome of these matters cannot now be determined.
Nuclear Relicensing
The NRC operating licenses for Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 currently expire in January 2027 and February 2029, respectively. In June 2007, Georgia Power filed an application with the NRC to extend the licenses for Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years. Georgia Power anticipates the NRC may make a decision regarding the license extension for Plant Vogtle in 2009.
Other Matters
Georgia Power has initiated a voluntary attrition plan under which participating employees may elect to resign from their positions as of March 31, 2009. Approximately 700 employees who have indicated an interest in participating in the plan have been selected by Georgia Power and are permitted to resign and receive severance. Each participating employee who resigns under the plan will be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to his or her annual base salary, accrued vacation, and pro-rated bonus as of March 31, 2009. Southern Company will record a charge during the first quarter 2009 in connection with the plan. The ultimate amount of the charge will be dependent on the total number of employees who elect to resign under the plan. Such charge could have a material impact on Southern Company’s statements of income for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 and statements of cash flow for the six months ending June 30, 2009. The first quarter 2009 charge will generally be offset with lower salary costs for the remainder of the year and is not expected to have a material impact on Southern Company’s financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2009.
Southern Company is involved in various other matters being litigated, regulatory matters, and certain tax-related issues that could affect future earnings. In addition, Southern Company is subject to certain claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. Southern Company’s business activities are subject to extensive governmental regulation related to public health and the environment. Litigation over environmental issues and

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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 claims for damages caused by alleged exposure to hazardous materials have become more frequent. The ultimate outcome of such pending or potential litigation against Southern Company and its subsidiaries cannot be predicted at this time; however, for current proceedings not specifically reported herein, management does not anticipate that the liabilities, if any, arising from such current proceedings would have a material adverse effect on Southern Company’s financial statements. See Note 3 to the financial statements for information regarding material issues.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Southern Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the financial statements. In the application of these policies, certain estimates are made that may have a material impact on Southern Company’s results of operations and related disclosures. Different assumptions and measurements could produce estimates that are significantly different from those recorded in the financial statements. Senior management has discussed the development and selection of the critical accounting policies and estimates described below with the Audit Committee of Southern Company’s Board of Directors.
Electric Utility Regulation
Southern Company’s traditional operating companies, which comprised approximately 95% of Southern Company’s total operating revenues for 2008, are subject to retail regulation by their respective state PSCs and wholesale regulation by the FERC. These regulatory agencies set the rates the traditional operating companies are permitted to charge customers based on allowable costs. As a result, the traditional operating companies apply FASB Statement No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation” (SFAS No. 71), which requires the financial statements to reflect the effects of rate regulation. Through the ratemaking process, the regulators may require the inclusion of costs or revenues in periods different than when they would be recognized by a non-regulated company. This treatment may result in the deferral of expenses and the recording of related regulatory assets based on anticipated future recovery through rates or the deferral of gains or creation of liabilities and the recording of related regulatory liabilities. The application of SFAS No. 71 has a further effect on the Company’s financial statements as a result of the estimates of allowable costs used in the ratemaking process. These estimates may differ from those actually incurred by the traditional operating companies; therefore, the accounting estimates inherent in specific costs such as depreciation, nuclear decommissioning, and pension and postretirement benefits have less of a direct impact on the Company’s results of operations than they would on a non-regulated company.
As reflected in Note 1 to the financial statements, significant regulatory assets and liabilities have been recorded. Management reviews the ultimate recoverability of these regulatory assets and liabilities based on applicable regulatory guidelines and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. However, adverse legislative, judicial, or regulatory actions could materially impact the amounts of such regulatory assets and liabilities and could adversely impact the Company’s financial statements.
Contingent Obligations
Southern Company and its subsidiaries are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, as well as other factors and conditions that potentially subject them to environmental, litigation, income tax, and other risks. See FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL herein and Note 3 to the financial statements for more information regarding certain of these contingencies. Southern Company periodically evaluates its exposure to such risks and, in

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accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, records reserves for those matters where a non-tax-related loss is considered probable and reasonably estimable and records a tax asset or liability if it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained. The adequacy of reserves can be significantly affected by external events or conditions that can be unpredictable; thus, the ultimate outcome of such matters could materially affect Southern Company’s financial statements. These events or conditions include the following:
  Changes in existing state or federal regulation by governmental authorities having jurisdiction over air quality, water quality, control of toxic substances, hazardous and solid wastes, and other environmental matters.
 
  Changes in existing income tax regulations or changes in IRS or state revenue department interpretations of existing regulations.
 
  Identification of additional sites that require environmental remediation or the filing of other complaints in which Southern Company or its subsidiaries may be asserted to be a potentially responsible party.
 
  Identification and evaluation of other potential lawsuits or complaints in which Southern Company or its subsidiaries may be named as a defendant.
 
  Resolution or progression of new or existing matters through the legislative process, the court systems, the IRS, the FERC, or the EPA.
Unbilled Revenues
Revenues related to the retail sale of electricity are recorded when electricity is delivered to customers. However, the determination of KWH sales to individual customers is based on the reading of their meters, which is performed on a systematic basis throughout the month. At the end of each month, amounts of electricity delivered to customers, but not yet metered and billed, are estimated. Components of the unbilled revenue estimates include total KWH territorial supply, total KWH billed, estimated total electricity lost in delivery, and customer usage. These components can fluctuate as a result of a number of factors including weather, generation patterns, and power delivery volume and other operational constraints. These factors can be unpredictable and can vary from historical trends. As a result, the overall estimate of unbilled revenues could be significantly affected, which could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.
New Accounting Standards
Business Combinations
In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (SFAS No. 141R). Southern Company adopted SFAS No. 141R on January 1, 2009. The adoption of SFAS No. 141R could have an impact on the accounting for any business combinations completed by Southern Company after January 1, 2009.
In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements” (SFAS No. 160). SFAS No. 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements” to establish accounting and reporting standards for the non-controlling (minority) interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a non-controlling interest in a subsidiary should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements and establishes a single method of accounting for changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation. Southern Company adopted SFAS No. 160 on January 1, 2009 with no material impact to the financial statements.

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FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY
Overview
Southern Company’s financial condition remained stable at December 31, 2008. Throughout the recent turmoil in the financial markets, Southern Company has maintained adequate access to capital without drawing on any of its committed bank credit arrangements used to support its commercial paper programs and variable rate pollution control revenue bonds. Southern Company and the traditional operating companies have continued to issue commercial paper at reasonable rates. Southern Company intends to continue to monitor its access to short-term and long-term capital markets as well as its bank credit arrangements to meet future capital and liquidity needs. No material changes in bank credit arrangements have occurred although market rates for committed credit have increased and the Company may be subject to higher costs as its existing facilities are replaced or renewed. Southern Company’s interest cost for short-term debt has decreased as market short-term interest rates have declined. The ultimate impact on future financing costs as a result of the financial turmoil cannot be determined at this time. Southern Company experienced no material counterparty credit losses as a result of the turmoil in the financial markets. See “Sources of Capital” and “Financing Activities” herein for additional information.
Southern Company’s investments in pension and nuclear decommissioning trust funds declined in value as of December 31, 2008. Southern Company expects that the earliest that cash may have to be contributed to the pension trust fund is 2011 and such contribution could be significant; however, projections of the amount vary significantly depending on interpretations of and decisions related to federal legislation passed during 2008 as well as other key variables including future trust fund performance and cannot be determined at this time. Southern Company does not expect any changes to funding obligations to the nuclear decommissioning trusts at this time.
Net cash provided from operating activities in 2008 totaled $3.4 billion, an increase of $3 million as compared to 2007. Significant changes in operating cash flow for 2008 included a $264 million increase in the use of funds for fossil fuel inventory as compared to 2007. This use of funds was offset by an increase in cash of $312 million in accrued taxes primarily due to a difference between the periods in payments for federal taxes and property taxes. Net cash provided from operating activities in 2007 totaled $3.4 billion, an increase of $575 million as compared to 2006. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net income as previously discussed, an increase in cash collections from previously deferred fuel and storm damage costs, and a reduction in cash outflows compared to the previous year in fossil fuel inventory. In 2006, net cash provided from operating activities totaled $2.8 billion, an increase over the previous year of $290 million, primarily as a result of a decrease in under recovered storm restoration costs, a decrease in accounts payable from year-end 2005 amounts that included substantial hurricane-related expenditures, partially offset by an increase in fossil fuel inventory.
Net cash used for investing activities in 2008 totaled $4.1 billion primarily due to property additions to utility plant of $4.0 billion. Net cash used for investing activities in 2007 totaled $3.7 billion primarily due to property additions to utility plant of $3.5 billion. In 2006, net cash used for investing activities was $2.8 billion primarily due to property additions to utility plant of $3.0 billion, partially offset by proceeds from the sale of Southern Company Gas LLC and the receipt by Mississippi Power of capital grant proceeds related to Hurricane Katrina.
Net cash provided from financing activities totaled $944 million in 2008 primarily due to long-term debt issuances. Net cash provided from financing activities totaled $348 million in 2007 primarily due to replacement of short-term debt with longer term financing and cash raised from common stock programs. In 2006, net cash used for financing activities was $21 million.
Significant balance sheet changes in 2008 include an increase in total property, plant, and equipment of $2.5 billion and an increase in long-term debt, excluding amounts due within one year, of $2.7 billion used primarily for construction expenditures and general corporate purposes. Other significant balance sheet changes which are

