Southern Company reports second-quarter 2018 results

ATLANTA, Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company today reported a second quarter 2018 loss of $154 million, or 15 cents per share, compared with a loss of $1.38 billion, or $1.38 per share, in the second quarter of 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, Southern Company reported earnings of $784 million, or 77 cents per share, compared with a loss of $723 million, or 73 cents per share, for the same period in 2017.

Excluding the items described in the "Net Income - Excluding Items" table below, Southern Company earned $815 million, or 80 cents per share, during the second quarter of 2018, compared with $728 million, or 73 cents per share, during the second quarter of 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, excluding these items, Southern Company earned $1.71 billion, or $1.69 per share, compared with earnings of $1.38 billion, or $1.39 per share, for the same period in 2017.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures                                                                                                             Three Months Ended June    Year-to-Date June
                                                                                                                                            -----------------------    -----------------

    Net Income - Excluding Items (in millions)                                                                                                  2018              2017    2018         2017
                                                                                                                                                ----              ----    ----         ----

    Net Income (Loss) - As Reported                                                                                                           $(154)         $(1,381)   $784       $(723)

    Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction                                                                                                1,060             3,012   1,105        3,120

      Tax Impact                                                                                                                               (270)            (896)  (281)       (937)

    Loss on Plant Scherer Unit 3                                                                                                                   -                -      -          33

      Tax Impact                                                                                                                                   -                -      -        (13)

    Acquisition, Disposition, and Integration Impacts                                                                                            172                 9     233           13

           Tax Impact                                                                                                                              4               (4)    (1)         (5)

    Wholesale Gas Services                                                                                                                        32                28   (108)        (86)

           Tax Impact                                                                                                                           (11)             (11)     25           35

    Litigation Settlement                                                                                                                       (24)                -   (24)           -

           Tax Impact                                                                                                                              6                 -      6            -

    Earnings Guidance Comparability Items:

    Equity Return Related to Kemper IGCC                                                                                                           -             (24)      -        (47)

        Schedule Extension

           Tax Impact                                                                                                                              -              (5)      -         (9)

    Adoption of Tax Reform                                                                                                                         -                -   (31)           -
                                                                                                                                                 ---              ---    ---          ---

    Net Income - Excluding Items                                                                                                                $815              $728  $1,708       $1,381
                                                                                                                                                ====              ====  ======       ======

           Average Shares Outstanding - (in millions)                                                                                          1,014               998   1,012          996

    Basic Earnings Per Share - Excluding Items                                                                                                 $0.80             $0.73   $1.69        $1.39


    NOTE: For more information regarding these non-GAAP adjustments, see the footnotes accompanying the Financial Highlights page of the earnings package.

Earnings drivers year-over-year for the second quarter of 2018 were positively influenced by effects of constructive regulatory outcomes and weather at our state regulated electric utilities, and increased contributions from Southern Power's renewables fleet. These impacts were partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization, as well as operations and maintenance costs. Earnings for the second quarter 2018 were also significantly affected by an approximately $1.1 billion charge ($0.8 billion after-tax) related to Georgia Power's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.

"Southern Company's premier, state-regulated electric and gas franchise operations, along with our competitive generation subsidiary, Southern Power, continued to perform well during the second quarter," said Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "This consistency in our core operations remains the cornerstone for delivering on our long-term financial objectives as we continue to build America's energy future."

Second quarter 2018 operating revenues were $5.63 billion, compared with $5.43 billion for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 3.6 percent. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, operating revenues were $12.00 billion, compared with $11.20 billion for the corresponding period in 2017, an increase of 7.1 percent.

Southern Company's second quarter earnings slides with supplemental financial information, including its updated earnings guidance for 2018, are available at http://investor.southerncompany.com.

Southern Company's financial analyst call will begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time today, during which Fanning and Chief Financial Officer Andrew W. Evans will discuss earnings and provide a general business update. Investors, media and the public may listen to a live webcast of the call and view associated slides at http://investor.southerncompany.com/webcasts. A replay of the webcast will be available on the site for 12 months.

