S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2012.

Registration No. 333-                

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

The Southern Company	Delaware	58-0690070
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)	(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

(404) 506-5000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of the registrant’s principal executive offices)

MELISSA K. CAEN, Assistant Secretary

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

(404) 506-5000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service of the registrant)

The Commission is requested to mail signed copies of all orders, notices and communications to:

ART P. BEATTIE Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer THE SOUTHERN COMPANY 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 ERIC A. KOONTZ TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP 600 Peachtree Street, N.E. Suite 5200 Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨             

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨             

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

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.

Large accelerated filer	x	Accelerated filer  ¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company  ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered(1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)	Amount of Registration Fee(2)
Common Stock of The Southern Company
Senior Notes of The Southern Company
Junior Subordinated Notes of The Southern Company

(1) There are being registered hereunder such presently indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock and such presently indeterminate principal amount of Senior Notes and Junior Subordinated Notes of The Southern Company as may from time to time be issued at indeterminable prices.

(2) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

PROSPECTUS

The Southern Company

Common Stock

Senior Notes

Junior Subordinated Notes

We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest.

The Southern Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SO.”

See “Risk Factors” on page 2 for information on certain risks related to the purchase of securities offered by this Prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

February 28, 2012

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This Prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) using a “shelf” registration process under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Under the shelf process, The Southern Company (the “Company”) may sell, in one or more transactions,

• common stock (the “Common Stock”),

• senior notes (the “Senior Notes”), or

• junior subordinated notes (the “Junior Subordinated Notes”).

This Prospectus provides a general description of those securities. Each time the Company sells securities, the Company will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering (“Prospectus Supplement”). The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement together with additional information under the heading “Available Information.”

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the Company’s securities involves risk. Please see the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems immaterial may also impair its business operations, its financial results and the value of its securities.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement,” which term encompasses any amendments of and exhibits to the Registration Statement) under the 1933 Act. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules to the Registration Statement, to which reference is made.

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and in accordance with the 1934 Act files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room of the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants including the Company that file electronically at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports and other material concerning the Company can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which exchange the common stock of the Company is listed.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents have been filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act and are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference and made a part of this Prospectus:

(a) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011; and

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(b) the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2012.

All documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and made a part of this Prospectus from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, the Company is not incorporating any information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K unless specifically stated otherwise. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (other than the exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference but not delivered with this Prospectus). Such requests should be directed to Melissa K. Caen, Assistant Secretary, The Southern Company, 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, telephone (404) 506-5000.

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

The Company was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945. The Company is domesticated under the laws of Georgia and is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under the laws of Alabama. The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, and the telephone number is (404) 506-5000.

The Company owns all the outstanding common stock of Alabama Power Company (“Alabama Power”), Georgia Power Company (“Georgia Power”), Gulf Power Company and Mississippi Power Company, 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. In addition, the Company owns all of the common stock of Southern Power Company (“Southern Power”), which is also an operating public utility company. Southern Power constructs, acquires, owns and manages generation assets, including renewable energy projects, and sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market.

The Company also owns all the outstanding common stock or membership interests of Southern Communications Services, Inc. (“SouthernLINC Wireless”), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (“Southern Nuclear”), Southern Company Services, Inc. (“SCS”), Southern Company Holdings, Inc. (“Southern Holdings”) and other direct and indirect subsidiaries. SouthernLINC Wireless provides digital wireless communications for use by the 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 and is currently developing new nuclear generation at Plant Vogtle, which is co-owned by Georgia Power. SCS is the system service company providing, at cost, specialized services to the Company and its subsidiary companies. Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding subsidiary primarily for the Company’s investments in leveraged leases.

Alabama Power and Georgia Power each own 50% of the outstanding common stock of Southern Electric Generating Company (“SEGCO”). SEGCO is an operating public utility company that owns electric generating units. Alabama Power and Georgia Power are each entitled to one-half of SEGCO’s capacity and energy.

