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DERIVATIVES (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of energy-related derivatives
At December 31, 2022, the net volume of energy-related derivative contracts for natural gas positions, together with the longest hedge date over which the respective entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions and the longest non-hedge date for derivatives not designated as hedges, were as follows:
Net
Purchased
mmBtu
Longest
Hedge
Date
Longest
Non-Hedge
Date
(in millions)
Southern Company(*)
43120302025
Alabama Power1112026
Georgia Power1252026
Mississippi Power942027
Southern Power820302023
Southern Company Gas(*)
9320252025
(*)Southern Company Gas' derivative instruments include both long and short natural gas positions. A long position is a contract to purchase natural gas and a short position is a contract to sell natural gas. Southern Company Gas' volume represents the net of long natural gas positions of 98 million mmBtu and short natural gas positions of 5 million mmBtu at December 31, 2022, which is also included in Southern Company's total volume. See Note 15 under "Southern Company Gas" for information regarding the sale of Sequent.
Notional amount of interest rate derivatives
At December 31, 2022, the following interest rate derivatives were outstanding:
Notional
Amount
Weighted Average Interest Rate PaidInterest
Rate
Received
Hedge
Maturity
Date
Fair Value
Gain (Loss) December 31, 2022
(in millions)(in millions)
Cash Flow Hedges of Forecasted Debt
Southern Company parent$400 3.50%N/AJune 2033$12 
Fair Value Hedges of Existing Debt
Southern Company parent400 
1-month LIBOR + 0.68%
1.75%March 2028(55)
Southern Company parent1,000 
1-month LIBOR + 2.36%
3.70%April 2030(161)
Southern Company Gas500 
1-month LIBOR + 0.38%
1.75%January 2031(86)
Southern Company$2,300 $(290)
Schedule of foreign exchange contracts
At December 31, 2022, the following foreign currency derivatives were outstanding:
Pay NotionalPay RateReceive NotionalReceive RateHedge
Maturity Date
Fair Value
Gain (Loss) December 31, 2022
(in millions)(in millions) (in millions)
Cash Flow Hedges of Existing Debt
Southern Power$564 3.78%500 1.85%June 2026$(47)
Fair Value Hedges of Existing Debt
Southern Company parent1,476 3.39%1,250 1.88%September 2027(169)
Southern Company$2,040 1,750 $(216)
Fair value of energy-related derivatives and interest rate derivatives
At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the fair value of energy-related derivatives, interest rate derivatives, and foreign currency derivatives was reflected in the balance sheets as follows:
20222021
Derivative Category and Balance Sheet LocationAssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilities
(in millions)
Southern Company
Energy-related derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes
Assets from risk management activities/Other current liabilities$123 $121 $129 $30 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities52 44 72 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes175 165 201 36 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow and fair value hedges
Energy-related derivatives:
Assets from risk management activities/Other current liabilities3 27 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities6 4 — 
Interest rate derivatives:
Assets from risk management activities/Other current liabilities12 62 19 — 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities 240 — 29 
Foreign currency derivatives:
Assets from risk management activities/Other current liabilities 34 — 39 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities 182 — 40 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow and fair value hedges21 549 27 113 
Energy-related derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Assets from risk management activities/Other current liabilities13 13 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities2 1 — 
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments15 14 10 
Gross amounts recognized 211 728 238 153 
Gross amounts offset(a)
(70)(111)(25)(28)
Net amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets(b)
$141 $617 $213 $125 
20222021
Derivative Category and Balance Sheet LocationAssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilities
(in millions)
Alabama Power(c)
Energy-related derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes
Other current assets/Other current liabilities$42 $21 $30 $
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities20 18 25 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes62 39 55 11 
Gross amounts offset(24)(24)(5)(5)
Net amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets$38 $15 $50 $
Georgia Power
Energy-related derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes
Assets from risk management activities/Other current liabilities$36 $43 $54 $
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities6 18 21 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes42 61 75 
Energy-related derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities 1   
Gross amounts recognized42 62 75 
Gross amounts offset(21)(21)(8)(8)
Net amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets$21 $41 $67 $— 
Mississippi Power(c)
Energy-related derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes
Assets from risk management activities/Other current liabilities$33 $24 $30 $
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities26 8 26 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes59 32 56 
Gross amounts offset(17)(17)(4)(4)
Net amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets$42 $15 $52 $
20222021
Derivative Category and Balance Sheet LocationAssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilities
(in millions)
Southern Power
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow and fair value hedges
Energy-related derivatives:
Other current assets/Other current liabilities$ $12 $$— 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities5  — 
Foreign currency derivatives:
Other current assets/Other current liabilities 11 — 16 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities 36 — — 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow and fair value hedges5 59 16 
Energy-related derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Other current assets/Other current liabilities2  — 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities1  — — 
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments3  — 
Net amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets$8 $59 $$16 
Southern Company Gas
Energy-related derivatives designated as hedging instruments for regulatory purposes
Other current assets/Other current liabilities$12 $33 $15 $12 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow and fair value hedges
Energy-related derivatives:
Other current assets/Other current liabilities3 15 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities1 4 — — 
Interest rate derivatives:
Other current assets/Other current liabilities 14 — 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities 72 — 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow and fair value hedges4 105 11 11 
Energy-related derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Other current assets/Other current liabilities11 12 
Other deferred charges and assets/Other deferred credits and liabilities1 1 — 
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments12 13 
Gross amounts recognized28 151 35 27 
Gross amounts offset(a)
 (41)(8)(11)
Net amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets(b)
$28 $110 $27 $16 
(a)Gross amounts offset includes cash collateral held on deposit in broker margin accounts of $41 million and $3 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(b)Net amounts of derivative instruments outstanding exclude immaterial premium and intrinsic value associated with weather derivatives for all periods presented.