About Southern Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2017. We operate nearly 200,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines and more than 80,000 miles of natural gas pipeline, as of December 31, 2017. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers in 11 states across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. We are building the future of energy by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity and the number one Company for Progress by DiversityInc, and designated as one of America's Best Employers by Forbes magazine. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning long-term financial objectives. Southern Company cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Southern Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Southern Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, including environmental laws and regulations governing air, water, land, and protection of other natural resources, 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; the uncertainty surrounding the federal tax reform legislation, including implementing regulations and Internal Revenue Service interpretations, actions that may be taken in response by regulatory authorities, and its impact, if any, on the credit ratings of Southern Company and its subsidiaries; current and future litigation or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; the effects, extent, and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets in which Southern Company's subsidiaries operate, including from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources such as self-generation and distributed generation technologies; variations in demand for electricity and natural gas, including those relating to weather, the general economy, population and business growth (and declines), the effects of energy conservation and efficiency measures and any potential economic impacts resulting from federal fiscal decisions; available sources and costs of natural gas and other fuels; limits on pipeline capacity; transmission constraints; effects of inflation; the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction, and operation of facilities, including Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 which includes components based on new technology that is just beginning initial operation in the global nuclear industry at scale, including changes in labor costs, availability, and productivity, challenges with management of contractors, subcontractors, or vendors, adverse weather conditions, shortages, increased costs or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, including any changes related to imposition of import tariffs, contractor or supplier delay, non-performance under construction, operating, or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, unforeseen engineering or design problems, start-up activities (including major equipment failure and system integration), and/or operational performance; the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses (including satisfaction of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC") requirements), to satisfy any environmental performance standards and the requirements of tax credits and other incentives, and to integrate facilities into the Southern Company system upon completion of construction; investment performance of the Southern Company system's employee and retiree benefit plans and nuclear decommissioning trust funds; advances in technology; ongoing renewable energy partnerships and development agreements; state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms; the ability to successfully operate the electric utilities' generating, transmission, and distribution facilities and Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution and storage facilities and the successful performance of necessary corporate functions; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, including Georgia Public Service Commission approvals and NRC actions; a decision by more than 10 percent of the owners of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 not to proceed with construction; litigation or other disputes related to the Kemper County energy facility; the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities, including environmental, health, regulatory, natural disaster, terrorism, and financial risks; the inherent risks involved in transporting and storing natural gas; 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, including the proposed dispositions of Gulf Power and Southern Power's plants located in Florida and the potential sale of a noncontrolling interest in Southern Power's wind facilities, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to Southern Company or its subsidiaries; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the acquisition of Southern Company Gas cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected and the possibility that costs related to the integration of Southern Company and Southern Company Gas will be greater than expected; the ability of counterparties of Southern Company and its subsidiaries to make payments as and when due and to perform as required; the ability to obtain new short- and long-term contracts with wholesale customers; the direct or indirect effect on the Southern Company system's business resulting from cyber intrusion or physical attack and the threat of physical attacks; interest rate fluctuations and financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts; changes in Southern Company's and any of its subsidiaries' credit ratings, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital markets, and collateral requirements; the impacts of any sovereign financial issues, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital markets, impacts on foreign currency exchange rates, counterparty performance, and the economy in general, as well as potential impacts on the benefits of the U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantees; the ability of Southern Company's electric utilities to obtain additional generating capacity (or sell excess generating capacity) at competitive prices; catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences; the direct or indirect effects on the Southern Company system's business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid, natural gas pipeline infrastructure, or operation of generating or storage resources; impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets; and the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies. Southern Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward?looking information.

                                                                        Southern Company

                                                                      Financial Highlights

                                                       (In Millions of Dollars Except Earnings Per Share)


                                                                                 Three Months Ended                    Year-to-Date

                                                                                        June                               June

    Net Income (Loss)-As Reported (See Notes)                               2018                         2017       2018             2017
                                                                            ----                         ----       ----             ----


      Traditional Electric Operating Companies                                       $(48)                      $(1,442)                       $563    $(1,010)

      Southern Power                                                          22                             82                  143               151

    Southern Company Gas                                                    (31)                            49                  248               288
                                                                             ---                            ---                  ---               ---

      Total                                                                 (57)                       (1,311)                  954             (571)

      Parent Company and Other                                              (97)                          (70)               (170)            (152)
                                                                             ---                            ---                 ----              ----

      Net Income (Loss)-As Reported                                                 $(154)                      $(1,381)                       $784      $(723)
                                                                                     =====                        =======                        ====       =====


      Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share(1)                                           $(0.15)                       $(1.38)                      $0.77     $(0.73)


      Average Shares Outstanding (in millions)                             1,014                            998                1,012               996