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CERTAIN RATIOS

The following table sets forth the Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the periods indicated.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007		2008		2009		2010		2011
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)		3.27		3.26		3.06		3.43		3.86

(1) This ratio is computed as follows: (i) “Earnings” have been calculated by adding to “Earnings Before Income Taxes” “Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized,” “Distributions on mandatorily redeemable preferred securities,” the interest component of rental expense and the debt portion of allowance for funds used during construction, less “Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries” and excluding from “Earnings Before Income Taxes” minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and income or loss from investees; and (ii) “Fixed Charges” consist of interest expensed and capitalized, “Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries,” the interest component of rental expense and the debt portion of allowance for funds used during construction. In computing “Fixed Charges,” “Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries” represent the before tax earnings necessary to pay such dividends, computed at the effective tax rates for the applicable periods.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be otherwise described in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Common Stock, the Senior Notes or the Junior Subordinated Notes will be used to pay scheduled maturities and/or refundings of its securities, to repay short-term indebtedness to the extent outstanding and for other general corporate purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON STOCK

The authorized capital stock of the Company currently consists of 1,500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $5 per share. As of December 31, 2011, there were 864,124,869 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

All shares of Common Stock of the Company participate equally with respect to dividends and rank equally upon liquidation. Each holder is entitled to one vote for each share held and to cumulative voting at elections of directors. The vote of two-thirds of the outstanding Common Stock is required to authorize or create preferred stock or to effect certain changes in the charter provisions affecting the Common Stock. No stockholder is entitled to preemptive rights.

The shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Company and, therefore, will not be subject to further calls or assessment by the Company.

Certain business combination transactions, including mergers, sales of assets or securities having a fair market value of $100,000,000 or more, liquidations, dissolutions, reclassifications or recapitalizations, between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company or any affiliate of such owner must be approved by the holders of 75% of the outstanding voting stock and a majority of the outstanding voting stock held by persons other than such beneficial owner, unless approved by a majority of the “Disinterested Directors” (generally directors not affiliated with such beneficial owner) or certain minimum price and procedural requirements are met. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company.

The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is currently Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Senior Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Senior Note Indenture

dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Senior Note Indenture Trustee”), as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture to the Senior Note Indenture establishing the Senior Notes of each series (the Senior Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is referred to as the “Senior Note Indenture”), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The terms of the Senior Notes will include those stated in the Senior Note Indenture and those made a part of the Senior Note Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “1939 Act”). Certain capitalized terms used in this Prospectus and not defined in this Prospectus are defined in the Senior Note Indenture.

General

The Senior Notes will be issued as unsecured senior debt securities under the Senior Note Indenture and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company. The Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to all secured debt of the Company. The Company had no secured debt outstanding at December 31, 2011. Since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company and, hence, the right of creditors of the Company (including holders of Senior Notes) to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary of the Company, whether upon liquidation, reorganization or otherwise, is subject to prior claims of creditors and preferred and preference stockholders of each subsidiary. As of December 31, 2011, on a consolidated basis, the Company had approximately $20.4 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), of which approximately $18.6 billion was long-term debt of the Company’s subsidiaries (including securities due within one year). In addition, the Company’s subsidiaries had approximately $1.1 billion of preferred and preference stock outstanding.

The Senior Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes that may be issued under the Senior Note Indenture and provides that Senior Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Senior Note Indenture. The Senior Note Indenture gives the Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of Senior Notes and issue additional Senior Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Senior Notes being offered by such Prospectus Supplement: (i) the title of such Senior Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Senior Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Senior Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Senior Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which such Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or at the option of the holder prior to their maturity; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Senior Notes; (viii) the date or dates, if any, after which such Senior Notes may be converted or exchanged at the option of the holder into or for shares of Common Stock of the Company and the terms for any such conversion or exchange; (ix) the denominations in which such Senior Notes shall be issuable; (x) if other than the principal amount of such Senior Notes, the portion of the principal amount of such Senior Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such Senior Notes; (xi) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Senior Note Indenture pertaining to such Senior Notes; (xii) whether such Senior Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; and (xiii) any other terms of such Senior Notes.

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The Senior Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Senior Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company.

Events of Default

The Senior Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the Senior Notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the Senior Notes of such series:

(a) failure for 30 days to pay interest on the Senior Notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(b) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest on the Senior Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a Senior Note of such series; or

(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Senior Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Senior Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Senior Notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of such series; or

(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the Senior Notes of such series. If a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Senior Notes of any series, then the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the Senior Notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Senior Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Senior Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Senior Note Indenture Trustee.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Senior Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note of such series affected.

Registration and Transfer

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Senior Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Senior Notes of such series called for redemption or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Senior Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Senior Note being redeemed in part.

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Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of any Senior Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Senior Notes. Principal of and interest on Senior Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or other electronic transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Senior Notes. Payment of interest on Senior Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Senior Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Senior Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Senior Notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Senior Notes will from that time forward look only to the Company for payment of such principal and interest.