(c)Energy-related derivatives not designated as hedging instruments were immaterial at December 31, 2022 and there were no such instruments at December 31, 2021.
Pre-tax effects on the balance sheets
At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the pre-tax effects of unrealized derivative gains (losses) arising from energy-related derivative instruments designated as regulatory hedging instruments and deferred were as follows:
Regulatory Hedge Unrealized Gain (Loss) Recognized in the Balance Sheets
Derivative Category and Balance Sheet
Location
Southern
Company
Alabama
Power
Georgia
Power
Mississippi
Power
Southern Company Gas
 (in millions)
At December 31, 2022:
Energy-related derivatives:
Other regulatory assets, current$(71)$(8)$(26)$(13)$(24)
Other regulatory assets, deferred(23)(7)(14)(2)— 
Other regulatory liabilities, current72 29 19 22 
Other regulatory liabilities, deferred31 20 — 
Total energy-related derivative gains (losses)$$23 $(19)$27 $(22)
At December 31, 2021:
Energy-related derivatives:
Other regulatory assets, current$(17)$(6)$— $— $(11)
Other regulatory liabilities, current107 28 48 27 
Other regulatory liabilities, deferred65 22 19 24 — 
Total energy-related derivative gains (losses)$155 $44 $67 $51 $(7)
Pre-tax effects of hedging on AOCI
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the pre-tax effects of cash flow and fair value hedge accounting on AOCI for the applicable Registrants were as follows:
Gain (Loss) From Derivatives Recognized in OCI202220212020
(in millions)
Southern Company
Cash flow hedges:
Energy-related derivatives$$34 $(8)
Interest rate derivatives46 (26)
Foreign currency derivatives(105)(103)48 
Fair value hedges(*):
Foreign currency derivatives(24)(3)— 
Total$(80)$(67)$14 
Georgia Power
Interest rate derivatives$31 $— $(3)
Southern Power
Cash flow hedges:
Energy-related derivatives$(15)$12 $(2)
Foreign currency derivatives(105)(103)48 
Total$(120)$(91)$46 
Southern Company Gas
Cash flow hedges:
Energy-related derivatives$18 $22 $(6)
Interest rate derivatives— — (23)
Total$18 $22 $(29)
(*)Represents amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness for which the difference between changes in fair value and periodic amortization is recorded in OCI.
Pre-tax effect of interest rate and energy related derivatives
The pre-tax effects of cash flow and fair value hedge accounting on income for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 were as follows:
Location and Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Cash Flow and Fair Value Hedging Relationships202220212020
(in millions)
Southern Company
Total cost of natural gas$3,004 $1,619 $972 
Gain (loss) on energy-related cash flow hedges(a)
37 17 (8)
Total depreciation and amortization3,663 3,565 3,518 
Gain (loss) on energy-related cash flow hedges(a)
(5)(3)
Total interest expense, net of amounts capitalized(2,022)(1,837)(1,821)
Gain (loss) on interest rate cash flow hedges(a)
(25)(27)(26)
Gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedges(a)
(19)(24)(23)
Gain (loss) on interest rate fair value hedges(b)
(291)(30)27 
Total other income (expense), net500 456 336 
Gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedges(a)(c)
(83)(104)114 
Gain (loss) on foreign currency fair value hedges(106)(63)— 
Amount excluded from effectiveness testing recognized in earnings24 — 
Southern Power
Total depreciation and amortization$516 $517 $494 
Gain (loss) on energy-related cash flow hedges(a)
(5)(3)
Total interest expense, net of amounts capitalized(138)(147)(151)
Gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedges(a)
(19)(24)(23)
Total other income (expense), net7 10 19 
Gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedges(a)(c)
(83)(104)114 
Southern Company Gas
Total cost of natural gas$3,004 $1,619 $972 
Gain (loss) on energy-related cash flow hedges(a)
37 17 (8)
Total interest expense, net of amounts capitalized(263)(238)(231)
Gain (loss) on interest rate cash flow hedges(a)
(4)— — 
Gain (loss) on interest rate fair value hedges(b)
(86)— — 
(a)Reclassified from AOCI into earnings.
(b)For fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative contracts are generally equal to changes in the fair value of the underlying debt and have no material impact on income.
(c)The reclassification from AOCI into other income (expense), net completely offsets currency gains and losses arising from changes in the U.S. currency exchange rates used to record the euro-denominated notes.
Schedule of fair value hedging instruments, statements of financial performance and financial position, location
At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the following amounts were recorded on the balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges:
Carrying Amount of
the Hedged Item
Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustment included in Carrying Amount of the Hedged Item
Balance Sheet Location of Hedged ItemsAt December 31, 2022At December 31, 2021At December 31, 2022At December 31, 2021
(in millions)(in millions)
Southern Company
Long-term debt$(2,927)$(3,280)$282 $
Southern Company Gas
Long-term debt$(415)$(493)$81 $
Pre-tax effect of interest rate and energy related derivatives
The pre-tax effects of energy-related derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the statements of income of Southern Company and Southern Company Gas for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 were as follows:
Gain (Loss)
Derivatives in Non-Designated Hedging RelationshipsStatements of Income Location202220212020
(in millions)
Energy-related derivatives
Natural gas revenues(*)
$(11)$(117)$134 
Cost of natural gas(65)(27)15 
Total derivatives in non-designated hedging relationships$(76)$(144)$149 
(*)    Excludes the impact of weather derivatives recorded in natural gas revenues of $(7) million and $9 million for 2022 and 2020, respectively, as they are accounted for based on intrinsic value rather than fair value. There was no weather derivatives impact for 2021.