      End of Period Shares Outstanding (in millions)                                                             1,014                    999


    Non-GAAP Financial Measures                                                Three Months Ended               Year-to-Date

                                                                                      June                          June

    Net Income-Excluding Items (See Notes)                                  2018                         2017       2018             2017
                                                                            ----                         ----       ----             ----


      Net Income (Loss)-As Reported                                                 $(154)                      $(1,381)                       $784      $(723)

    Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2)                         1,060                          3,012                1,105             3,120

    Tax Impact                                                             (270)                         (896)               (281)            (937)

    Loss on Plant Scherer Unit 3(3)                                            -                             -                   -               33

    Tax Impact                                                                 -                             -                   -             (13)

    Acquisition, Disposition, and Integration Impacts4                       172                              9                  233                13

    Tax Impact                                                                 4                            (4)                 (1)              (5)

    Wholesale Gas Services5                                                   32                             28                (108)             (86)

    Tax Impact                                                              (11)                          (11)                  25                35

    Litigation Settlement6                                                  (24)                             -                (24)                -

    Tax Impact                                                                 6                              -                   6                 -

    Earnings Guidance Comparability Items:

    Equity Return Related to Kemper IGCC                                       -                          (24)                   -             (47)

       Schedule Extension7

    Tax Impact                                                                 -                           (5)                   -              (9)

    Adoption of Tax Reform8                                                    -                             -                (31)                -

      Net Income-Excluding Items                                                      $815                           $728                      $1,708      $1,381
                                                                                      ====                           ====                      ======      ======


      Basic Earnings Per Share-Excluding Items                                       $0.80                          $0.73                       $1.69       $1.39


    -See Notes on the following page.

Southern Company
Financial Highlights

Notes

(1) For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, dilution does not change basic earnings per share by more than 1 cent and is not material.

(2) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 include charges related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in Kemper County, Mississippi (Kemper IGCC). Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 also include a $1.1 billion charge ($0.8 billion after tax) for an estimated probable loss on Georgia Power Company's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. All of these charges significantly impacted the presentation of earnings and earnings per share. Additional pre-tax cancellation costs of up to $25 million for Mississippi Power Company's Kemper IGCC are expected to occur during the remainder of 2018 and 2019. Further charges for Georgia Power Company's Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 may occur; however, the amount and timing of any such charges is uncertain.

(3) Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 include a $32.5 million write-down ($20 million after tax) of Gulf Power Company's ownership of Plant Scherer Unit 3 as a result of its 2017 retail rate case settlement. Further charges are not expected.

(4) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 include costs related to the acquisition and integration of Southern Company Gas and earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include costs related to (a) the dispositions of Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, Pivotal Home Solutions, and Florida City Gas and (b) the pending dispositions of Gulf Power Company and Southern Power Company's ownership interests in Plants Oleander and Stanton. The costs associated with the Pivotal Home Solutions transaction include a goodwill impairment charge of $42 million in the first quarter 2018 and a net loss of $76 million, which included $40 million of income tax expense in the second quarter 2018. The costs associated with the Southern Power Company plants disposition include a pre-tax impairment charge of $119 million, partially offset by a reduction in depreciation as a result of ceasing depreciation upon meeting the held-for-sale accounting criteria. Further costs are expected to continue to occur prior to the expected closings of the pending dispositions in the first half of 2019; however, the amount of such expenditures is uncertain. Further costs are also expected to continue to occur in connection with the integration of Southern Company Gas; however, the amount and duration of such expenditures is uncertain.

(5) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 include the Wholesale Gas Services business of Southern Company Gas. Presenting earnings and earnings per share excluding Wholesale Gas Services provides investors with an additional measure of operating performance that excludes the volatility resulting from mark-to-market and lower of weighted average cost or current market price accounting adjustments.

(6) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include the settlement proceeds of Mississippi Power Company's claim for lost revenue resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Further proceeds are not expected.

(7) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 include allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) equity as a result of extending the Kemper IGCC construction schedule beyond November 30, 2016, as assumed when Southern Company issued its 2017 guidance. As a result, Southern Company believes presentation of earnings per share excluding these amounts provides investors with information comparable to guidance. Management also used such measures to evaluate Southern Company's 2017 performance. AFUDC equity ceased in connection with the project's suspension in June 2017.