Modification

The Senior Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of each series that is affected, to modify the Senior Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Senior Notes of such series; provided that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note that is affected, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Senior Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Senior Note or the rate of interest on any Senior Note or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any Senior Note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any Senior Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Senior Note Indenture or certain defaults under the Senior Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for in the Senior Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Senior Note that is affected.

In addition, the Company and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of Senior Notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of Senior Notes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state in the United States or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture

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executed and delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Senior Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Senior Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the Senior Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

Information Concerning the Senior Note Indenture Trustee

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Senior Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to Senior Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Senior Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Senior Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Senior Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Senior Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Senior Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee may serve as Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Company and certain of its subsidiaries maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Senior Note Indenture Trustee and certain of its affiliates may also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company are outstanding.

Governing Law

The Senior Note Indenture and the Senior Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under the Senior Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Senior Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to the Senior Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Subordinated Note Indenture to be entered into between the Company and the trustee as named in the Subordinated Note Indenture (the “Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee”), as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture to the Subordinated Note Indenture establishing the Junior Subordinated Notes of each series (the Subordinated Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is referred to as the “Subordinated Note Indenture”), the forms of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms

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a part. The terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes will include those stated in the Subordinated Note Indenture and those made a part of the Subordinated Note Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized terms used in this Prospectus and not defined in this Prospectus are defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture.

General

The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as unsecured junior subordinated debt securities under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes that may be issued under the Subordinated Note Indenture and provides that Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture gives the Company the ability to reopen a previous issue of Junior Subordinated Notes and issue additional Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement that will accompany this Prospectus for the following terms of the series of Junior Subordinated Notes being offered by such Prospectus Supplement: (i) the title of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (ii) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (iii) the date or dates on which the principal of such Junior Subordinated Notes is payable; (iv) the rate or rates at which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; (v) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be payable; (vi) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or at the option of the holder prior to their maturity; (vii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase such Junior Subordinated Notes; (viii) the date or dates, if any, after which such Junior Subordinated Notes may be converted or exchanged at the option of the holder into or for shares of Common Stock of the Company and the terms for any such conversion or exchange; (ix) the denominations in which such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issuable; (x) if other than the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the portion of the principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Notes which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such Junior Subordinated Notes; (xi) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture pertaining to such Junior Subordinated Notes; (xii) whether such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security; (xiii) the right, if any, of the Company to extend the interest payment periods of such Junior Subordinated Notes; and (xiv) any other terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving the Company.

Subordination

The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company. No payment of principal of (including redemption payments, if any), or premium, if any, or interest on (including Additional Interest (as defined below)) the Junior Subordinated Notes may be made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended with such default not being cured or waived or otherwise ceasing to exist, or (b) the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default, or (c) notice has been given of the exercise of an option to require repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise of the Senior Indebtedness. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or

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liabilities, or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive or retain any payment or distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full.

The term “Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any payment due in respect of indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or incurred, created or assumed after such date, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and (b) evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by the Company that, by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated debt securities including, without limitation, all such obligations under its indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or that ranks equally with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness between or among the Company or its affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by the Company. As of December 31, 2011, Senior Indebtedness of the Company aggregated approximately $1,762,000,000. Since the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company and, hence, the right of creditors of the Company (including holders of Senior Notes and Junior Subordinated Notes) to participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary of the Company, whether upon liquidation, reorganization or otherwise, is subject to prior claims of creditors and preferred and preferences stockholders of each subsidiary. As of December 31, 2011, on a consolidated basis, the Company had approximately $20.4 billion of outstanding long-term debt (including securities due within one year), of which approximately $18.6 billion was long-term debt of the Company’s subsidiaries (including securities due within one year). In addition, the Company’s subsidiaries had approximately $1.1 billion of preferred and preference stock outstanding.

Additional Interest

“Additional Interest” is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as any interest due and not paid on an interest payment date, together with interest on such interest due from such interest payment date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date.

Certain Covenants

The Company covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, that, if at such time the Company shall have given notice of its election to extend an interest payment period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and such extension shall be continuing, or if at such time an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any

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dividend or make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company which rank equally with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict (i) any of the actions described in the preceding sentence resulting from any reclassifications of the Company’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company’s capital stock for another class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (ii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iii) dividends, payments or distributions payable in shares of capital stock, (iv) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock in connection with any employment contract, incentive plan, benefit plan or other similar arrangement of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stock purchase plan, or (v) any declaration of a dividend in connection with implementation of any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any such plan, or the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any such rights pursuant thereto.