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
primarily attributable to the decline in market value of the Company’s pension trust fund include a decrease of $2.4 billion in prepaid pension costs, an increase of $1.9 billion in other regulatory assets, and a decrease of $1.3 billion in other regulatory liabilities.
At the end of 2008, the closing price of Southern Company’s common stock was $37.00 per share, compared with book value of $17.08 per share. The market-to-book value ratio was 217% at the end of 2008, compared with 239% at year-end 2007.
Southern Company, each of the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power have received investment grade credit ratings from the major rating agencies with respect to debt, preferred securities, preferred stock, and/or preference stock. SCS has an investment grade corporate credit rating.
Sources of Capital
Southern Company intends to meet its future capital needs through internal cash flow and external security issuances. Equity capital can be provided from any combination of the Company’s stock plans, private placements, or public offerings. The amount and timing of additional equity capital to be raised in 2009, as well as in subsequent years, will be contingent on Southern Company’s investment opportunities.
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power plan to obtain the funds required for construction and other purposes from sources similar to those used in the past, which were primarily from operating cash flows, security issuances, term loans, short-term borrowings, and equity contributions from Southern Company. However, the type and timing of any financings, if needed, will depend upon prevailing market conditions, regulatory approval, and other factors. The issuance of securities by the traditional operating companies is generally subject to the approval of the applicable state PSC. In addition, the issuance of all securities by Mississippi Power and Southern Power and short-term securities by Georgia Power is generally subject to regulatory approval by the FERC. Additionally, with respect to the public offering of securities, Southern Company and certain of its subsidiaries file registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (1933 Act). The amounts of securities authorized by the appropriate regulatory authorities, as well as the amounts, if any, registered under the 1933 Act, are continuously monitored and appropriate filings are made to ensure flexibility in the capital markets.
Southern Company, each traditional operating company, and Southern Power obtain financing separately without credit support from any affiliate. See Note 6 to the financial statements under “Bank Credit Arrangements” for additional information. The Southern Company system does not maintain a centralized cash or money pool. Therefore, funds of each company are not commingled with funds of any other company.
Southern Company’s current liabilities frequently exceed current assets because of the continued use of short-term debt as a funding source to meet cash needs as well as scheduled maturities of long-term debt. To meet short-term cash needs and contingencies, Southern Company has substantial cash flow from operating activities and access to capital markets, including commercial paper programs (which are backed by bank credit facilities).
At December 31, 2008, Southern Company and its subsidiaries had approximately $417 million of cash and cash equivalents and $4.2 billion of unused credit arrangements with banks, of which $970 million expire in 2009, $25 million expire in 2011, and $3.2 billion expire in 2012. Approximately $84 million of the credit facilities expiring in 2009 allow for the execution of term loans for an additional two-year period, and $544 million allow for the execution of one-year term loans. Most of these arrangements contain covenants that limit debt levels and typically contain cross default provisions that are restricted only to the indebtedness of the individual company. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are currently in compliance with all such covenants. See Note 6 to the financial statements under “Bank Credit Arrangements” for additional information.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Financing Activities
During 2008, Southern Company and its subsidiaries issued $2.5 billion of senior notes and $566 million of obligations related to pollution control revenue bonds. In addition, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power entered into long-term bank loans of $300 million, $110 million, and $80 million, respectively. Georgia Power and Gulf Power also entered into short-term bank loans of $100 million and $50 million, respectively. Interest rate hedges of $405 million notional amount were settled at a loss of $26 million related to the issuances. Southern Company issued $474 million of common stock through the Southern Company Investment Plan and employee and director stock plans. The security issuances were used to redeem or repay at maturity $1.5 billion of long-term debt, to reduce short-term indebtedness, to fund Southern Company’s ongoing construction program, and for general corporate purposes. Additionally, interest rate hedges of $100 million were settled early at a loss of $2 million related to counterparty credit issues.
Also in 2008, the traditional operating companies converted their entire $1.2 billion of obligations related to auction rate pollution control revenue bonds from auction rate modes to other interest rate modes. Initially, approximately $696 million of the auction rate pollution control revenue bonds were converted to fixed interest rate modes and approximately $553 million were converted to variable rate modes. In June 2008, approximately $98 million of the variable rate pollution control revenue bonds were converted to fixed interest rate modes.
During the third quarter 2008, Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Mississippi Power were required to purchase a total of approximately $96 million of variable rate pollution control revenue bonds that were tendered by investors. Alabama Power and Mississippi Power remarketed all of their repurchased variable rate pollution control revenue bonds of $11 million and $8 million, respectively. Georgia Power remarketed $75 million of its $77 million of tendered bonds. The remaining $2 million were extinguished.
In the fourth quarter 2008, Georgia Power and Gulf Power converted a total of approximately $171 million of variable rate pollution control revenue bonds to fixed interest rate modes.
Subsequent to December 31, 2008, Georgia Power issued $500 million of Series 2009A 5.95% Senior Notes due February 1, 2039. The proceeds were used to repay $150 million of its Series U Floating Rate Senior Notes at maturity, to repay short-term indebtedness, and for other general corporate purposes. Georgia Power settled $100 million of hedges related to the issuance at a loss of approximately $16 million.
In addition to any financings that may be necessary to meet capital requirements and contractual obligations, Southern Company and its subsidiaries plan to continue, when economically feasible, a program to retire higher-cost securities and replace these obligations with lower-cost capital if market conditions permit.
Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
In 2001, Mississippi Power began the initial 10-year term of a lease agreement for a combined cycle generating facility built at Plant Daniel for approximately $370 million. In 2003, the generating facility was acquired by Juniper Capital L.P. (Juniper), a limited partnership whose investors are unaffiliated with Mississippi Power. Simultaneously, Juniper entered into a restructured lease agreement with Mississippi Power. Juniper has also entered into leases with other parties unrelated to Mississippi Power. The assets leased by Mississippi Power comprise less than 50% of Juniper’s assets. Mississippi Power is not required to consolidate the leased assets and related liabilities, and the lease with Juniper is considered an operating lease. The lease also provides for a residual value guarantee, approximately 73% of the acquisition cost, by Mississippi Power that is due upon termination of the lease in the event that Mississippi Power does not renew the lease or purchase the assets and that the fair market value is less than the unamortized cost of the assets. See Note 7 to the financial statements under “Operating Leases” for additional information.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Credit Rating Risk
Southern Company does not have any credit arrangements that would require material changes in payment schedules or terminations as a result of a credit rating downgrade. There are certain contracts that could require collateral, but not accelerated payment, in the event of a credit rating change of certain subsidiaries to BBB and Baa2, or BBB- and/or Baa3 or below. These contracts are for physical electricity purchases and sales, fuel purchases, fuel transportation and storage, emissions allowances, energy price risk management, and construction of new generation. At December 31, 2008, the maximum potential collateral requirements under these contracts at a BBB and Baa2 rating were approximately $9 million and at a BBB- and/or Baa3 rating were approximately $395 million. At December 31, 2008, the maximum potential collateral requirements under these contracts at a rating below BBB- and/or Baa3 were approximately $1.8 billion. Generally, collateral may be provided by a Southern Company guaranty, letter of credit, or cash. Additionally, any credit rating downgrade could impact the Company’s ability to access capital markets, particularly the short-term debt market.
Market Price Risk
Southern Company is exposed to market risks, primarily commodity price risk and interest rate risk. To manage the volatility attributable to these exposures, the Company nets the exposures, where possible, to take advantage of natural offsets and enters into various derivative transactions for the remaining exposures pursuant to the Company’s policies in areas such as counterparty exposure and risk management practices. Company policy is that derivatives are to be used primarily for hedging purposes and mandates strict adherence to all applicable risk management policies. Derivative positions are monitored using techniques including, but not limited to, market valuation, value at risk, stress testing, and sensitivity analysis.
To mitigate future exposure to a change in interest rates, the Company enters into forward starting interest rate swaps and other derivatives that have been designated as hedges. Derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2008 have a notional amount of $1.4 billion and are related to anticipated debt issuances and various floating rate obligations over the next two years. The weighted average interest rate on $1.6 billion of long-term variable interest rate exposure that has not been hedged at January 1, 2009 was 2.45%. If Southern Company sustained a 100 basis point change in interest rates for all unhedged variable rate long-term debt, the change would affect annualized interest expense by approximately $16 million at January 1, 2009. For further information, see Notes 1 and 6 to the financial statements under “Financial Instruments.”
Due to cost-based rate regulation, the traditional operating companies continue to have limited exposure to market volatility in interest rates, commodity fuel prices, and prices of electricity. In addition, Southern Power’s exposure to market volatility in commodity fuel prices and prices of electricity is limited because its long-term sales contracts shift substantially all fuel cost responsibility to the purchaser. However, Southern Power has been and may continue to be exposed to market volatility in energy-related commodity prices as a result of sales of uncontracted generating capacity. To mitigate residual risks relative to movements in electricity prices, the traditional operating companies enter into physical fixed-price contracts for the purchase and sale of electricity through the wholesale electricity market and, to a lesser extent, into financial hedge contracts for natural gas purchases. The traditional operating companies continue to manage fuel-hedging programs implemented per the guidelines of their respective state PSCs.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
The changes in fair value of energy-related derivative contracts were as follows at December 31:
                 
    2008   2007
       Changes   Changes
    Fair Value
      (in millions)
Contracts outstanding at the beginning of the period, assets (liabilities), net  
  $ 4     $ (82 )
Contracts realized or settled 
    (150 )     80  
Current period changes(a)    
    (139 )     6  
 
Contracts outstanding at the end of the period, assets (liabilities), net  
  $ (285 )   $ 4  
 
(a)   Current period changes also include the changes in fair value of new contracts entered into during the period, if any.
The decrease in the fair value positions of the energy-related derivative contracts for the year-ended December 31, 2008 was $289 million, substantially all of which is due to natural gas positions. This change is attributable to both the volume and prices of natural gas. At December 31, 2008, Southern Company had a net hedge volume of 148.9 billion cubic feet (Bcf) with a weighted average contract cost approximately $1.97 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) above market prices, compared to 99.0 Bcf at December 31, 2007 with a weighted average contract cost approximately $0.01 per mmBtu above market prices. The majority of the natural gas hedges are recorded through the traditional operating companies’ fuel cost recovery clauses.
At December 31, the net fair value of energy-related derivative contracts by hedge designation was reflected in the financial statements as assets/(liabilities) as follows:
                 
    2008   2007
    (in millions)
Regulatory hedges
  $ (288 )   $  
Cash flow hedges
    (1 )     1  
Non-accounting hedges
    4       3  
     
Total fair value
  $ (285 )   $ 4  
     
Energy-related derivative contracts which are designated as regulatory hedges relate to the traditional operating companies’ fuel hedging programs, where gains and losses are initially recorded as regulatory liabilities and assets, respectively, and then are included in fuel expense as they are recovered through the fuel cost recovery clauses. Gains and losses on energy-related derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are mainly used by Southern Power to hedge anticipated purchases and sales and are initially deferred in other comprehensive income before being recognized in income in the same period as the hedged transaction. Gains and losses on energy-related derivative contracts that are not designated or fail to qualify as hedges are recognized in the statements of income as incurred.
Unrealized pre-tax gains/(losses) recognized in income for energy-related derivative contracts that are not hedges were not material for any year presented.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
The maturities of the energy-related derivative contracts and the level of the fair value hierarchy in which they fall at December 31, 2008 are as follows:
                                 
    December 31, 2008
    Fair Value Measurements
    Total   Maturity
    Fair Value   Year 1   Years 2&3   Years 4&5
    (in millions)
Level 1
  $     $     $     $  
Level 2
    (285 )     (203 )     (77 )     (5 )
Level 3
                       
 
Fair value of contracts outstanding at end of period
  $ (285 )   $ (203 )   $ (77 )   $ (5 )
 