(8) Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2018 include additional net tax benefits as a result of implementing federal tax reform legislation, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017. During this period, Southern Company obtained and analyzed additional information that was not initially available or reported as provisional amounts at December 31, 2017. Additional adjustments are expected until Southern Company's 2017 federal income tax return is complete and provisional estimates are actualized during the measurement period ending December 31, 2018. Southern Company believes presentation of earnings per share excluding these amounts provides investors with information comparable to guidance. Management also uses such measures to evaluate Southern Company's performance.

                                                           Southern Company

                                                   Significant Factors Impacting EPS


                                                                                     Three Months Ended         Year-to-Date

                                                                                             June                   June

                                                                                                   2018                  2017   Change          2018 2017        Change
                                                                                                   ----                  ----   ------          ---- ----        ------

    Earnings (Loss) Per Share-

    As Reported1 (See Notes)                                                                            $(0.15)                        $(1.38)           $1.23                $0.77   $(0.73)   $1.50


      Significant Factors:

      Traditional Electric Operating Companies                                                                                           $1.40                                $1.58

    Southern Power                                                                                                            (0.06)                                   (0.01)

    Southern Company Gas                                                                                                      (0.08)                                   (0.04)

    Parent Company and Other                                                                                                  (0.03)                                   (0.02)

    Increase in Shares                                                                                                             -                                  (0.01)

      Total-As Reported                                                                                                                  $1.23                                $1.50
                                                                                                                                         =====                                =====


                                                                                     Three Months Ended         Year-to-Date

                                                                                             June                   June

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures                                                                    2018                  2017   Change          2018 2017        Change
                                                                                                   ----                  ----   ------          ---- ----        ------

    Earnings Per Share-

    Excluding Items (See Notes)                                                                           $0.80                           $0.73            $0.07                $1.69     $1.39    $0.30


      Total-As Reported                                                                                                                  $1.23                                $1.50

    Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2)                                                                            (1.31)                                   (1.32)

    Loss on Plant Scherer Unit 3(3)                                                                                                -                                  (0.02)

    Acquisition, Disposition, and Integration                                                                                   0.17                                     0.22

        Impacts4

    Wholesale Gas Services5                                                                                                        -                                  (0.03)

    Litigation Settlement6                                                                                                    (0.02)                                   (0.02)

    Adoption of Tax Reform7                                                                                                        -                                  (0.03)
                                                                                                                                 ---                                   -----

      Total-Excluding Items                                                                                                              $0.07                                $0.30
                                                                                                                                         =====                                =====


    - See Notes on the following page.

Southern Company
Significant Factors Impacting EPS

Notes

(1) For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, dilution does not change basic earnings per share by more than 1 cent and is not material.

(2) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 include charges related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in Kemper County, Mississippi (Kemper IGCC). Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 also include a $1.1 billion charge ($0.8 billion after tax) for an estimated probable loss on Georgia Power Company's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. All of these charges significantly impacted the presentation of earnings and earnings per share. Additional pre-tax cancellation costs of up to $25 million for Mississippi Power Company's Kemper IGCC are expected to occur during the remainder of 2018 and 2019. Further charges for Georgia Power Company's Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 may occur; however, the amount and timing of any such charges is uncertain.

Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 include allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) equity as a result of extending the Kemper IGCC construction schedule beyond November 30, 2016, as assumed when Southern Company issued its 2017 guidance. As a result, Southern Company believes presentation of earnings per share excluding these amounts provides investors with information comparable to guidance. Management also used such measures to evaluate Southern Company's 2017 performance. AFUDC equity ceased in connection with the project's suspension in June 2017.

(3) Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 include a $32.5 million write-down ($20 million after tax) of Gulf Power Company's ownership of Plant Scherer Unit 3 as a result of its 2017 retail rate case settlement. Further charges are not expected.

(4) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 include costs related to the acquisition and integration of Southern Company Gas and earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include costs related to (a) the dispositions of Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, Pivotal Home Solutions, and Florida City Gas and (b) the pending dispositions of Gulf Power Company and Southern Power Company's ownership interests in Plants Oleander and Stanton. The costs associated with the Pivotal Home Solutions transaction include a goodwill impairment charge of $42 million in the first quarter 2018 and a net loss of $76 million, which included $40 million of income tax expense in the second quarter 2018. The costs associated with the Southern Power Company plants disposition include a pre-tax impairment charge of $119 million, partially offset by a reduction in depreciation as a result of ceasing depreciation upon meeting the held-for-sale accounting criteria. Further costs are expected to continue to occur prior to the expected closings of the pending dispositions in the first half of 2019; however, the amount of such expenditures is uncertain. Further costs are also expected to continue to occur in connection with the integration of Southern Company Gas; however, the amount and duration of such expenditures is uncertain.