Events of Default

The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series:

(a) failure for 30 days to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, including any Additional Interest in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or

(b) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest, including Additional Interest, on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

(c) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note of such series; or

(d) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Subordinated Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Subordinated Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; or

(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, then the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.

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The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note of such series affected.

Registration and Transfer

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Junior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of principal of any Junior Subordinated Notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Junior Subordinated Notes. Principal of and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate from time to time, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or other electronic transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to the Company, and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Notes will from that time forward look only to the Company for payment of such principal and interest.

Modification

The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of each series that is affected, to modify the Subordinated Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note that is affected, (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Junior Subordinated Note or the rate of interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior Subordinated Note or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any Junior Subordinated Note, or impair the right to institute suit for

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the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any Junior Subordinated Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults under the Subordinated Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note that is affected, or (iv) modify the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes in a manner adverse to such holder.

In addition, the Company and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of Junior Subordinated Notes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the Junior Subordinated Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Subordinated Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; (2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) the Company has delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

Information Concerning the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee

The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Subordinated Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee may serve as Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The Company and certain of its subsidiaries may maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee and certain of its affiliates may also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company are outstanding.

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Governing Law

The Subordinated Note Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Subordinated Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to the Subordinated Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Company may sell the Common Stock, the Senior Notes and the Junior Subordinated Notes in one or more of the following ways from time to time: (i) to underwriters for resale to the public or to institutional investors; (ii) directly to institutional investors; or (iii) through agents to the public or to institutional investors. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to Common Stock and each series of Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will set forth the terms of the offering of such Common Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes, including the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of such Common Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes and the proceeds to the Company from such sale, any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which such Common Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes may be listed.

If underwriters participate in the sale, such Common Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.

Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any Common Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such Common Stock, Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes, if any are purchased.

Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with the Company to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business.

Each series of Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The Senior Notes or Junior Subordinated Notes may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Common Stock, the Senior Notes, the Junior Subordinated Notes and certain matters relating to such securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company by Troutman Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, New York, New York. From time to time, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP acts as counsel to affiliates of the Company for some matters.

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and the related consolidated financial statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of Southern Company and Subsidiary Companies’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be borne by the Company are as follows:

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee	$	*
Fees and expenses of trustees and/or Transfer Agent and Registrar		**
Listing fees of New York Stock Exchange		**
Printing and engraving expenses		**
Rating Agency fees		**
Services of Southern Company Services, Inc.		**
Fees and expenses of counsel		**
Blue sky fees and expenses		**
Fees of accountants		**
Miscellaneous expenses		**
Total	$	**

*	Under Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the 1933 Act, the Commission registration fee will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under this Registration Statement and is therefore not currently determinable.
**	These fees are calculated based on the amount of securities offered and/or the number of offerings and accordingly are not presently known and cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code gives a corporation power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The same section also gives a corporation power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by

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the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Also, the section states that, to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any such action, suit or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection therewith.

The By-Laws of the Company provide in substance that no present or future director or officer of the Company shall be liable for any act, omission, step or conduct taken or had in good faith which is required, authorized or approved by order issued pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, or any state statute regulating the Company or its subsidiaries by reason of their being public utility companies or public utility holding companies, or any amendment to any thereof. In the event that such provisions are found by a court not to constitute a valid defense, each such director and officer shall be reimbursed for, or indemnified against, all expenses and liabilities incurred by him or her or imposed on him or her in connection with, or arising out of, any such action, suit or proceeding based on any act, omission, step or conduct taken or had in good faith as in such By-Laws described.

The By-Laws of the Company further provide as follows:

“Each person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation and who was or is a party or was or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be indemnified by the Corporation as a matter of right against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him and against any and all claims, judgments, fines, penalties, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement actually incurred by him in defense of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, to the full extent permitted by applicable law. The indemnification provided by this Section shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer of the Corporation with respect to the defense of any such claim, action, suit or proceeding may be advanced by the Corporation prior to the final disposition of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under this Section or otherwise; provided, however, that the advancement of such expenses shall not be deemed to be indemnification unless and until it shall ultimately be determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.”

The Company has an insurance policy covering its liabilities and expenses which might arise in connection with its lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for certain of their liabilities and expenses and also covering its officers and directors against certain other liabilities and expenses.