As part of the adoption of FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures, the table above now uses the three-tier fair value hierarchy, as discussed in Note 10 to the financial statements, as opposed to the previously used descriptions “actively quoted,” “external sources,” and “models and other methods.” The three-tier fair value hierarchy focuses on the fair value of the contract itself, whereas the previous descriptions focused on the source of the inputs. Because Southern Company uses over-the-counter contracts that are not exchange traded but are fair valued using prices which are actively quoted, the valuations of those contracts now appear in Level 2; previously they were shown as “actively quoted.”
Southern Company is exposed to market risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to energy-related and interest rate derivative contracts. Southern Company’s practice is to enter into agreements with counterparties that have investment grade credit ratings by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s or with counterparties who have posted collateral to cover potential credit exposure. Therefore, Southern Company does not anticipate market risk exposure from nonperformance by the counterparties. For additional information, see Notes 1 and 6 to the financial statements under “Financial Instruments.”
During 2006 and 2007, Southern Company had derivatives in place to reduce its exposure to a phase-out of certain income tax credits related to synthetic fuel production in 2007. In accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 45K, these tax credits were subject to limitation as the annual average price of oil increased. Because these transactions were not designated as hedges, the gains and losses were recognized in the statements of income as incurred. These derivatives settled on January 1, 2008 and thus there was no income statement impact for the year ended December 31, 2008. For 2007 and 2006, the fair value gain/(loss) recognized in other income/(expense) to mark the transactions to market was $27 million and $(32) million, respectively. For further information, see Notes 1 and 6 to the financial statements under “Financial Instruments.”
Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations
The construction program of Southern Company is currently estimated to be $5.7 billion for 2009, $5.1 billion for 2010, and $5.8 billion for 2011. These estimates include costs for new generation construction. Environmental expenditures included in these estimated amounts are $1.4 billion, $737 million, and $871 million for 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. 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; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment, and materials; and the cost of capital. In addition, there can be no assurance that costs related to capital expenditures will be fully recovered.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
As a result of NRC requirements, Alabama Power and Georgia Power have external trust funds for nuclear decommissioning costs; however, Alabama Power currently has no additional funding requirements. For additional information, see Note 1 to the financial statements under “Nuclear Decommissioning.”
In addition, as discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, Southern Company provides postretirement benefits to substantially all employees and funds trusts to the extent required by the traditional operating companies’ respective regulatory commissions.
Other funding requirements related to obligations associated with scheduled maturities of long-term debt and preferred securities, as well as the related interest, derivative obligations, preferred and preference stock dividends, leases, and other purchase commitments are as follows. See Notes 1, 6, and 7 to the financial statements for additional information.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Contractual Obligations
                                                 
            2010-   2012-   After   Uncertain    
    2009   2011   2013   2013   Timing(d)   Total
    (in millions)
Long-term debt(a) —
                                               
Principal
  $ 617     $ 1,972     $ 2,745     $ 12,119     $     $ 17,453  
Interest
    858       1,616       1,424       11,102             15,000  
Preferred and preference stock dividends(b)
    65       130       130                   325  
Other derivative obligations(c) —
                                               
Energy-related
    224       78       5                   307  
Interest
    21                               21  
Operating leases
    143       212       81       146             582  
Unrecognized tax benefits and interest(d)
145                         16       161  
Purchase commitments(e) —
                                               
Capital(f)
    5,467       10,644                         16,111  
Limestone(g)
    13       70       72       144             299  
Coal
    4,608       5,999       2,602       3,421             16,630  
Nuclear fuel
    187       301       275       43             806  
Natural gas(h)
    1,507       1,609       1,242       3,798             8,156  
Purchased power
    217       455       413       1,938             3,023  
Long-term service agreements(i)
    85       203       255       1,731             2,274  
Trusts —
                                               
Nuclear decommissioning
    3       7       7       53             70  
Postretirement benefits(j)
    56       116                         172  
 
Total
  $ 14,216     $ 23,412     $ 9,251     $ 34,495     $ 16     $ 81,390  
 
(a)   All amounts are reflected based on final maturity dates. Southern Company and its subsidiaries plan to continue to retire higher-cost securities and replace these obligations with lower-cost capital if market conditions permit. Variable rate interest obligations are estimated based on rates as of January 1, 2009, as reflected in the statements of capitalization. Fixed rates include, where applicable, the effects of interest rate derivatives employed to manage interest rate risk.
 
(b)   Preferred and preference stock do not mature; therefore, amounts are provided for the next five years only.
 
(c)   For additional information, see Notes 1 and 6 to the financial statements.
 
(d)   The timing related to the $16 million in unrecognized tax benefits and interest payments in individual years beyond 12 months cannot be reasonably and reliably estimated due to uncertainties in the timing of the effective settlement of tax positions. See Notes 3 and 5 to the financial statements for additional information.
 
(e)   Southern Company generally does not enter into non-cancelable commitments for other operations and maintenance expenditures. Total other operations and maintenance expenses for 2008, 2007, and 2006 were $3.8 billion, $3.7 billion, and $3.5 billion, respectively.
 
(f)   Southern Company forecasts capital expenditures over a three-year period. Amounts represent current estimates of total expenditures excluding those amounts related to contractual purchase commitments for nuclear fuel. At December 31, 2008, significant purchase commitments were outstanding in connection with the construction program.
 
(g)   As part of Southern Company’s program to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from its coal plants, the traditional operating companies have begun construction of flue gas desulfurization projects and have entered into various long-term commitments for the procurement of limestone to be used in such equipment.
 
(h)   Natural gas purchase commitments are based on various indices at the time of delivery. Amounts reflected have been estimated based on the New York Mercantile Exchange future prices at December 31, 2008.
 
(i)   Long-term service agreements include price escalation based on inflation indices.
 
(j)   Southern Company forecasts postretirement trust contributions over a three-year period. Southern Company expects that the earliest that cash may have to be contributed to the pension trust fund is 2011 and such contribution could be significant; however, projections of the amount vary significantly depending on interpretations of and decisions related to federal legislation passed during 2008 as well as other key variables including future trust fund performance and cannot be determined at this time. Therefore, no amounts related to the pension trust fund are included in the table. See Note 2 to the financial statements for additional information related to the pension and postretirement plans, including estimated benefit payments. Certain benefit payments will be made through the related trusts. Other benefit payments will be made from Southern Company’s corporate assets.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Southern Company’s 2008 Annual Report contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the strategic goals for the wholesale business, retail sales growth, customer growth, storm damage cost recovery and repairs, fuel cost recovery and other rate actions, environmental regulations and expenditures, earnings growth, dividend payout ratios, access to sources of capital, projections for postretirement benefit and nuclear decommissioning trust contributions, financing activities, completion of construction projects, plans and estimated costs for new generation resources, impacts of adoption of new accounting rules, unrecognized tax benefits related to leveraged lease transactions, 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, or particulate matter 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, 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;
 
  investment performance of Southern Company’s employee benefit plans;
 
  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 storm restoration cost recovery;
 
  regulatory approvals related to the potential Plant Vogtle expansion, including Georgia PSC and NRC approvals;
 
  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 neighboring utilities and other 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 an avian influenza, or other similar occurrences;
 
  the direct or indirect effects on Southern Company’s business resulting from incidents similar to the August 2003 power outage in the Northeast;
 
  the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard setting bodies; and
 
  other factors discussed elsewhere herein and in other reports (including the Form 10-K) filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC.
Southern Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                         
 
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
 
Operating Revenues:
                       
Retail revenues
  $ 14,055     $ 12,639     $ 11,801  
Wholesale revenues
    2,400       1,988       1,822  
Other electric revenues
    545       513       465  
Other revenues
    127       213       268  
 
Total operating revenues
    17,127       15,353       14,356  
 
Operating Expenses:
                       
Fuel
    6,818       5,856       5,152  
Purchased power
    815       515       543  
Other operations and maintenance
    3,748       3,670       3,519  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,443       1,245       1,200  
Taxes other than income taxes
    797       741       718  
 
Total operating expenses
    13,621       12,027       11,132  
 
Operating Income
    3,506       3,326       3,224  
Other Income and (Expense):
                       
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
    152       106       50  
Interest income
    33       45       41  
Equity in income (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    11       (24 )     (57 )
Leveraged lease (losses) income
    (85 )     40       69  
Impairment loss on equity method investments
                (16 )
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized
    (866 )     (886 )     (866 )
Preferred and preference dividends of subsidiaries
    (65 )     (48 )     (34 )
Other income (expense), net
    (29 )     10       (58 )
 
Total other income and (expense)
    (849 )     (757 )     (871 )
 
Earnings Before Income Taxes
    2,657       2,569       2,353  
Income taxes
    915       835       780  
 
Consolidated Net Income
  $ 1,742     $ 1,734     $ 1,573  
 
Common Stock Data:
                       
Earnings per share—
                       
Basic
  $ 2.26     $ 2.29     $ 2.12  
Diluted
    2.25       2.28       2.10  
 
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding — (in millions)
                       
Basic
    771       756       743  
Diluted
    775       761       748  
 
Cash dividends paid per share of common stock
  $ 1.6625     $ 1.595     $ 1.535  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                         
 
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
Operating Activities:
                       
Consolidated net income
  $ 1,742     $ 1,734     $ 1,573  
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities —
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    1,704       1,486       1,421  
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits
    215       7       202  
Deferred revenues
    120       (2 )     (1 )
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
    (152 )     (106 )     (50 )
Equity in (income) losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    (11 )     24       57  
Leveraged lease losses (income)
    85       (40 )     (69 )
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits
    21       39       46  
Stock based compensation expense
    20       28       28  
Derivative fair value adjustments
    (1 )     (30 )     32  
Hedge settlements
    15       10       13  
Hurricane Katrina grant proceeds-property reserve
          60        
Other, net
    (97 )     60       51  
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities —
                       
Receivables
    (176 )     165       (69 )
Fossil fuel stock
    (303 )     (39 )     (246 )
Materials and supplies
    (23 )     (71 )     7  
Other current assets
    (36 )           73  
Accounts payable
    (74 )     105       (173 )
Hurricane Katrina grant proceeds
          14       120  
Accrued taxes
    293       (19 )     (103 )
Accrued compensation
    36       (40 )     (24 )
Other current liabilities
    20       10       (68 )
       
Net cash provided from operating activities
    3,398       3,395       2,820  
       
Investing Activities:
                       
Property additions
    (3,961 )     (3,545 )     (2,994 )
Investment in restricted cash from pollution control bonds
    (96 )     (157 )      
Distribution of restricted cash from pollution control bonds
    69       78        
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases
    (720 )     (783 )     (751 )
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales
    712       775       743  
Proceeds from property sales
    34       33       150  
Hurricane Katrina capital grant proceeds
    7       35       153  
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries
    (1 )     (37 )     (64 )
Cost of removal net of salvage
    (123 )     (108 )     (90 )
Other
    (47 )           19  
       
Net cash used for investing activities
    (4,126 )     (3,709 )     (2,834 )
       
Financing Activities:
                       
