EX-99 2 ex99-pressreleaseq12024.htm EX-99 Document
Exhibit 99
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News
Media Contact:Southern Company Media Relations
404-506-5333 or 1-866-506-5333
southerncompany.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Scott Gammill
404-506-0901
sagammil@southernco.com
May 2, 2024

Southern Company reports first-quarter 2024 earnings

ATLANTA – Southern Company today reported first-quarter earnings of $1.1 billion, or $1.03 per share, in 2024 compared with earnings of $862 million, or 79 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2023.

Excluding the items described under “Net Income – Excluding Items” in the table below, Southern Company earned $1.1 billion, or $1.03 per share, during the first quarter of 2024, compared with $867 million, or 79 cents per share, during the first quarter of 2023.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Three Months Ended March
Net Income – Excluding Items (in millions)
20242023
Net Income – As Reported
$1,129 $862 
Less:
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(4)(2)
Tax Impact1 
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
 (5)
Tax Impact 
Net Income – Excluding Items
$1,132 $867 
Average Shares Outstanding – (in millions)
1,094 1,091 
Basic Earnings Per Share - Excluding Items$1.03 $0.79 

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

Adjusted earnings drivers for the first quarter 2024, as compared with 2023, were higher utility revenues, partially offset by increased interest expense and depreciation and amortization.

First-quarter 2024 operating revenues were $6.6 billion, compared with $6.5 billion for the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 2.6%.



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“All our businesses experienced a strong start to 2024,” said Chairman, President and CEO Christopher C. Womack. “This performance was driven by a variety of factors, including investments in our state-regulated utilities, weather that was less mild than the first quarter of last year and higher weather-adjusted sales in our electric utilities' commercial customer class, a fact that speaks to strong local economies and increased usage by many existing data center customers.”

“We were also pleased to announce earlier this week that Plant Vogtle Unit 4 has achieved commercial operation,” added Womack. “New units 3 and 4 are now positioned to deliver more than 2,200 megawatts of reliable, carbon-free energy for decades to come. With all four units operational, Plant Vogtle is now the largest generator of clean energy in the United States. This monumental achievement is a testament not only to the commitment and perseverance of our Southern Company team, but to the hard work and dedication of thousands of American craft workers and engineers, our Plant Vogtle co-owners and enlightened regulators who championed the development of new nuclear generation.”

Southern Company’s first-quarter earnings slides with supplemental financial information are available at investor.southerncompany.com.

Southern Company’s financial analyst call will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern Time today, during which Womack and Chief Financial Officer Daniel S. Tucker 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 investor.southerncompany.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the site for 12 months.

About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy distribution company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers’ and communities’ needs while advancing our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit southerncompany.com.

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Southern Company
Financial Highlights
(In Millions Except Earnings Per Share)
 Three Months Ended March
Net Income – As Reported
20242023
  Traditional Electric Operating Companies$819 $610 
  Southern Power96 102 
Southern Company Gas409 309 
  Total1,324 1,021 
  Parent Company and Other(195)(159)
  Net Income – As Reported
$1,129 $862 
  Basic Earnings Per Share(1)
$1.03 $0.79 
  Average Shares Outstanding
1,094 1,091 
Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresThree Months Ended March
Net Income – Excluding Items
20242023
  Net Income – As Reported
$1,129 $862 
Less:
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2)
(4)(2)
Tax Impact1 
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(3)
 (5)
Tax Impact 
  Net Income – Excluding Items
$1,132 $867 
  Basic Earnings Per Share – Excluding Items
$1.03 $0.79 
See Notes on the following page.




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Southern Company
Financial Highlights

Notes
(1)Dilution is not material in any period presented. Diluted earnings per share was $1.03 and $0.79 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(2)Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include charges (net of salvage proceeds), associated legal expenses (net of insurance recoveries), and tax impacts related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in Kemper County, Mississippi. Mississippi Power Company expects to incur additional pre-tax period costs to complete dismantlement of the abandoned gasifier-related assets and site restoration activities, including related costs for compliance and safety, asset retirement obligation accretion, and property taxes, net of salvage, totaling approximately $15 million annually through 2025. Additionally, further charges and/or credits related to estimated probable loss on Georgia Power Company's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 may occur; however, the amount and timing are uncertain.
(3)Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain.


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Southern Company
Significant Factors Impacting EPS
 Three Months Ended March
 20242023Change
Earnings Per Share –
As Reported(1)
$1.03 $0.79 $0.24 
  Significant Factors:
  Traditional Electric Operating Companies$0.19 
Southern Power(0.01)
Southern Company Gas0.09 
Parent Company and Other(0.03)
Increase in Shares 
  Total – As Reported
$0.24 
Three Months Ended March
Non-GAAP Financial Measures20242023Change
Earnings Per Share –
Excluding Items
$1.03 $0.79 $0.24 
  Total – As Reported
$0.24 
Less:
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2)
 
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(3)
 
  Total – Excluding Items
$0.24 
See Notes on the following page.