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Item 16. Exhibits.

Exhibit Number
1.1	— Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Common Stock.*
1.2	— Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Senior Notes.*
1.3	— Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to Junior Subordinated Notes.*
1.4	— Form of Sales Agency Agreement relating to Common Stock.*
4.1	— Senior Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 2007, between The Southern Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, and indentures supplemental thereto through August 23, 2011. (Designated in Form 8-K dated January 11, 2007, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, in Form 8-K dated March 20, 2007, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated August 13, 2008, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated May 11, 2009, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated October 19, 2009, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 4.2, in Form 8-K dated September 13, 2010, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 4.2 and in Form 8-K dated August 16, 2011, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 4.2).
4.2	— Form of Supplemental Indenture to Senior Note Indenture to be used in connection with the issuance of Senior Notes.*
4.3	— Form of Subordinated Note Indenture relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes. (Designated in Registration Statement No. 333-138503, as Exhibit 4.3).
4.4	— Form of Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Note Indenture to be used in connection with the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes.*
4.5	— Composite Certificate of Incorporation of The Southern Company, reflecting all amendments thereto through May 27, 2010. (Designated in Registration No. 33-3546 as Exhibit 4(a), in Certificate of Notification, File No. 70-7341, as Exhibit A, in Certificate of Notification, File No. 70-8181, as Exhibit A and in Form 8-K dated May 26, 2010, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 3.1).
4.6	— By-laws of Southern Company as amended effective May 26, 2010, and as presently in effect. (Designated in Form 8-K dated May 26, 2010, File No. 1-3526, as Exhibit 3.2).
4.7	— Form of Certificate of Common Stock of The Southern Company (Designated in Registration No. 333-179734, as Exhibit 4.3).
4.8	— Form of Senior Note (included in Exhibit 4.2 above).
4.9	— Form of Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4.4 above).
5.1	— Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP.
12.1	— Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1	— Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2	— Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
24.1	— Power of Attorney and Resolution.
25.1	— Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Senior Note Indenture Trustee.
25.2	— Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.**

Exhibits listed above which have heretofore been filed with the Commission and which were designated as noted above are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof with the same effect as if filed herewith.

*       To be subsequently filed or incorporated by reference.

**     To be filed separately pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, Section 305(b)(2).

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Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) Undertaking related to Rule 415 offering:

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrants pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(l)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering

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thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) Undertaking related to filings incorporating subsequent Securities Exchange Act of 1934 documents by reference:

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Undertaking related to the registration statement becoming effective upon filing:

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

II-5

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, The Southern Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on February 28, 2012.

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By:	THOMAS A. FANNING
	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

By:	/S/ MELISSA K. CAEN
	Melissa K. Caen Attorney-in-Fact

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following directors and officers of The Southern Company in the capacities and on the date indicated:

Signature	Title	Date
THOMAS A. FANNING	Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
ART P. BEATTIE	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer     (Principal Financial Officer)
W. RON HINSON	Comptroller and Chief Accounting     Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
JUANITA POWELL BARANCO
JON A. BOSCIA
HENRY A. CLARK III
H. WILLIAM HABERMEYER, JR.
VERONICA M. HAGEN
WARREN A. HOOD, JR.	Directors
DONALD M. JAMES
DALE E. KLEIN
J. NEAL PURCELL
WILLIAM G. SMITH, JR.
STEVEN R. SPECKER
LARRY D. THOMPSON

/S/ MELISSA K. CAEN     Melissa K. Caen Attorney-in-Fact February 28, 2012

II-6

EX-5

Exhibit 5.1

TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP Attorneys at Law Bank of America Plaza 600 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 5200 Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216 404.885.3000 telephone 404.885.3900 facsimile troutmansanders.com

February 28, 2012

The Southern Company

30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Re:           Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to The Southern Company (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation of the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 28, 2012 (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of (1) Common Stock (the “Common Stock”) to be issued by the Company, (2) Junior Subordinated Notes (the “Junior Subordinated Notes”) to be issued by the Company and (3) Senior Notes (the “Senior Notes” and, together with the Junior Subordinated Notes, the “Notes”) to be issued by the Company. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to a subordinated note indenture, as supplemented, between the Company and the trustee named therein (the “Subordinated Note Indenture”), and the Senior Notes will be issued pursuant to the Senior Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 2007, as supplemented, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Senior Note Indenture” and, together with the Subordinated Note Indenture, the “Indentures”), in each case in the respective forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement and copies of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and By-laws, each as certified to us by an officer of the Company.  We also have reviewed minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the issuance and sale of the Common Stock and the Notes and such other documents as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion.  In such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on all original documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the original documents of all copies submitted to us, the authenticity of the originals of documents submitted to us as copies and the due execution and delivery of all documents where due execution and delivery are prerequisite to the effectiveness thereof.