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net
    (314 )     (669 )     683  
Proceeds —
                       
Long-term debt
    3,686       3,826       1,564  
Preferred and preference stock
          470       150  
Common stock
    474       538       137  
Redemptions —
                       
Long-term debt
    (1,469 )     (2,566 )     (1,366 )
Preferred and preference stock
    (125 )           (15 )
Payment of common stock dividends
    (1,280 )     (1,205 )     (1,140 )
Other
    (28 )     (46 )     (34 )
       
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities
    944       348       (21 )
       
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    216       34       (35 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year
    201       167       202  
       
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year
  $ 417     $ 201     $ 167  
       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
At December 31, 2008 and 2007
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                 
 
Assets   2008     2007  
    (in millions)  
Current Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 417     $ 201  
Restricted cash
    103       68  
Receivables —
               
Customer accounts receivable
    1,054       1,000  
Unbilled revenues
    320       294  
Under recovered regulatory clause revenues
    646       716  
Other accounts and notes receivable
    301       348  
Accumulated provision for uncollectible accounts
    (26 )     (22 )
Fossil fuel stock, at average cost
    1,018       710  
Materials and supplies, at average cost
    757       725  
Vacation pay
    140       135  
Prepaid expenses
    302       146  
Other
    326       411  
 
Total current assets
    5,358       4,732  
 
Property, Plant, and Equipment:
               
In service
    50,618       47,176  
Less accumulated depreciation
    18,286       17,413  
 
 
    32,332       29,763  
Nuclear fuel, at amortized cost
    510       336  
Construction work in progress
    3,036       3,228  
 
Total property, plant, and equipment
    35,878       33,327  
 
Other Property and Investments:
               
Nuclear decommissioning trusts, at fair value
    864       1,132  
Leveraged leases
    897       984  
Other
    227       238  
 
Total other property and investments
    1,988       2,354  
 
Deferred Charges and Other Assets:
               
Deferred charges related to income taxes
    973       910  
Prepaid pension costs
          2,369  
Unamortized debt issuance expense
    208       191  
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt
    271       289  
Deferred under recovered regulatory clause revenues
    606       389  
Other regulatory assets
    2,637       768  
Other
    428       460  
 
Total deferred charges and other assets
    5,123       5,376  
 
Total Assets
  $ 48,347     $ 45,789  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
At December 31, 2008 and 2007
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   2008     2007  
    (in millions)  
Current Liabilities:
               
Securities due within one year
  $ 617     $ 1,178  
Notes payable
    953       1,272  
Accounts payable
    1,250       1,214  
Customer deposits
    302       274  
Accrued taxes —
               
Income taxes
    197       52  
Unrecognized tax benefits
    131       165  
Other
    396       330  
Accrued interest
    196       218  
Accrued vacation pay
    179       171  
Accrued compensation
    447       408  
Liabilities from risk management activities
    261       63  
Other
    297       286  
 
Total current liabilities
    5,226       5,631  
 
Long-term Debt (See accompanying statements)
    16,816       14,143  
 
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
               
Accumulated deferred income taxes
    6,080       5,839  
Deferred credits related to income taxes
    259       272  
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits
    455       479  
Employee benefit obligations
    2,057       1,492  
Asset retirement obligations
    1,183       1,200  
Other cost of removal obligations
    1,321       1,308  
Other regulatory liabilities
    262       1,613  
Other
    330       347  
 
Total deferred credits and other liabilities
    11,947       12,550  
 
Total Liabilities
    33,989       32,324  
 
Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries (See accompanying statements)
    1,082       1,080  
 
Common Stockholders’ Equity (See accompanying statements)
    13,276       12,385  
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 48,347     $ 45,789  
 
Commitments and Contingent Matters (See notes)
               
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION
At December 31, 2008 and 2007
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                                     
 
        2008     2007     2008     2007  
        (in millions)     (percent of total)  
 
Long-Term Debt:
                                   
Long-term debt payable to affiliated trusts —
                                   
Maturity
  Interest Rates                                
2042 through 2044
  5.50% to 5.88%   $ 412     $ 412                  
 
Long-term senior notes and debt —
                                   
Maturity
  Interest Rates                                
2008
  2.54% to 7.00%           459                  
2009
  4.10% to 7.00%     128       127                  
2010
  4.70%     102       102                  
2011
  4.00% to 5.57%     303       302                  
2012
  4.85% to 6.25%     1,778       1,478                  
2013
  4.35% to 6.00%     936       236                  
2014 through 2048
  4.88% to 8.20%     8,437       7,824                  
Adjustable rates (at 1/1/09):
                                   
2008
  4.94% to 5.00%           550                  
2009
  2.3288% to 2.36%     440       440                  
2010
  2.42% to 6.10%     1,034       202                  
2011
  1.645% to 2.35%     490                        
 
Total long-term senior notes and debt     13,648       11,720                  
 
Other long-term debt —
                                   
Pollution control revenue bonds —
                                   
Maturity
  Interest Rates                                
2016 through 2048
  1.95% to 6.00%     2,030       812                  
Variable rates (at 1/1/09):
                                   
2011 through 2041
  0.80% to 3.00%     1,257       2,170                  
 
Total other long-term debt
        3,287       2,982                  
 
Capitalized lease obligations
        106       101                  
 
Unamortized debt premium (discount), net
        (20 )     (19 )                
 
Total long-term debt (annual interest requirement — $858 million)
    17,433       15,196                  
Less amount due within one year
        617       1,053                  
 
Long-term debt excluding amount due within one year     16,816       14,143       53.9 %     51.2 %
 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION (continued)
At December 31, 2008 and 2007
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                                 
 
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
    (in millions)     (percent of total)  
             
Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries:
                               
Cumulative preferred stock
                               
$100 par or stated value — 4.20% to 5.44%
                               
Authorized — 20 million shares
                               
Outstanding — 1 million shares
    81       81                  
$1 par value — 4.95% to 5.83%
                               
Authorized — 28 million shares
                               
Outstanding — 12 million shares: $25 stated value
    294       294                  
Outstanding — 2008: 0 shares
          123                  
Outstanding — 2007: 1,250 shares: $100,000 stated capital
                               
Non-cumulative preferred stock
                               
$25 par value — 6.00% to 6.13%
                               
Authorized — 60 million shares
                               
Outstanding — 2 million shares
    45       45                  
Preference stock
                               
Authorized — 65 million shares
                               
Outstanding — $1 par value — 5.63% to 6.50%
    343       343                  
— 14 million shares (non-cumulative)
                               
— $100 par or stated value — 6.00% to 6.50%
    319       319                  
— 3 million shares (non-cumulative)
                               
 
Total preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries
                               
(annual dividend requirement — $65 million)
    1,082       1,205                  
Less amount due within one year
          125                  
 
Preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries excluding amount due within one year
    1,082       1,080       3.5       3.9  
 
Common Stockholders’ Equity:
                               
Common stock, par value $5 per share —
    3,888       3,817                  
Authorized — 1 billion shares
                               
Issued — 2008: 778 million shares
                               
— 2007: 764 million shares
                               
Treasury — 2008: 0.4 million shares
                               
— 2007: 0.4 million shares
                               
Paid-in capital
    1,893       1,454                  
Treasury, at cost
    (12 )     (11 )                
Retained earnings
    7,612       7,155                  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (105 )     (30 )                
 
Total common stockholders’ equity
    13,276       12,385       42.6       44.9  
 
Total Capitalization
  $ 31,174     $ 27,608       100.0 %     100.0 %
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                                                 
 
    Common Stock       Accumulated    
    Par   Paid-In       Retained   Other Comprehensive    
    Value   Capital   Treasury   Earnings   Income (Loss)   Total
    (in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2005
  $ 3,759     $ 1,085     $ (359 )   $ 6,332     $ (128 )   $ 10,689  
Net income
                      1,573             1,573  
Other comprehensive income
                            19       19  
Adjustment to initially apply FASB Statement No. 158, net of tax
                            52       52  
Stock issued
          11       168                   179  
Cash dividends
                      (1,140 )           (1,140 )
Other
                (1 )                 (1 )
             
Balance at December 31, 2006
    3,759       1,096       (192 )     6,765       (57 )     11,371  
Net income
                      1,734             1,734  
Other comprehensive income
                            27       27  
Stock issued
    58       356       183                   597  
Adjustment to initially apply FIN 48, net of tax
                      (15 )           (15 )
Adjustment to initially apply FSP 13-2, net of tax
                    (125 )           (125 )
Cash dividends
                      (1,204 )           (1,204 )
Other
          2       (2 )                  
             
Balance at December 31, 2007
    3,817       1,454       (11 )     7,155       (30 )     12,385  
Net income
                      1,742             1,742  
Other comprehensive loss
                            (75 )     (75 )
Stock issued
    71       438                         509  
Cash dividends
                      (1,279 )           (1,279 )
Other
          1       (1 )     (6 )           (6 )
   
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 3,888     $ 1,893     $ (12 )   $ 7,612     $ (105 )   $ 13,276  
             
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
                         
 
    2008     2007     2006  
    (in millions)  
Consolidated Net Income
  $ 1,742     $ 1,734     $ 1,573  
       
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                       
Qualifying hedges:
                       
Changes in fair value, net of tax of $(19), $(3), and $(5), respectively
    (30 )     (5 )     (8 )
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax of $7, $6, and $-, respectively
    11       9       1  
Marketable securities:
                       
Changes in fair value, net of tax of $(4), $3, and $4, respectively
    (7 )     4       8  
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax of $-, $-, and $-, respectively
          (1 )      
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
                       
Benefit plan net gain (loss), net of tax of $(32), $13, and $-, respectively
    (51 )     20        
Additional prior service costs from amendment to non-qualified pension plans, net of tax of $-, $(2), and $-, respectively
          (2 )      
Change in additional minimum pension liability, net of tax of $-, $-, and $10, respectively
                18  
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax of $1, $1, and $-, respectively
    2       2        
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
    (75 )     27       19  
       
