Investment In Leveraged Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Leases [Abstract]

INVESTMENTS IN LEVERAGED LEASES

INVESTMENTS IN LEVERAGED LEASES

See Note 1 to the financial statements of Southern Company under "Leveraged Leases" in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for additional information.

On March 1, 2013, Southern Company completed the restructuring of the nonrecourse debt and the related rental payments associated with its leveraged lease investment in a 440-MW generation facility located in Choctaw County, Mississippi. In connection with the restructuring, Southern Company has committed, as owner/lessor, to invest approximately $60 million in capital through 2015 to improve the operational performance of the facility and upgrade environmental controls. As part of the restructuring, the interest rate on the nonrecourse debt was significantly reduced, resulting in lower debt payments for Southern Company and lower rental payments for the lessee over the remaining 19-year term of the nonrecourse debt and the lease. As a consequence of the restructuring, Southern Company recalculated its net investment in the lease to reflect changes in the future cash flows to Southern Company as owner/lessor. As a result of the recalculation, Southern Company recorded an after-tax charge to income during the first quarter 2013 of approximately $16 million. This noncash charge reflects a reallocation of previously recognized lease income that will be reflected in income over the remaining term of the lease.