(5) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 include the Wholesale Gas Services business of Southern Company Gas. Presenting earnings and earnings per share excluding Wholesale Gas Services provides investors with an additional measure of operating performance that excludes the volatility resulting from mark-to-market and lower of weighted average cost or current market price accounting adjustments.

(6) Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include the settlement proceeds of Mississippi Power Company's claim for lost revenue resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Further proceeds are not expected.

(7) Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2018 include additional net tax benefits as a result of implementing federal tax reform legislation, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017. During this period, Southern Company obtained and analyzed additional information that was not initially available or reported as provisional amounts at December 31, 2017. Additional adjustments are expected until Southern Company's 2017 federal income tax return is complete and provisional estimates are actualized during the measurement period ending December 31, 2018. Southern Company believes presentation of earnings per share excluding these amounts provides investors with information comparable to guidance. Management also uses such measures to evaluate Southern Company's performance.

                                                    Southern Company
                                                 EPS Earnings Analysis
                                       Three Months Ended June 2018 vs. June 2017


    Dollars                                                                       Description
    -------                                                                       -----------


                                                                         $0.05    Weather


    0.01                                                                          Other Operating Revenues


    (0.02)                                                                        Non-Fuel O&M


    0.01                                                                          Purchased Power Capacity Expense


    (0.02)                                                                        Depreciation and Amortization


    0.01                                                                           Dividends on Preferred and
                                                                                   Preference Stock


    0.05                                                                           Impacts of Tax Reform (Ongoing
                                                                                   Basis), Net of Amounts to be
                                                                                   Returned to Customers


    (0.01)                                                                        Income Taxes, Excluding Tax Reform


                                                                         $0.08     Total Traditional Electric
                                                                                   Operating Companies
                                                                         -----    ---------------------------


    0.03                                                                          Southern Power


    0.01                                                                          Southern Company Gas


    (0.04)                                                                        Parent and Other


    (0.01)                                                                        Increase in Shares


                                                                         $0.07     Total Change in EPS (Excluding
                                                                                   Items)
                                                                         -----    -------------------------------


    1.31                                                                           Estimated Loss on Plants Under
                                                                                   Construction(1)


    (0.17)                                                                         Acquisition, Disposition, and
                                                                                   Integration Impacts(2)


    0.02                                                                          Litigation Settlement(3)


                                                                         $1.23    Total Change in EPS (As Reported)
                                                                         -----    --------------------------------


    - See Notes on the following page.

Southern Company
EPS Earnings Analysis
Three Months Ended June 2018 vs. June 2017

Notes

(1) Earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 include charges related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in Kemper County, Mississippi (Kemper IGCC). Earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2018 include a $1.1 billion charge ($0.8 billion after tax) for an estimated probable loss on Georgia Power Company's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. All of these charges significantly impacted the presentation of earnings and earnings per share. Additional pre-tax cancellation costs of up to $25 million for Mississippi Power Company's Kemper IGCC are expected to occur during the remainder of 2018 and 2019. Further charges for Georgia Power Company's Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 may occur; however, the amount and timing of any such charges is uncertain.

Earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 include allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) equity as a result of extending the Kemper IGCC construction schedule beyond November 30, 2016, as assumed when Southern Company issued its 2017 guidance. As a result, Southern Company believes presentation of earnings per share excluding these amounts provides investors with information comparable to guidance. Management also used such measures to evaluate Southern Company's 2017 performance. AFUDC equity ceased in connection with the project's suspension in June 2017.

(2) Earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 include costs related to the acquisition and integration of Southern Company Gas and earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2018 include costs related to (a) the dispositions of Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, Pivotal Home Solutions, and Florida City Gas and (b) the pending dispositions of Gulf Power Company and Southern Power Company's ownership interests in Plants Oleander and Stanton. The costs associated with the Pivotal Home Solutions transaction include a net loss of $76 million, which included $40 million of income tax expense in the second quarter 2018. The costs associated with the Southern Power Company plants disposition include a pre-tax impairment charge of $119 million, partially offset by a reduction in depreciation as a result of ceasing depreciation upon meeting the held-for-sale accounting criteria. Further costs are expected to continue to occur prior to the expected closings of the pending dispositions in the first half of 2019; however, the amount of such expenditures is uncertain. Further costs are also expected to continue to occur in connection with the integration of Southern Company Gas; however, the amount and duration of such expenditures is uncertain.