Consolidated Comprehensive Income
  $ 1,667     $ 1,761     $ 1,592  
       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
General
The Southern Company (the Company) is the parent company of four traditional operating companies, Southern Power Company (Southern Power), Southern Company Services, Inc. (SCS), Southern Communications Services, Inc. (SouthernLINC Wireless), Southern Company Holdings, Inc. (Southern Holdings), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (Southern Nuclear), and other direct and indirect subsidiaries. The traditional operating companies, Alabama Power Company (Alabama Power), Georgia Power Company (Georgia Power), Gulf Power Company (Gulf Power), and Mississippi Power Company (Mississippi Power), 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. SCS, the system service company, provides, at cost, specialized services to Southern Company and the subsidiary companies. SouthernLINC Wireless provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and also markets these services to the public and provides fiber cable services within the Southeast. Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding company subsidiary for Southern Company’s investments in leveraged leases and various other energy-related businesses. Southern Nuclear operates and provides services to Southern Company’s nuclear power plants.
The financial statements reflect Southern Company’s investments in the subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The equity method is used for entities in which the Company has significant influence but does not control and for variable interest entities where the Company is not the primary beneficiary. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and certain of their subsidiaries are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the traditional operating companies are also subject to regulation by their respective state public service commissions (PSC). The companies follow accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and comply with the accounting policies and practices prescribed by their respective commissions. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the use of estimates, and the actual results may differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain prior years’ data presented in the financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. The consolidated statements of income for the prior periods presented have been modified within the operating expenses section to combine the line items “Other operations” and “Maintenance” into a single line item entitled “Other operations and maintenance.” The statements of cash flows for the prior periods presented were modified within the operating activities section to present a separate line item for “Deferred revenues” previously included in “Other, net.” The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been modified within current liabilities to reflect the amount of “Unrecognized tax benefits” previously included within “Accrued taxes — Income taxes” and to present the amount of “Liabilities for risk management activities” previously included in “Other.” These reclassifications had no effect on total assets, net income, cash flows, or earnings per share.
Related Party Transactions
Alabama Power and Georgia Power purchased synthetic fuel from Alabama Fuel Products, LLC (AFP), an entity in which Southern Holdings held a 30% ownership interest until July 2006, when its ownership interest was terminated. Total fuel purchases for January 2006 through June 2006 were $354 million. Synfuel Services, Inc. (SSI), another subsidiary of Southern Holdings, provided fuel transportation services to AFP that were ultimately reflected in the cost of the synthetic fuel billed to Alabama Power and Georgia Power. In connection with these services, the related revenues of approximately $62 million for January 2006 through June 2006, have been eliminated against fuel expense in the financial statements. SSI also provided additional services to AFP, as well as

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
to a related party of AFP. Revenues from these transactions totaled approximately $24 million for January 2006 through June 2006.
Subsequent to the termination of Southern Company’s membership interest in AFP, Alabama Power and Georgia Power continued to purchase an additional $6 million, $750 million, and $384 million in fuel from AFP in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. SSI continued to provide fuel transportation services of $131 million in 2007 and $62 million in 2006, which were eliminated against fuel expense in the financial statements. SSI also provided other additional services to AFP and a related party of AFP totaling $47 million and $21 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. The synthetic fuel investments and related party transactions were terminated on December 31, 2007.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
The traditional operating companies are subject to the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation” (SFAS No. 71). Regulatory assets represent probable future revenues associated with certain costs that are expected to be recovered from customers through the ratemaking process. Regulatory liabilities represent probable future reductions in revenues associated with amounts that are expected to be credited to customers through the ratemaking process. Regulatory assets and (liabilities) reflected in the balance sheets at December 31 relate to:
                         
    2008   2007   Note
    (in millions)
Deferred income tax charges
  $ 972     $ 911       (a )
Asset retirement obligations-asset
    236       50       (a )
Asset retirement obligations-liability
    (5 )     (154 )     (a )
Other cost of removal obligations
    (1,321 )     (1,308 )     (a )
Deferred income tax credits
    (260 )     (275 )     (a )
Loss on reacquired debt
    271       289       (b )
Vacation pay
    140       135       (c )
Under recovered regulatory clause revenues
    432       371       (d )
Building lease
    48       49       (d )
Generating plant outage costs
    45       46       (d )
Under recovered storm damage costs
    27       43       (d )
Property damage reserves
    (97 )     (90 )     (d )
Fuel hedging (realized and unrealized) losses
    314       25       (d )
Fuel hedging (realized and unrealized) gains
    (10 )     (20 )     (d )
Other assets
    164       88       (d )
Environmental remediation-asset
    67       67       (d )
Environmental remediation-liability
    (19 )     (22 )     (d )
Deferred purchased power
    (156 )     (20 )     (d )
Other liabilities
    (25 )     (21 )     (d )
Overfunded retiree benefit plans
          (1,288 )     (e )
Underfunded retiree benefit plans
    2,068       547       (e )
       
Total assets (liabilities), net
  $ 2,891     $ (577 )        
     
Note: The recovery and amortization periods for these regulatory assets and (liabilities) are as follows:
 
(a)   Asset retirement and removal liabilities are recorded, deferred income tax assets are recovered, and deferred tax liabilities are amortized over the related property lives, which may range up to 65 years. Asset retirement and removal liabilities will be settled and trued up following completion of the related activities.
 
(b)   Recovered over either the remaining life of the original issue or, if refinanced, over the life of the new issue, which may range up to 50 years.
 
(c)   Recorded as earned by employees and recovered as paid, generally within one year.
 
(d)   Recorded and recovered or amortized as approved by the appropriate state PSCs.
 
(e)   Recovered and amortized over the average remaining service period which may range up to 14 years. See Note 2 for additional information.

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In the event that a portion of a traditional operating company’s operations is no longer subject to the provisions of SFAS No. 71, such company would be required to write off or reclassify to accumulated other comprehensive income related regulatory assets and liabilities that are not specifically recoverable through regulated rates. In addition, the traditional operating company would be required to determine if any impairment to other assets, including plant, exists and write down the assets, if impaired, to their fair values. All regulatory assets and liabilities are to be reflected in rates. See Note 3 under “Alabama Power Retail Regulatory Matters,” “Georgia Power Retail Regulatory Matters,” “Gulf Power Retail Regulatory Matters,” and “Storm Damage Cost Recovery” for additional information.
Revenues
Wholesale capacity revenues are generally recognized on a levelized basis over the appropriate contract periods. Energy and other revenues are recognized as services are provided. Unbilled revenues related to retail sales are accrued at the end of each fiscal period. Electric rates for the traditional operating companies include provisions to adjust billings for fluctuations in fuel costs, fuel hedging, the energy component of purchased power costs, and certain other costs. Revenues are adjusted for differences between these actual costs and amounts billed in current regulated rates. Under or over recovered regulatory clause revenues are recorded in the balance sheets and are recovered or returned to customers through adjustments to the billing factors.
Retail fuel cost recovery mechanisms vary by each traditional operating company, but in general, the process requires periodic filings with the appropriate state PSC. Alabama Power continuously monitors the under/over recovered balance and files for a revised fuel rate when management deems appropriate. Georgia Power is required to file a new fuel case no later than March 1, 2009. On February 19, 2009, the Georgia PSC approved Georgia Power’s request to delay the filing of that case until March 13, 2009. The new rates are expected to become effective on June 1, 2009. Gulf Power is required to notify the Florida PSC if the projected fuel cost over or under recovery exceeds 10% of the projected fuel revenue applicable for the period and indicate if an adjustment to the fuel cost recovery factor is being requested. Mississippi Power is required to file for an adjustment to the fuel cost recovery factor annually. See Note 3 under “Alabama Power Retail Regulatory Matters,” “Georgia Power Retail Regulatory Matters,” and “Gulf Power Retail Regulatory Matters” for additional information.
Southern Company has a diversified base of customers. No single customer or industry comprises 10% or more of revenues. For all periods presented, uncollectible accounts averaged less than 1% of revenues.
Fuel Costs
Fuel costs are expensed as the fuel is used. Fuel expense generally includes the cost of purchased emission allowances as they are used. Fuel expense also includes the amortization of the cost of nuclear fuel and a charge, based on nuclear generation, for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel. See Note 3 under “Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs” for additional information.
Income and Other Taxes
Southern Company uses the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes and provides deferred income taxes for all significant income tax temporary differences. Investment tax credits utilized are deferred and amortized to income over the average life of the related property. Taxes that are collected from customers on behalf of governmental agencies to be remitted to these agencies are presented net on the statements of income.
In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48), Southern Company recognizes tax positions that are “more likely than not” of being sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities. See Note 5 under “Unrecognized Tax Benefits” for additional information on FIN 48.

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Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment is stated at original cost less regulatory disallowances and impairments. Original cost includes: materials; labor; minor items of property; appropriate administrative and general costs; payroll-related costs such as taxes, pensions, and other benefits; and the interest capitalized and/or cost of funds used during construction.
Southern Company’s property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
                 
    2008   2007
    (in millions)
Generation
  $ 26,154     $ 23,879  
Transmission
    7,085       6,761  
Distribution
    13,856       13,134  
General
    2,750       2,619  
Plant acquisition adjustment
    43       43  
 
Utility plant in service
    49,888       46,436  
 
IT equipment and software
    240       230  
Communications equipment
    450       452  
Other
    40       58  
 
Other plant in service
    730       740  
 
Total plant in service
  $ 50,618     $ 47,176  
 
The cost of replacements of property, exclusive of minor items of property, is capitalized. The cost of maintenance, repairs, and replacement of minor items of property is charged to maintenance expense as incurred or performed with the exception of nuclear refueling costs, which are recorded in accordance with specific state PSC orders. Alabama Power accrues estimated nuclear refueling costs in advance of the unit’s next refueling outage. Georgia Power defers and amortizes nuclear refueling costs over the unit’s operating cycle before the next refueling. The refueling cycles for Alabama Power and Georgia Power range from 18 to 24 months for each unit. In accordance with a Georgia PSC order, Georgia Power also defers the costs of certain significant inspection costs for the combustion turbines at Plant McIntosh and amortizes such costs over 10 years, which approximates the expected maintenance cycle.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation of the original cost of utility plant in service is provided primarily by using composite straight-line rates, which approximated 3.2% in 2008, 3.0% in 2007, and 3.0% in 2006. Depreciation studies are conducted periodically to update the composite rates. These studies are filed with the respective state PSC for the traditional operating companies. Accumulated depreciation for utility plant in service totaled $17.9 billion and $17.0 billion at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. When property subject to composite depreciation is retired or otherwise disposed of in the normal course of business, its original cost, together with the cost of removal, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. For other property dispositions, the applicable cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the balance sheet accounts and a gain or loss is recognized. Minor items of property included in the original cost of the plant are retired when the related property unit is retired.
Under Georgia Power’s retail rate plan for the three years ended December 31, 2007 (2004 Retail Rate Plan), Georgia Power was ordered to recognize Georgia PSC-certified capacity costs in rates evenly over the three years covered by the 2004 Retail Rate Plan. Georgia Power recorded credits to amortization of $19 million and $14 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. See Note 3 under “Georgia Power Retail Regulatory Matters” for additional information.

