CONSOLIDATED ENTITIES AND EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Equity method investments

The carrying amounts of Southern Company Gas' equity method investments at December 31, 2021 and 2020 and related earnings (loss) from those investments for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 were as follows:

Investment Balance	December 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in millions)
SNG(a)	$	1,129	$	1,167
PennEast Pipeline(b)	11		91
Other	33		32
Total	$	1,173	$	1,290

(a)Decrease primarily relates to the continued amortization of deferred tax assets established upon acquisition, as well as distributions in excess of earnings.

(b)Investment balance at December 31, 2021 reflects pre-tax impairment charges totaling $84 million recorded during 2021. See "PennEast Pipeline Project" herein for additional information, including the September 2021 cancellation of the project.

Equity method investments related income

Earnings (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	2021		2020		2019
	(in millions)
SNG	$	127	$	129	$	141
Atlantic Coast Pipeline(a)(b)	—		3		13
PennEast Pipeline(a)(c)	(81)		7		6
Other(d)	4		2		(3)
Total	$	50	$	141	$	157

(a)Earnings primarily result from AFUDC equity recorded by the project entity.

(b)In March 2020, Southern Company Gas completed the sale of its interest in Atlantic Coast Pipeline. See Note 15 under "Southern Company Gas" for additional information.

(c)For 2021, includes pre-tax impairment charges totaling $84 million. See "PennEast Pipeline Project" herein for additional information, including the September 2021 cancellation of the project.

(d)In March 2020, Southern Company Gas completed the sale of its interest in Pivotal LNG. See Note 15 under "Southern Company Gas" for additional information.