ATLANTA     CHICAGO     HONG KONG     NEW YORK     NEWARK     NORFOLK     ORANGE COUNTY

RALEIGH     RICHMOND     SAN DIEGO     SHANGHAI     TYSONS CORNER     VIRGINIA BEACH     WASHINGTON, DC

The Southern Company

February 28, 2012

Page 2

We are of the opinion that, upon compliance with the pertinent provisions of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, upon compliance with applicable securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions, and upon the adoption of appropriate resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, when the Common Stock, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Senior Notes have been issued and sold and:

1.      When the shares of Common Stock have been issued in accordance with the terms of such resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof and the By-laws of the Company, the shares of Common Stock will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2.      When the Indentures and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Note have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the proper officers of the Company and the trustees named therein and when the Notes have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Note Indenture and the Senior Note Indenture, as the case may be, against payment therefor, the Notes will be valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

In rendering the foregoing opinions, with respect to matters of New York law, we have relied on the opinion of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP attached hereto as Annex I.

In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any such security, (i) the Registration Statement shall have become effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded, (ii) there shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such security and (iii) each of the Senior Note Indenture and the Subordinated Note Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the trustees named therein. We have also assumed that none of the terms of any security to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance and delivery of such security, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such security will violate any applicable law or will result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company, or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.

The attorneys in this firm that are rendering this opinion letter are members of the Bar of the State of Georgia. In expressing the opinions set forth above, we are not passing on the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal law of the United States of America and, to the extent set forth herein, the laws of the State of New York.

The Southern Company

February 28, 2012

Page 3

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the statements with respect to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement.  In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or furnished, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or entity for any other purpose, without our prior written consent.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Troutman Sanders LLP

TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP

Annex I

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP 1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY  10019-6092   tel      +1 212 259 8000 fax      +1 212 259 6333

February 28, 2012

Troutman Sanders LLP

Bank of America Plaza

600 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Suite 5200

Atlanta, Georgia  30308-2216

Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to the prospective underwriters in connection with the preparation of the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 28, 2012 (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of, among other things, (1) Junior Subordinated Notes (the “Junior Subordinated Notes”) to be issued by The Southern Company (“Southern”) and (2) Senior Notes (the “Senior Notes” and, together with the Junior Subordinated Notes, the “Notes”) to be issued by Southern.  The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to a subordinated note indenture, as supplemented, between Southern and the trustee named therein (the “Subordinated Note Indenture”), and the Senior Notes will be issued pursuant to a Senior Note Indenture, dated as of January 1, 2007, as supplemented, between Southern and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Senior Note Indenture” and, together with the Subordinated Note Indenture, the “Indentures”), in each case in the respective forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined the Registration Statement and such other documents as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion.  In such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on all original documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the original documents of all copies submitted to us and the authenticity of the originals of documents submitted to us as copies.

We are of the opinion that, upon compliance with the pertinent provisions of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, upon compliance with applicable securities or blue sky laws of various jurisdictions, and upon the adoption of appropriate resolutions by the Board of Directors of Southern or a duly authorized committee thereof, when the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Senior Notes have been issued and sold and when the Indentures and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Note have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the proper officers of Southern and the trustees named therein and when the Notes have been executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated

Troutman Sanders LLP

Page 2

February 28, 2012

Note Indenture and the Senior Note Indenture, as the case may be, against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Notes, the Notes will be valid, binding and legal obligations of Southern (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any such security, (i) the Registration Statement shall have become effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded, (ii) there shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such security and (iii) each of the Senior Note Indenture and the Subordinated Note Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the trustees named therein.  We have also assumed that none of the terms of any security to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance and delivery of such security, nor the compliance by Southern with the terms of such security will violate any applicable law or will result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon Southern, or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over Southern.

We do not express any opinion concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York.