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In May 2004, the Mississippi PSC approved Mississippi Power’s request to reclassify 266 megawatts of Plant Daniel units 3 and 4 capacity to jurisdictional cost of service effective January 1, 2004 and authorized Mississippi Power to include the related costs and revenue credits in jurisdictional rate base, cost of service, and revenue requirement calculations for purposes of retail rate recovery. Mississippi Power amortized the related regulatory liability pursuant to the Mississippi PSC’s order as follows: $6 million in 2007 and $13 million in 2006, resulting in increases to earnings in each of those years.
Depreciation of the original cost of other plant in service is provided primarily on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 25 years. Accumulated depreciation for other plant in service totaled $433 million and $429 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Asset Retirement Obligations and Other Costs of Removal
Asset retirement obligations are computed as the present value of the ultimate costs for an asset’s future retirement and are recorded in the period in which the liability is incurred. The costs are capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and depreciated over the asset’s useful life. The Company has received accounting guidance from the various state PSCs allowing the continued accrual of other future retirement costs for long-lived assets that the Company does not have a legal obligation to retire. Accordingly, the accumulated removal costs for these obligations will continue to be reflected in the balance sheets as a regulatory liability.
The liability recognized to retire long-lived assets primarily relates to the Company’s nuclear facilities, Plants Farley, Hatch, and Vogtle. The fair value of assets legally restricted for settling retirement obligations related to nuclear facilities as of December 31, 2008 was $864 million. In addition, the Company has retirement obligations related to various landfill sites, underground storage tanks, asbestos removal, and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls in certain transformers. The Company also has identified retirement obligations related to certain transmission and distribution facilities, co-generation facilities, certain wireless communication towers, and certain structures authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. However, liabilities for the removal of these assets have not been recorded because the range of time over which the Company may settle these obligations is unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated. The Company will continue to recognize in the statements of income allowed removal costs in accordance with its regulatory treatment. Any differences between costs recognized under FASB Statement No. 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” and FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” and those reflected in rates are recognized as either a regulatory asset or liability, as ordered by the various state PSCs, and are reflected in the balance sheets. See “Nuclear Decommissioning” herein for further information on amounts included in rates.
Details of the asset retirement obligations included in the balance sheets are as follows:
                 
    2008   2007
    (in millions)
Balance beginning of year
  $ 1,203     $ 1,137  
Liabilities incurred
    4       1  
Liabilities settled
    (4 )     (8 )
Accretion
    75       74  
Cash flow revisions
    (93 )     (1 )
     
Balance end of year
  $ 1,185     $ 1,203  
     
Nuclear Decommissioning
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires licensees of commercial nuclear power reactors to establish a plan for providing reasonable assurance of funds for future decommissioning. Alabama Power and Georgia Power have external trust funds (the Funds) to comply with the NRC’s regulations. Use of the Funds is restricted to

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nuclear decommissioning activities and the Funds are managed and invested in accordance with applicable requirements of various regulatory bodies, including the NRC, the FERC, and state PSCs, as well as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Funds are invested in a tax-efficient manner in a diversified mix of equity and fixed income securities and are reported as of December 31, 2008 as trading securities pursuant to FASB Statement No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (SFAS No. 115).
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 159, “Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (SFAS No. 159). This standard permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. Southern Company elected the fair value option only for investment securities held in the Funds. The Funds are included in the balance sheets at fair value, as disclosed in Note 10.
Management elected to continue to record the Funds at fair value because management believes that fair value best represents the nature of the Funds. Management has delegated day-to-day management of the investments in the Funds to unrelated third party managers with oversight by Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power management. The managers of the Funds are authorized, within broad limits, to actively buy and sell securities at their own discretion in order to maximize the investment return on the Funds’ investments. Because of the Company’s inability to choose to hold securities that have experienced unrealized losses until recovery of their value, all unrealized losses incurred during 2006 and 2007, prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 159, were considered other-than-temporary impairments under SFAS No. 115.
The adoption of SFAS No. 159 had no impact on the results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition of the Company. For all periods presented, all gains and losses, whether realized, unrealized, or identified as other-than-temporary, have been and will continue to be recorded in the regulatory liability for asset retirement obligations in the balance sheets and are not included in net income or other comprehensive income. Fair value adjustments, realized gains, and other-than-temporary impairment losses are determined on a specific identification basis.
At December 31, 2008, investment securities in the Funds totaled $862 million consisting of equity securities of $518 million, debt securities of $323 million, and $21 million of other securities. These amounts exclude receivables related to investment income and pending investment sales, and payables related to pending investment purchases.
At December 31, 2007, investment securities in the Funds totaled $1.1 billion consisting of equity securities of $788 million, debt securities of $312 million, and $32 million of other securities. Unrealized gains were $256 million for equity securities and $12 million for debt securities. Other-than-temporary impairments were $(28) million for equity securities and $(5) million for debt securities.
Sales of the securities held in the Funds resulted in cash proceeds of $712 million, $775 million, and $743 million, in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively, all of which were re-invested. For 2008, fair value reductions, including reinvested interest and dividends, was $(278) million, of which $(259) million related to securities held in the Funds at December 31, 2008. Realized gains and other-than-temporary impairment losses were $78 million and $(76) million, respectively, in 2007 and $40 million and $(30) million, respectively, in 2006. While the investment securities held in the Funds are reported as trading securities, the Funds continue to be managed with a long-term focus. Accordingly, all purchases and sales within the Funds are presented separately in the statement of cash flows as investing cash flows, consistent with the nature of and purpose for which the securities were acquired.
Amounts previously recorded in internal reserves are being transferred into the external trust funds over periods approved by the respective state PSCs. The NRC’s minimum external funding requirements are based on a generic estimate of the cost to decommission only the radioactive portions of a nuclear unit based on the size and type of reactor. Alabama Power and Georgia Power have filed plans with the NRC designed to ensure that, over time, the deposits and earnings of the external trust funds will provide the minimum funding amounts prescribed by the NRC.

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At December 31, 2008, the accumulated provisions for decommissioning were as follows:
                         
    Plant Farley   Plant Hatch   Plant Vogtle
    (in millions)
External trust funds
  $ 404     $ 280     $ 168  
Internal reserves
    26              
       
Total
  $ 430     $ 280     $ 168  
       
Site study cost is the estimate to decommission a specific facility as of the site study year. The estimated costs of decommissioning based on the most current studies, which were performed in 2008 for Plant Farley and in 2006 for the Georgia Power plants, were as follows for Alabama Power’s Plant Farley and Georgia Power’s ownership interests in Plants Hatch and Vogtle:
                         
    Plant Farley   Plant Hatch   Plant Vogtle
 
Decommissioning periods:
                       
Beginning year
    2037       2034       2027  
Completion year
    2065       2061       2051  
       
    (in millions)
Site study costs:
                       
Radiated structures
  $ 1,060     $ 544     $ 507  
Non-radiated structures
    72       46       67  
       
Total
  $ 1,132     $ 590     $ 574  
       
The decommissioning cost estimates are based on prompt dismantlement and removal of the plant from service. The actual decommissioning costs may vary from the above estimates because of changes in the assumed date of decommissioning, changes in NRC requirements, or changes in the assumptions used in making these estimates.
For ratemaking purposes, Alabama Power’s decommissioning costs are based on the site study, and Georgia Power’s decommissioning costs are based on the NRC generic estimate to decommission the radioactive portion of the facilities as of 2006. The estimates used in current rates are $495 million and $334 million for Plants Hatch and Vogtle, respectively. Amounts expensed were $3 million in 2008 and $7 million annually for 2007 and 2006 for Plant Vogtle. Significant assumptions used to determine these costs for ratemaking were an inflation rate of 4.5% and 2.9% for Alabama Power and Georgia Power, respectively, and a trust earnings rate of 7.0% and 4.9% for Alabama Power and Georgia Power, respectively. As a result of license extensions, amounts previously contributed to the external trust funds for Plants Hatch and Farley are currently projected to be adequate to meet the decommissioning obligations. Georgia Power filed an application with the NRC in June 2007 to extend the licenses for Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years. Georgia Power anticipates the NRC may make a decision regarding the license extension for Plant Vogtle in 2009.
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC) and Interest Capitalized
In accordance with regulatory treatment, the traditional operating companies record AFUDC, which represents the estimated debt and equity costs of capital funds that are necessary to finance the construction of new regulated facilities. While cash is not realized currently from such allowance, it increases the revenue requirement over the service life of the plant through a higher rate base and higher depreciation expense. The equity component of AFUDC is not included in calculating taxable income. Interest related to the construction of new facilities not included in the traditional operating companies’ regulated rates is capitalized in accordance with standard interest capitalization requirements. AFUDC and interest capitalized, net of income taxes were 11.2%, 8.4%, and 4.2% of net income for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.
Cash payments for interest totaled $787 million, $798 million, and $875 million in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively, net of amounts capitalized of $71 million, $64 million, and $27 million, respectively.

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Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangibles
Southern Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The determination of whether an impairment has occurred is based on either a specific regulatory disallowance or an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the assets, as compared with the carrying value of the assets. If an impairment has occurred, the amount of the impairment recognized is determined by either the amount of regulatory disallowance or by estimating the fair value of the assets and recording a loss if the carrying value is greater than the fair value. For assets identified as held for sale, the carrying value is compared to the estimated fair value less the cost to sell in order to determine if an impairment loss is required. Until the assets are disposed of, their estimated fair value is re-evaluated when circumstances or events change.
Storm Damage Reserves
Each traditional operating company maintains a reserve to cover the cost of damages from major storms to its transmission and distribution lines and generally the cost of uninsured damages to its generation facilities and other property. In accordance with their respective state PSC orders, the traditional operating companies accrued $40.4 million in 2008. Alabama Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power also have discretionary authority from their state PSCs to accrue certain additional amounts as circumstances warrant. There were no material accruals for any year presented. See Note 3 under “Storm Damage Cost Recovery” for additional information regarding these reserves and the deferral of additional costs, as well as additional rate riders or other cost recovery mechanisms which have been approved by the respective state PSCs to recover the deferred costs and accrue reserves for future storms.
Leveraged Leases
Southern Company has several leveraged lease agreements, with terms ranging up to 45 years, which relate to international and domestic energy generation, distribution, and transportation assets. Southern Company receives federal income tax deductions for depreciation and amortization, as well as interest on long-term debt related to these investments. The Company reviews all important lease assumptions at least annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that a change in assumptions has occurred or may occur. These assumptions include the effective tax rate, the residual value, the credit quality of the lessees, and the timing of expected tax cash flows.
Southern Company’s net investment in domestic leveraged leases consists of the following at December 31:
                 
    2008   2007
    (in millions)
Net rentals receivable
  $ 492     $ 494  
Unearned income
    (230 )     (244 )
     
Investment in leveraged leases
     262        250  
Deferred taxes from leveraged leases
    (189 )     (163 )
     
Net investment in leveraged leases
  $ 73     $ 87  
     
A summary of the components of income from domestic leveraged leases was as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (in millions)
Pretax leveraged lease income
  $ 14     $ 16     $ 20  
Income tax expense
    (6 )     (7 )     (9 )
       