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Southern Company
Significant Factors Impacting EPS

Notes
(1)Dilution is not material in any period presented. Diluted earnings per share was $1.03 and $0.79 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(2)Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include charges (net of salvage proceeds), associated legal expenses (net of insurance recoveries), and tax impacts related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in Kemper County, Mississippi. Mississippi Power Company expects to incur additional pre-tax period costs to complete dismantlement of the abandoned gasifier-related assets and site restoration activities, including related costs for compliance and safety, asset retirement obligation accretion, and property taxes, net of salvage, totaling approximately $15 million annually through 2025. Additionally, further charges and/or credits related to estimated probable loss on Georgia Power Company's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 may occur; however, the amount and timing are uncertain.
(3)Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain.


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Southern Company
EPS Earnings Analysis
Three Months Ended March 2024 vs. March 2023
DescriptionCents
Retail Sales
Retail Revenue Impacts16
Weather6
Wholesale and Other Operating Revenues
3
Depreciation and Amortization(2)
Interest Expense and Other(5)
Income Taxes(3)
Total Traditional Electric Operating Companies19¢
Southern Power(1)
Southern Company Gas9
Parent Company and Other(3)
Total Change in EPS (Excluding Items)24¢
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(1)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(2)
Total Change in EPS (As Reported)24¢
See Notes on the following page.


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Southern Company
EPS Earnings Analysis

Notes
(1)Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include charges (net of salvage proceeds), associated legal expenses (net of insurance recoveries), and tax impacts related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in Kemper County, Mississippi. Mississippi Power Company expects to incur additional pre-tax period costs to complete dismantlement of the abandoned gasifier-related assets and site restoration activities, including related costs for compliance and safety, asset retirement obligation accretion, and property taxes, net of salvage, totaling approximately $15 million annually through 2025. Additionally, further charges and/or credits related to estimated probable loss on Georgia Power Company's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 may occur; however, the amount and timing are uncertain.
(2)Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain.


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Southern Company
Consolidated Earnings
As Reported
 Three Months Ended March
 20242023Change
(in millions)
Retail electric revenues:
Fuel$1,011 $1,050 $(39)
Non-fuel2,930 2,549 381 
Wholesale electric revenues571 599 (28)
Other electric revenues199 190 
Natural gas revenues1,707 1,875 (168)
Other revenues228 217 11 
Total operating revenues6,646 6,480 166 
Fuel and purchased power1,194 1,292 (98)
Cost of natural gas605 898 (293)
Cost of other sales131 127 
Non-fuel operations and maintenance
1,472 1,440 32 
Depreciation and amortization1,145 1,111 34 
Taxes other than income taxes396 394 
Total operating expenses4,943 5,262 (319)
Operating income1,703 1,218 485 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction58 65 (7)
Earnings from equity method investments45 48 (3)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized665 582 83 
Other income (expense), net153 147 
Income taxes223 97 126 
Net income1,071 799 272 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests(58)(63)
Net income attributable to Southern Company$1,129 $862 $267 
Certain prior year data may have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.


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Southern Company
Kilowatt-Hour Sales and Customers
 Three Months Ended March
20242023% ChangeWeather Adjusted % Change
(in millions)
Kilowatt-Hour Sales
Total Sales46,529 46,725 (0.4)%
Total Retail Sales35,254 33,382 5.6 %1.7 %
Residential11,876 10,630 11.7 %1.0 %
Commercial11,474 10,883 5.4 %3.8 %
Industrial11,768 11,724 0.4 %0.4 %
Other136 145 (6.5)%(7.2)%
Total Wholesale Sales11,275 13,343 (15.5)%N/A
Period Ended March
20242023% Change
(in thousands)
Regulated Utility Customers
Total Regulated Utility Customers8,9008,8240.9%
Traditional Electric Operating Companies4,5024,4491.2%
Southern Company Gas4,3984,3750.5%



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Southern Company
Financial Overview
As Reported
Three Months Ended March
20242023% Change
(in millions)
Southern Company –
Operating Revenues$6,646 $6,480 2.6 %
Earnings Before Income Taxes1,294 896 44.4 %
Net Income Available to Common1,129 862 31.0 %
Alabama Power –
Operating Revenues$1,791 $1,647 8.7 %
Earnings Before Income Taxes418 253 65.2 %
Net Income Available to Common333 255 30.6 %
Georgia Power –
Operating Revenues$2,398 $2,176 10.2 %
Earnings Before Income Taxes516 349 47.9 %
Net Income Available to Common437 296 47.6 %
Mississippi Power –
Operating Revenues$342 $390 (12.3)%
Earnings Before Income Taxes60 71 (15.5)%
Net Income Available to Common50 58 (13.8)%
Southern Power –
Operating Revenues$473 $508 (6.9)%
Earnings Before Income Taxes24 32 (25.0)%
Net Income Available to Common96 102 (5.9)%
Southern Company Gas –
Operating Revenues$1,707 $1,875 (9.0)%
Earnings Before Income Taxes547 412 32.8 %
Net Income Available to Common409 309 32.4 %
See Financial Highlights pages for discussion of certain significant items occurring during the periods.