This opinion is furnished for your benefit in connection with your rendering an opinion to Southern to be filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and we hereby consent to your attaching this opinion as an annex to such opinion.  In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  This opinion may not be relied upon, furnished or quoted by you for any other purpose, without our prior written consent.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP

EX-12

Exhibit 12.1

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for

the five years ended December 31, 2011

		2007			2008			2009			2010			2011
	Millions of Dollars
EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K:
Earnings Before Income Taxes	$	2,641		$	2,711		$	2,604		$	3,066		$	3,487
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		888			869			907			898			858
Interest component of rental expense		80			88			94			112			117
Amortization of capitalized interest		2			2			3			3			3
AFUDC - Debt funds		48			64			82			74			58
Less: Dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries		(48	)		(65	)		(65	)		(65	)		(65	)
Earnings as defined	$	3,611		$	3,669		$	3,625		$	4,088		$	4,458
FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K:
Interest on long-term debt	$	743		$	813		$	876		$	885		$	872
Interest on affiliated loans		66			23			22			19			16
Interest on interim obligations		75			30			4			2			3
Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net		46			40			40			42			40
Other interest charges		7			27			46			24			(15)
Capitalized Interest		17			7			2			12			20
Interest component of rental expense		80			87			94			112			117
Fixed charges as defined		1,034			1,027			1,084			1,096			1,053
Tax deductible preferred dividends		1			1			1			1			1
		1,035			1,028			1,085			1,097			1,054
Non-tax deductible preferred and preference dividends		46			64			64			64			65
Ratio of net income before taxes to net income	x	1.469		x	1.507		x	1.525		x	1.503		x	1.538
Preferred and preference dividend requirements     before income taxes		68			96			98			96			100
Fixed charges plus preferred and preference     dividend requirements	$	1,103		$	1,124		$	1,183		$	1,193		$	1,154
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		3.27			3.26			3.06			3.43			3.86

EX-23

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 24, 2012, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule of Southern Company, and the effectiveness of Southern Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Southern Company for the year ended December 31, 2011 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 28, 2012

EX-24

Exhibit 24.1

February 13, 2012

Thomas A. Fanning, Art P. Beattie and Melissa K. Caen

Gentlemen and Ms. Caen:

The Southern Company (the “Company”) proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement or statements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance and sale of an indeterminate amount or number of common stock and debt securities, and any necessary or appropriate amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement or statements.

The Company and the undersigned directors and officers of the Company, individually as a director and/or as an officer of the Company, hereby make, constitute and appoint each of you our true and lawful Attorney (with full power of substitution) for each of us and in each of our names, places and steads to sign and cause to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission the aforementioned registration statement or statements and any appropriate amendment or amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), to be accompanied in each case by a prospectus and any appropriately amended prospectus or supplement thereto and any necessary exhibits.

The Company hereby authorizes you or any one of you to execute said registration statement or statements and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) on its behalf as attorney-in-fact for it and its authorized officers, and to file the same as aforesaid.

The undersigned directors and officers of the Company hereby authorize you or any of you to sign said registration statement or statements on their behalf as attorney-in-fact and to amend, or remedy any deficiencies with respect to, said registration statement or statements by appropriate amendment or amendments (including post-effective amendments) and to file the same as aforesaid.

Yours very truly,

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

By   /s/Thomas A. Fanning           

Thomas A. Fanning

Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

- 2 -

/s/Juanita Powell Baranco Juanita Powell Baranco	/s/Dale E. Klein Dale E. Klein
/s/Jon A. Boscia Jon A. Boscia	/s/J. Neal Purcell J. Neal Purcell
/s/Henry A. Clark III Henry A. Clark III	/s/William G. Smith, Jr. William G. Smith, Jr.
/s/Thomas A. Fanning Thomas A. Fanning	/s/Steven R. Specker Steven R. Specker
/s/H. William Habermeyer, Jr. H. William Habermeyer, Jr.	/s/Larry D. Thompson Larry D. Thompson
/s/Veronica M. Hagen Veronica M. Hagen	/s/G. Edison Holland, Jr. G. Edison Holland, Jr.
/s/Warren A. Hood, Jr. Warren A. Hood, Jr.	/s/Art P. Beattie Art P. Beattie
/s/Donald M. James Donald M. James	/s/W. Ron Hinson W. Ron Hinson

- 3 -

Extract from minutes of meeting of the board of directors of The Southern Company.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

RESOLVED FURTHER:  That for the purpose of signing the registration statement or statements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and of remedying any deficiencies with respect thereto by appropriate amendment or amendments (including post-effective amendments), the Company, the members of its Board of Directors and its officers are hereby authorized to give their several powers of attorney to Thomas A. Fanning, Art P. Beattie and Melissa K. Caen;

- - - - - - - - - - - -

The undersigned officer of The Southern Company does hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the board of directors of The Southern Company, duly held on February 13, 2012, at which a quorum was in attendance and voting throughout, and that said resolution has not since been rescinded but is still in full force and effect.