Net leveraged lease income
  $ 8     $ 9     $ 11  
       

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Southern Company’s net investment in international leveraged leases consists of the following at December 31:
                 
    2008   2007
    (in millions)
Net rentals receivable
  $ 1,298     $ 1,298  
Unearned income
    (663 )     (563 )
 
Investment in leveraged leases
    635       735  
Current taxes payable
    (120 )      
Deferred taxes from leveraged leases
    (117 )     (316 )
 
Net investment in leveraged leases
  $ 398     $ 419  
 
A summary of the components of income from international leveraged leases was as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (in millions)
Pretax leveraged lease income (loss)
  $ (99 )   $ 24     $ 49  
Income tax benefit (expense)
    35       (8 )     (17 )
 
Net leveraged lease income (loss)
  $ (64 )   $ 16     $ 32  
 
See Note 3 under “Income Tax Matters” for additional information regarding the leveraged lease transactions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the financial statements, temporary cash investments are considered cash equivalents. Temporary cash investments are securities with original maturities of 90 days or less.
Materials and Supplies
Generally, materials and supplies include the average costs of transmission, distribution, and generating plant materials. Materials are charged to inventory when purchased and then expensed or capitalized to plant, as appropriate, at weighted average cost when installed.
Fuel Inventory
Fuel inventory includes the average costs of oil, coal, natural gas, and emission allowances. Fuel is charged to inventory when purchased and then expensed as used and recovered by the traditional operating companies through fuel cost recovery rates approved by each state PSC. Emission allowances granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are included in inventory at zero cost.
Financial Instruments
Southern Company uses derivative financial instruments to limit exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, the prices of certain fuel purchases, and electricity purchases and sales. All derivative financial instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities (categorized in “Other” or shown separately as “Risk Management Activities”) and are measured at fair value. See Note 10 for additional information. Substantially all of Southern Company’s bulk energy purchases and sales contracts that meet the definition of a derivative are exempt from fair value accounting requirements and are accounted for under the accrual method. Other derivative contracts qualify as cash flow hedges of anticipated transactions or are recoverable through the traditional operating companies’ fuel hedging programs. This results in the deferral of related gains and losses in other comprehensive income or regulatory assets and liabilities, respectively, until the hedged transactions occur. Any ineffectiveness arising from cash flow hedges is recognized currently in net income. Other derivative contracts, including derivatives related to synthetic fuel

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investments, are marked to market through current period income and are recorded on a net basis in the statements of income. See Note 6 under “Financial Instruments” for additional information.
The Company does not offset fair value amounts recognized for multiple derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement. At December 31, 2008, the Company has recognized $8.5 million for the obligation to return cash collateral arising from derivative instruments, which is included in “Accounts payable” in the balance sheets.
Southern Company is exposed to losses related to financial instruments in the event of counterparties’ nonperformance. The Company has established controls to determine and monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties in order to mitigate the Company’s exposure to counterparty credit risk.
The other Southern Company financial instruments for which the carrying amount did not equal fair value at December 31 were as follows:
                 
    Carrying Amount   Fair Value
    (in millions)
Long-term debt:
               
2008
  $ 17,327     $ 17,114  
2007
  $ 15,095     $ 14,931  
The fair values were based on either closing market prices (Level 1) or closing prices of comparable instruments (Level 2). See Note 10 for all other items recognized at fair value in the financial statements.
Comprehensive Income
The objective of comprehensive income is to report a measure of all changes in common stock equity of an enterprise that result from transactions and other economic events of the period other than transactions with owners. Comprehensive income consists of net income, changes in the fair value of qualifying cash flow hedges and marketable securities, and certain changes in pension and other post retirement benefit plans, less income taxes and reclassifications for amounts included in net income.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balances, net of tax effects, were as follows:
                                 
                    Pension and Other   Accumulated Other
    Qualifying   Marketable   Postretirement   Comprehensive
    Hedges   Securities   Benefit Plans   Income (Loss)
    (in millions)  
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ (54 )   $ 13     $ 11     $ (30 )
Current period change
    (19 )     (7 )     (49 )     (75 )
 
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ (73 )   $ 6     $ (38 )   $ (105 )
 
Variable Interest Entities
The primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity must consolidate the related assets and liabilities. Southern Company has established certain wholly-owned trusts to issue preferred securities. See Note 6 under “Long-Term Debt Payable to Affiliated Trusts” for additional information. However, Southern Company and the traditional operating companies are not considered the primary beneficiaries of the trusts. Therefore, the investments in these trusts are reflected as Other Investments, and the related loans from the trusts are included in Long-term Debt in the balance sheets.

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2. RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Southern Company has a defined benefit, trusteed, pension plan covering substantially all employees. The plan is funded in accordance with requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). No contributions to the plan are expected for the year ending December 31, 2009. Southern Company also provides certain defined benefit pension plans for a selected group of management and highly compensated employees. Benefits under these non-qualified pension plans are funded on a cash basis. In addition, Southern Company provides certain medical care and life insurance benefits for retired employees through other postretirement benefit plans. The traditional operating companies fund related trusts to the extent required by their respective regulatory commissions. For the year ending December 31, 2009, postretirement trust contributions are expected to total approximately $56 million.
The measurement date for plan assets and obligations for 2008 was December 31 while the measurement date for prior years was September 30. Pursuant to FASB Statement No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (SFAS No. 158), Southern Company was required to change the measurement date for its defined benefit postretirement plans from September 30 to December 31 beginning with the year ended December 31, 2008. As permitted, Southern Company adopted the measurement date provisions of SFAS No. 158 effective January 1, 2008 resulting in an increase in long-term liabilities of approximately $28 million and an increase in prepaid pension costs of approximately $16 million.
Pension Plans
The total accumulated benefit obligation for the pension plans was $5.5 billion in 2008 and $5.3 billion in 2007. Changes during the 15-month period ended December 31, 2008 and the 12-month period ended September 30, 2007 in the projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets were as follows:
                 
    2008     2007  
    (in millions)  
Change in benefit obligation
               
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 5,660     $ 5,491  
Service cost
    182        147  
Interest cost
    435        324  
Benefits paid
    (324 )     (241 )
Plan amendments
          50  
Actuarial gain
    (74 )     (111 )
 
Balance at end of year
    5,879       5,660  
 
Change in plan assets
               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    7,624       6,693  
Actual return (loss) on plan assets
    (2,234 )     1,153  
Employer contributions
    27       19  
Benefits paid
    (324 )     (241 )
 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
    5,093       7,624  
 
Funded status at end of year
    (786 )     1,964  
Fourth quarter contributions
          5  
 
(Accrued liability) prepaid pension asset
  $ (786 )   $ 1,969  
 
At December 31, 2008, the projected benefit obligations for the qualified and non-qualified pension plans were $5.5 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively. All pension plan assets are related to the qualified pension plan.

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Pension plan assets are managed and invested in accordance with all applicable requirements, including ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Internal Revenue Code). The Company’s investment policy covers a diversified mix of assets, including equity and fixed income securities, real estate, and private equity. Derivative instruments are used primarily as hedging tools but may also be used to gain efficient exposure to the various asset classes. The Company primarily minimizes the risk of large losses through diversification but also monitors and manages other aspects of risk. The actual composition of the Company’s pension plan assets as of the end of year, along with the targeted mix of assets, is presented below:
                         
    Target   2008   2007
 
Domestic equity
    36 %     34 %     38 %
International equity
    24       23       24  
Fixed income
    15       14       15  
Real estate
    15       19       16  
Private equity
    10       10       7  
 
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %
 
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets related to the Company’s pension plans consist of the following:
                 
    2008   2007
    (in millions)
Prepaid pension costs
  $     $ 2,369  
Other regulatory assets
    1,579       188  
Current liabilities, other
    (23 )     (21 )
Other regulatory liabilities
          (1,288 )
Employee benefit obligations
    (763 )     (379 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    54       (26 )
 
Presented below are the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income, regulatory assets, and regulatory liabilities at December 31, 2008 and 2007 related to the defined benefit pension plans that had not yet been recognized in net periodic pension cost along with the estimated amortization of such amounts for 2009.
                 
    Prior Service Cost   Net(Gain)Loss
    (in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2008:
               
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 12     $ 42  
Regulatory assets
    220       1,359  
Regulatory liabilities
           
 
Total
  $ 232     $ 1,401  
 
 
               
Balance at December 31, 2007:
               
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 14     $ (40 )
Regulatory assets
    66       122  
Regulatory liabilities
    198       (1,486 )
 
Total
  $ 278     $ (1,404 )
 
 
               
Estimated amortization in net periodic pension cost in 2009:
               
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 2     $  
Regulatory assets
    33       7  
Regulatory liabilities
           
 
Total
  $ 35     $ 7  
 

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
The components of other comprehensive income, along with the changes in the balances of regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities, related to the defined benefit pension plans for the 15-month period ended December 31, 2008 and the 12-month period ended September 30, 2007 are presented in the following table:
                         
    Accumulated Other        
    Comprehensive
Income
  Regulatory
Assets
  Regulatory
Liabilities
    (in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2006
  $     $ 158     $ (507 )
Net gain
    (28 )           (753 )
Change in prior service costs
    4       46        
Reclassification adjustments:
                       
Amortization of prior service costs
    (2 )     (7 )     (28 )
Amortization of net gain
          (9 )      
 
Total reclassification adjustments
    (2 )     (16 )     (28 )
 
Total change
    (26 )     30       (781 )
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
    (26 )     188       (1,288 )
Net loss
    83       1,412       1,322  
Change in prior service costs
                 
Reclassification adjustments:
                       
Amortization of prior service costs
    (2 )     (10 )     (34 )
Amortization of net gain
    (1 )     (11 )      
 
Total reclassification adjustments
    (3 )     (21 )     (34 )
 
Total change
    80       1,391       1,288  
 
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 54     $ 1,579     $  
 
Components of net periodic pension cost were as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (in millions)
Service cost
  $ 146     $ 147     $ 153  
Interest cost
    348       324       300  
Expected return on plan assets
    (525 )     (481 )     (456 )
Recognized net loss
    9       10       16  
Net amortization
    37       35       26  
 
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 15     $ 35     $ 39  
 
Net periodic pension cost is the sum of service cost, interest cost, and other costs netted against the expected return on plan assets. The expected return on plan assets is determined by multiplying the expected rate of return on plan assets and the market-related value of plan assets. In determining the market-related value of plan assets, the Company has elected to amortize changes in the market value of all plan assets over five years rather than recognize the changes immediately. As a result, the accounting value of plan assets that is used to calculate the expected return on plan assets differs from the current fair value of the plan assets.
Future benefit payments reflect expected future service and are estimated based on assumptions used to measure the projected benefit obligation for the pension plans. At December 31, 2008, estimated benefit payments were as follows:
         