(3) Earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2018 include the settlement proceeds of Mississippi Power Company's claim for lost revenue resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Further proceeds are not expected.

                                                                                                        Southern Company

                                                                                                     Consolidated Earnings

                                                                                                          As Reported

                                                                                                    (In Millions of Dollars)


                                                                                                                             Three Months Ended June        Year-to-Date June

                                                                                                                                                2018                      2017          Change              2018 2017          Change
                                                                                                                                                ----                      ----          ------              ---- ----          ------

    Income Account-

    Retail Electric Revenues-

    Fuel                                                                                                                                             $1,022                                       $1,016                   $6                  $2,049           $1,944      $105

    Non-Fuel                                                                                                                                   2,718                              2,761                     (43)        5,259           5,227             32

    Wholesale Electric Revenues                                                                                                                  611                                618                      (7)        1,230           1,149             81

    Other Electric Revenues                                                                                                                      175                                167                        8           339             342            (3)

    Natural Gas Revenues                                                                                                                         706                                684                       22         2,314           2,214            100

    Other Revenues                                                                                                                               395                                184                      211           808             326            482
                                                                                                                                                 ---                                ---                      ---           ---             ---            ---

    Total Revenues                                                                                                                             5,627                              5,430                      197        11,999          11,202            797
                                                                                                                                               -----                              -----                      ---        ------          ------            ---

    Fuel and Purchased Power                                                                                                                   1,339                              1,303                       36         2,707           2,478            229

    Cost of Natural Gas                                                                                                                          228                                232                      (4)          949             951            (2)

    Cost of Other Sales                                                                                                                          279                                114                      165           568             203            365

    Non-Fuel O & M                                                                                                                             1,559                              1,356                      203         3,008           2,740            268

    Depreciation and Amortization                                                                                                                783                                754                       29         1,552           1,469             83

    Taxes Other Than Income Taxes                                                                                                                316                                308                        8           671             638             33

    Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction                                                                                                1,060                              3,012                  (1,952)         1,105           3,120        (2,015)
                                                                                                                                               -----                              -----                   ------                        -----

    Total Operating Expenses                                                                                                                   5,564                              7,079                  (1,515)        10,560          11,599        (1,039)
                                                                                                                                               -----                              -----                   ------        ------          ------         ------

    Operating Income (Loss)                                                                                                                       63                            (1,649)                    1,712         1,439           (397)         1,836

    Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction                                                                                           32                                 58                     (26)           63             115           (52)

    Earnings from Equity Method Investments                                                                                                       31                                 28                        3            72              67              5

    Interest Expense, Net of Amounts Capitalized                                                                                                 470                                424                       46           928             840             88

    Other Income (Expense), net                                                                                                                   78                                 52                       26           138              98             40

    Income Taxes (Benefit)                                                                                                                     (139)                             (587)                     448          (25)          (273)           248
                                                                                                                                                ----                               ----                      ---                         ----            ---

    Net Income (Loss)                                                                                                                          (127)                           (1,348)                    1,221           809           (684)         1,493

    Less:

    Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock                                                                                                    4                                 11                      (7)            8              22           (14)
    of Subsidiaries

    Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling                                                                                                     23                                 22                        1            17              17              -
    Interests


    NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE                                                                                                                   $(154)                                    $(1,381)              $1,227                    $784           $(723)   $1,507
    TO SOUTHERN COMPANY



    Notes
    -----


    - Certain prior year data may have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.

                                                                                                                                Southern Company

                                                                                                                        Kilowatt-Hour Sales and Customers

                                                                                                                              (In Millions of KWHs)


                                                                                     Three Months Ended June                                                 Year-to-Date June

    As Reported                                                         2018                 2017            Change              Weather                    2018                   2017           Change     Weather
                                                                                                                               Adjusted                                                                  Adjusted
                                                                                                                                Change                                                                   Change
                                                                                                                                ------                                                                   ------

    Kilowatt-Hour Sales-

    Total Sales                                                       52,260                          51,152                         2.2%                                               103,104               97,350         5.9%


    Total Retail Sales-                                               39,624                          38,849                         2.0%                            0.1%                        78,014               74,353        4.9%        0.8%