Dated:  February 28, 2012 THE SOUTHERN COMPANY     By    /s/Melissa K. Caen                     Melissa K. Caen Assistant Secretary

EX-25

Exhibit 25.1

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

_____________________________

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

_____________________________

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b) (2)

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

A National Banking Association (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization if not a U.S. national bank)	94-1347393 (I.R.S. Employer  Identification No.)
101 North Phillips Avenue Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Address of principal executive offices)	57104 (Zip code)

Wells Fargo & Company

Law Department, Trust Section

MAC N9305-175

Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, 17th Floor

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

(612) 667-4608

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

_____________________________

The Southern Company

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                                                                                      (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	58-0690070 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
30 Ivan Allen Jr., Blvd., N.W. Atlanta, Georgia (Address of principal executive offices)	30308 (Zip code)

_____________________________

Senior Notes

(Title of the indenture securities)

Item 1.    General Information.  Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Treasury Department

Washington, D.C.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Washington, D.C.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

San Francisco, California 94120

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.  If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None with respect to the trustee.

No responses are included for Items 3-14 of this Form T-1 because the obligor is not in default as provided under Item 13.

Item 15.  Foreign Trustee.         Not applicable.

Item 16.  List of Exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

Exhibit 1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee now in effect.*

Exhibit 2. A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certificate of Corporate Existence and Fiduciary Powers for Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated February 4, 2004.**

Exhibit 3. See Exhibit 2

Exhibit 4. Copy of By-laws of the trustee as now in effect.***

Exhibit 5. Not applicable.

Exhibit 6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.

Exhibit 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

Exhibit 8. Not applicable.

Exhibit 9. Not applicable.

*     Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated December 30, 2005 of file number 333-130784-06.

**   Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form T-3 dated March 3, 2004 of file number 022-28721.

*** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated May 26, 2005 of file number 333-125274.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Atlanta and State of Georgia on the 28th day of February 2012.

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

/s/Karen Z. Kelly                                  

 Karen Z. Kelly

Vice President

EXHIBIT 6

February 28, 2012

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned made by Federal, State, Territorial, or District authorities authorized to make such examination may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Very truly yours,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

/s/Karen Z. Kelly                                  

Karen Z. Kelly

 Vice President

EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

Wells Fargo Bank National Association

of 101 North Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

at the close of business December 31, 2011, filed in accordance with 12 U.S.C. §161 for National Banks.

		Dollar Amounts In Millions
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin		$      19,751
Interest-bearing balances		23,384
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities		0
Available-for-sale securities		195,800
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold in domestic offices		4,151
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		23,225
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale		28,417
Loans and leases, net of unearned income	711,276
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses	16,360
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance		694,916
Trading Assets		56,692
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)		7,977
Other real estate owned		4,485
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies		607
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures		99
Intangible assets
Goodwill		21,252
Other intangible assets		22,891
Other assets		57,843
Total assets		$1,161,490
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices		$    832,749
Noninterest-bearing	234,375
Interest-bearing	598,374
In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs		72,904
Noninterest-bearing	2,140
Interest-bearing	70,764
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
Federal funds purchased in domestic offices		2,591
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		13,050

	Dollar Amounts In Millions
Trading liabilities	23,460
Other borrowed money  (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)	39,703
Subordinated notes and debentures	18,609
Other liabilities	33,933
Total liabilities	$1,036,999
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus	0
Common stock	519
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)	99,326
Retained earnings	18,744
Accumulated other comprehensive income	4,769
Other equity capital components	0
Total bank equity capital	123,358
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries	1,133
Total equity capital	124,491
Total liabilities, and equity capital	$1,161,490

I, Timothy J. Sloan, EVP & CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared

in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge

and belief.

      Timothy J. Sloan

        EVP & CFO

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us

and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate

Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

John Stumpf                                                      Directors

Carrie Tolstedt

Michael Loughlin