    Benefit Payments
    (in millions)
2009
  $ 289  
2010
    304  
2011
    322  
2012
    341  
2013
    362  
2014 to 2018
    2,187  
 

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Other Postretirement Benefits
Changes during the 15-month period ended December 31, 2008 and the 12-month period ended September 30, 2007 in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligations (APBO) and in the fair value of plan assets were as follows:
                 
    2008   2007
    (in millions)
Change in benefit obligation
               
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 1,797     $ 1,830  
Service cost
    36       27  
Interest cost
     138        107  
Benefits paid
    (108 )     (83 )
Actuarial gain
    (139 )     (90 )
Retiree drug subsidy
    9       6  
 
Balance at end of year
    1,733       1,797  
 
Change in plan assets
               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    820       731  
Actual return (loss) on plan assets
    (232 )     105  
Employer contributions
    142       61  
Benefits paid
    (99 )     (77 )
 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
    631       820  
 
Funded status at end of year
    (1,102 )     (977 )
Fourth quarter contributions
          65  
 
Accrued liability
  $ (1,102 )   $ (912 )
 
Other postretirement benefit plan assets are managed and invested in accordance with all applicable requirements, including ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. The Company’s investment policy covers a diversified mix of assets, including equity and fixed income securities, real estate, and private equity. Derivative instruments are used primarily as hedging tools but may also be used to gain efficient exposure to the various asset classes. The Company primarily minimizes the risk of large losses through diversification but also monitors and manages other aspects of risk. The actual composition of the Company’s other postretirement benefit plan assets as of the end of year, along with the targeted mix of assets, is presented below:
                         
    Target   2008   2007
 
Domestic equity
    44 %     34 %     45 %
International equity
    17       18       20  
Fixed income
    30       38       26  
Real estate
    5       7       6  
Private equity
    4       3       3  
 
Total
    100 %     100 %     100 %
 
Amounts recognized in the balance sheets related to the Company’s other postretirement benefit plans consist of the following:
                 
    2008     2007  
    (in millions)  
Other regulatory assets
  $ 489     $ 360  
Current liabilities, other
    (3 )     (3 )
Employee benefit obligations
    (1,099 )     (909 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    8       8  
 

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Presented below are the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income and regulatory assets at December 31, 2008 and 2007, related to the other postretirement benefit plans that had not yet been recognized in net periodic postretirement benefit cost along with the estimated amortization of such amounts for 2009.
                         
    Prior Service   Net(Gain)   Transition
    Cost   Loss   Obligation
    (in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2008:
                       
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 3     $ 5     $  
Regulatory assets
    88       335       66  
 
Total
  $ 91     $ 340     $ 66  
 
Balance at December 31, 2007:
                       
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 4     $ 4     $  
Regulatory assets
    99       177       84  
 
Total
  $ 103     $ 181     $ 84  
 
 
                       
Estimated amortization as net periodic postretirement benefit cost in 2009:
                       
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $     $     $  
Regulatory assets
    9       5       15  
 
Total
  $ 9     $ 5     $ 15  
 
The components of other comprehensive income, along with the changes in the balance of regulatory assets, related to the other postretirement benefit plans for the 15-month period ended December 31, 2008 and the 12-month period ended September 30, 2007 are presented in the following table:
                 
    Accumulated Other    
    Comprehensive
Income
  Regulatory
Assets
    (in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2006
  $ 14     $ 539  
Net gain
    (6 )     (141 )
Change in prior service costs
           
Reclassification adjustments:
               
Amortization of transition obligation
          (15 )
Amortization of prior service costs
          (9 )
Amortization of net gain
          (14 )
 
Total reclassification adjustments
          (38 )
 
Total change
    (6 )     (179 )
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
    8       360  
Net loss
    1        166  
Change in prior service costs
           
Reclassification adjustments:
               
Amortization of transition obligation
          (18 )
Amortization of prior service costs
    (1 )     (11 )
Amortization of net gain
          (8 )
 
Total reclassification adjustments
    (1 )     (37 )
 
Total change
          129  
 
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 8     $ 489  
 

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Components of the other postretirement benefit plans’ net periodic cost were as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (in millions)
Service cost
  $ 28     $ 27     $ 30  
Interest cost
    111       107       98  
Expected return on plan assets
    (59 )     (52 )     (49 )
Net amortization
    31       38       43  
 
Net postretirement cost
  $ 111     $ 120     $ 122  
 
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Medicare Act) provides a 28% prescription drug subsidy for Medicare eligible retirees. The effect of the subsidy reduced Southern Company’s expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 by approximately $35 million, $35 million, and $39 million, respectively.
Future benefit payments, including prescription drug benefits, reflect expected future service and are estimated based on assumptions used to measure the accumulated benefit obligation for the postretirement plans. Estimated benefit payments are reduced by drug subsidy receipts expected as a result of the Medicare Act as follows:
                         
    Benefit Payments   Subsidy Receipts   Total
    (in millions)
2009
  $ 100     $ (8 )   $ 92  
2010
    110       (10 )     100  
2011
    120       (11 )     109  
2012
    127       (13 )      114  
2013
    134       (14 )      120  
2014 to 2018
    746       (100 )      646  
 
Actuarial Assumptions
The weighted average rates assumed in the actuarial calculations used to determine both the benefit obligations as of the measurement date and the net periodic costs for the pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the following year are presented below. Net periodic benefit costs were calculated in 2005 for the 2006 plan year using a discount rate of 5.50%.
                         
    2008   2007   2006
 
Discount
    6.75 %     6.30 %     6.00 %
Annual salary increase
    3.75       3.75       3.50  
Long-term return on plan assets
    8.50       8.50       8.50  
 
The Company determined the long-term rate of return based on historical asset class returns and current market conditions, taking into account the diversification benefits of investing in multiple asset classes.
An additional assumption used in measuring the APBO was a weighted average medical care cost trend rate of 9.15% for 2009, decreasing gradually to 5.50% through the year 2015 and remaining at that level thereafter. An annual increase or decrease in the assumed medical care cost trend rate of 1% would affect the APBO and the service and interest cost components at December 31, 2008 as follows:
                 
    1 Percent   1 Percent
    Increase   Decrease
    (in millions)
Benefit obligation
  $ 122     $ 126  
Service and interest costs
    9       7  
 

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
Employee Savings Plan
Southern Company also sponsors a 401(k) defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees. The Company provides an 85% matching contribution up to 6% of an employee’s base salary. Prior to November 2006, the Company matched employee contributions at a rate of 75% up to 6% of the employee’s base salary. Total matching contributions made to the plan for 2008, 2007, and 2006 were $76 million, $73 million, and $62 million, respectively.
3. CONTINGENCIES AND REGULATORY MATTERS
General Litigation Matters
Southern Company is subject to certain claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In addition, Southern Company’s business activities are subject to extensive governmental regulation related to public health and the environment. 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 claims for damages caused by alleged exposure to hazardous materials have become more frequent. The ultimate outcome of such pending or potential litigation against Southern Company and its subsidiaries cannot be predicted at this time; however, for current proceedings not specifically reported herein, management does not anticipate that the liabilities, if any, arising from such current proceedings would have a material adverse effect on Southern Company’s financial statements.
Mirant Matters
Mirant Corporation (Mirant) was an energy company with businesses that included independent power projects and energy trading and risk management companies in the U.S. and selected other countries. It was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company until its initial public offering in October 2000. In April 2001, Southern Company completed a spin-off to its shareholders of its remaining ownership, and Mirant became an independent corporate entity.
Mirant Bankruptcy
In July 2003, Mirant and certain of its affiliates filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. The Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming Mirant’s plan of reorganization in December 2005, and Mirant announced that this plan became effective in January 2006. As part of the plan, Mirant transferred substantially all of its assets and its restructured debt to a new corporation that adopted the name Mirant Corporation (Reorganized Mirant).
Southern Company has certain contingent liabilities associated with guarantees of contractual commitments made by Mirant’s subsidiaries discussed in Note 7 under “Guarantees” and with various lawsuits related to Mirant discussed below. Also, Southern Company has joint and several liability with Mirant regarding the joint consolidated federal income tax returns through 2001, as discussed in Note 5. In December 2004, as a result of concluding an IRS audit for the tax years 2000 and 2001, Southern Company paid approximately $39 million in additional tax and interest related to Mirant tax items and filed a claim in Mirant’s bankruptcy case for that amount. Through December 2008, Southern Company received from the IRS approximately $38 million in refunds related to Mirant. Southern Company believes it has a right to recoup the $39 million tax payment owed by Mirant from such tax refunds. As a result, Southern Company intends to retain the tax refunds and reduce its claim against Mirant for the payment of Mirant taxes by the amount of such refunds. MC Asset Recovery, a special purpose subsidiary of Reorganized Mirant, has objected to and sought to equitably subordinate the Southern Company tax claim in its fraudulent

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NOTES (continued)
Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies 2008 Annual Report
transfer litigation against Southern Company. Southern Company has reserved the remaining amount with respect to its Mirant tax claim.
Under the terms of the separation agreements entered into in connection with the spin-off, Mirant agreed to indemnify Southern Company for costs associated with these guarantees, lawsuits, and additional IRS assessments. However, as a result of Mirant’s bankruptcy, Southern Company sought reimbursement as an unsecured creditor in Mirant’s Chapter 11 proceeding. As part of a complaint filed against Southern Company in June 2005 and amended thereafter, Mirant and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Mirant Corporation (Unsecured Creditors’ Committee) objected to and sought equitable subordination of Southern Company’s claims, and Mirant moved to reject the separation agreements entered into in connection with the spin-off. MC Asset Recovery has been substituted as plaintiff in the complaint. If Southern Company’s claims for indemnification with respect to these, or any additional future payments, are allowed, then Mirant’s indemnity obligations to Southern Company would constitute unsecured claims against Mirant entitled to stock in Reorganized Mirant. The final outcome of this matter cannot now be determined.
MC Asset Recovery Litigation
In June 2005, Mirant, as a debtor in possession, and the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee filed a complaint against Southern Company in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, which was amended in July 2005, February 2006, May 2006, and March 2007.
In December 2005, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order authorizing the transfer of this proceeding, along with certain other actions, to MC Asset Recovery. Under that order, Reorganized Mirant is obligated to fund up to $20 million in professional fees in connection with the lawsuits, as well as certain additional amounts. Any net recoveries from these lawsuits will be distributed to, and shared equally by, certain unsecured creditors and the original equity holders. In January 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas substituted MC Asset Recovery as plaintiff.
The complaint, as amended in March 2007, alleges that Southern Company caused Mirant to engage in certain fraudulent transfers and to pay illegal dividends to Southern Company prior to the spin-off. The alleged fraudulent transfers and illegal dividends include without