    Residential                                                       12,691                          12,087                         5.0%                               -   %                    25,657               23,003       11.5%        0.6%

    Commercial                                                        13,373                          13,271                         0.8%                          (0.2)%                        25,660               25,038        2.5%        0.5%

    Industrial                                                        13,363                          13,280                         0.6%                            0.6%                        26,295               25,886        1.6%        1.6%

    Other                                                                197                             211                       (6.9)%                          (6.8)%                           402                  426      (5.6)%      (5.8)%


    Total Wholesale Sales                                             12,636                          12,303                         2.7%                             N/A                25,090               22,997         9.1%         N/A




                                                                                                                 (In Thousands of Customers)


                                                                                                                                                                Period Ended June

                                                                                                                                                          2018                   2017           Change
                                                                                                                                                          ----                   ----           ------

    Regulated Utility Customers-

    Total Utility Customers-                                                                                                                                                                    9,276                9,194           0.9%

    Total Traditional Electric                                                                                                                                                                  4,667                4,621           1.0%

    Southern Company Gas(1)                                                                                                                                                                     4,609                4,573           0.8%





    Notes
    -----


    (1) Includes total customers of approximately 407,000 and 403,000 customers at June 30, 2018 and 2017,
    respectively, related to Elizabethtown Gas, Elkton Gas, and Florida City Gas, which were sold subsequent
    to June 30, 2018.

                                                                                                                                                  Southern Company

                                                                                                                                                 Financial Overview

                                                                                                                                                     As Reported

                                                                                                                                              (In Millions of Dollars)


                                                                                                                       Three Months Ended June                                      Year-to-Date June

                                                                                                               2018                 2017               % Change                     2018                2017  % Change
                                                                                                               ----                 ----               --------                     ----                ----  --------

    Southern Company -

    Operating Revenues                                                                                                 $5,627                                      $5,430                        3.6%                    $11,999                     $11,202   7.1%

    Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes                                                                       (266)                       (1,935)                              N/M               784              (957)              N/M

    Net Income (Loss) Available to Common                                                                     (154)                       (1,381)                              N/M               784              (723)              N/M


    Alabama Power -

    Operating Revenues                                                                                                 $1,503                                      $1,484                        1.3%                     $2,976                      $2,866   3.8%

    Earnings Before Income Taxes                                                                                326                            386                          (15.5)%                       636                 689             (7.7)%

    Net Income Available to Common                                                                              259                            230                            12.6%                       484                 403              20.1%


    Georgia Power -

    Operating Revenues                                                                                                 $2,048                                      $2,048                           - %                   $4,008                      $3,880   3.3%

    Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes                                                                       (539)                           551                              N/M              (94)               971               N/M

    Net Income (Loss) Available to Common                                                                     (396)                           347                              N/M              (44)               607               N/M


    Gulf Power -

    Operating Revenues                                                                                                   $344                                        $357                      (3.6)%                       $692                        $707 (2.1)%

    Earnings Before Income Taxes                                                                                 31                             61                          (49.2)%                        87                  95             (8.4)%

    Net Income Available to Common                                                                               42                             35                            20.0%                        84                  53              58.5%


    Mississippi Power -

    Operating Revenues                                                                                                   $297                                        $303                      (2.0)%                       $598                        $575   4.0%

    Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes                                                                          60                        (2,934)                              N/M                49            (2,981)              N/M

    Net Income (Loss) Available to Common                                                                        46                        (2,054)                              N/M                39            (2,074)              N/M


    Southern Power -

    Operating Revenues                                                                                                   $555                                        $529                        4.9%                     $1,064                        $979   8.7%

    Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes                                                                        (28)                            66                         (142.4)%                      (12)                 78           (115.4)%

    Net Income Available to Common                                                                               22                             82                          (73.2)%                       143                 151             (5.3)%


    Southern Company Gas -

    Operating Revenues                                                                                                   $730                                        $716                        2.0%                     $2,369                      $2,276   4.1%

    Earnings Before Income Taxes                                                                                 24                             80                          (70.0)%                       407                 468            (13.0)%

    Net Income (Loss) Available to Common                                                                      (31)                            49                              N/M               248                288           (13.9)%


    N/M - not meaningful


    Notes
    -----


    - See Financial Highlights pages for discussion of certain significant items occurring during the periods presented.

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SOURCE Southern Company