Components of the net periodic benefit costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:



Pension Plans	Southern Company			Alabama Power			Georgia Power			Gulf Power			Mississippi Power
	(in millions)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
Service cost	$	58		$	12		$	17		$	3		$	3
Interest cost	97			23			35			4			5
Expected return on plan assets	(151		)	(39		)	(54		)	(6		)	(7		)
Amortization:
Prior service costs	7			2			3			—			1
Net (gain)/loss	50			13			19			2			2
Net cost	$	61		$	11		$	20		$	3		$	4
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
Service cost	$	174		$	39		$	52		$	8		$	8
Interest cost	291			69			104			13			14
Expected return on plan assets	(452		)	(117		)	(160		)	(19		)	(20		)
Amortization:
Prior service costs	20			5			8			1			1
Net (gain)/loss	150			39			56			6			7
Net cost	$	183		$	35		$	60		$	9		$	10
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
Service cost	$	49		$	11		$	15		$	2		$	2
Interest cost	98			23			35			5			5
Expected return on plan assets	(145		)	(40		)	(56		)	(7		)	(6		)
Amortization:
Prior service costs	8			2			3			—			—
Net (gain)/loss	24			6			9			1			2
Net cost	$	34		$	2		$	6		$	1		$	3
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
Service cost	$	148		$	33		$	45		$	7		$	7
Interest cost	295			70			106			13			14
Expected return on plan assets	(436		)	(121		)	(166		)	(20		)	(18		)
Amortization:
Prior service costs	23			5			9			1			1
Net (gain)/loss	71			18			25			3			3
Net cost	$	101		$	5		$	19		$	4		$	7



Postretirement Benefits	Southern Company			Alabama Power			Georgia Power			Gulf Power			Mississippi Power
	(in millions)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
Service cost	$	6		$	2		$	3		$	—		$	—
Interest cost	18			5			8			1			1
Expected return on plan assets	(14		)	(6		)	(7		)	(1		)	—
Amortization:
Transition obligation	2			—			1			—			—
Prior service costs	1			1			—			—			—
Net (gain)/loss	3			—			2			—			—
Net cost	$	16		$	2		$	7		$	—		$	1
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
Service cost	$	18		$	5		$	6		$	1		$	1
Interest cost	55			14			24			2			3
Expected return on plan assets	(42		)	(18		)	(19		)	(1		)	(1		)
Amortization:
Transition obligation	4			—			3			—			—
Prior service costs	3			3			—			—			—
Net (gain)/loss	9			1			6			—			—
Net cost	$	47		$	5		$	20		$	2		$	3
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
Service cost	$	5		$	1		$	2		$	—		$	—
Interest cost	21			6			8			1			1
Expected return on plan assets	(15		)	(6		)	(7		)	—			—
Amortization:
Transition obligation	2			—			2			—			—
Prior service costs	1			1			—			—			—
Net (gain)/loss	2			—			1			—			—
Net cost	$	16		$	2		$	6		$	1		$	1
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
Service cost	$	16		$	4		$	5		$	1		$	1
Interest cost	63			17			27			3			3
Expected return on plan assets	(45		)	(18		)	(21		)	(1		)	(1		)
Amortization:
Transition obligation	7			1			5			—			—
Prior service costs	3			3			—			—			—
Net (gain)/loss	5			—			3			—			—
Net cost	$	49		$	7		$	19		$	3		$	3