UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

(Rule 14a-101)

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIESProxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(A) of the

EXCHANGE ACT ofSecurities Exchange Act Of 1934

Filed by the Registrantx

xFiled by a Party other than the Registrant o

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

o

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e) (2))

x

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Soliciting Materials Pursuant to Rule 14a-12

 

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x

No fee required.

 

o

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i) (1) and 0-11.

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

(5)

Total fee paid:

 

o

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

(4)

Date Filed:

 


 

(SOUTHERN COMPANY LOGO)
(SOUTHERN COMPANY LOGO)
Notice of
Annual Meeting
20072008
&Proxy Statement


 

PROXY STATEMENT
Contents
 
     
    
    
  1 
  1 
  1 
  1 
  1 
  2 
  2 
  2 
  3 
  3 
3
  3 
  4 
  4 
5
  6 
  6 
  67 
  7 
  7 
  7 
  7 
  8 
  8 
  89 
  9 
  9 
  10 
  11 
  11 
  1415 
15
16
  1417 
  1619 
  1821 
  1821 
  3034 
30
  34 
  3639 
41
  3742 
  3742 
  4045 
  4146 
  4953 
  4953 
  4953 
i
  ii 


 
Letter to Stockholders
 
David M. Ratcliffe
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
(SOUTHERN COMPANY LOGO)
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
You are invited to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders at 10:00 a.m., ET, on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at The Lodge Conference Center at Callaway, Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia.
At the meeting, I will report on our business and our plans for the future. Also, we will elect our Board of Directors and vote on the other matters set forth in the accompanying Notice.
Your vote is important. Please review the proxy material and vote your proxy as soon as possible.
We look forward to seeing you on May 28th.
(-s- David M. Ratcliffe)
David M. Ratcliffe
David M. Ratcliffe
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
(SOUTHERN COMPANY LOGO)
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
You are invited to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders at 10:00 a.m., ET, on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at The Lodge Conference Center at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia.
At the meeting, I will report on our business and our plans for the future. Also, we will elect our Board of Directors and vote on the other matters set forth in the accompanying Notice.
Your vote is important. Please review the proxy material and return your proxy form as soon as possible.
We look forward to seeing you on May 23rd.
-s- David M. Ratcliffe
David M. Ratcliffe

(PHOTO OF DAVID RATCLIFFE)


 
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders — May 23, 200728, 2008
 
TIME andAND DATE
 
10:00 a.m., ET, on Wednesday, May 23, 200728, 2008
 
PLACE
 
The Lodge Conference Center at Callaway Gardens
Highway 18
Pine Mountain, Georgia 31822
 
DIRECTIONS
 
From Atlanta, Georgia — take I-85 south to I-185 (Exit 21). From I-185 south, take Exit 34, Georgia Highway 18. Take Georgia Highway 18 east to Callaway.
From Birmingham, Alabama — take U.S. Highway 280 east to Opelika. Take I-85 north to Georgia Highway 18 (Exit 2). Take Georgia Highway 18 east to Callaway.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
 
(1) Elect 12 members of the Board of Directors;
ITEMS(2) Ratify appointment of BUSINESSindependent registered public accounting firm;
(3) Consider and vote on an amendment to the By-laws of the Company;
(4) Consider and vote on an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation;
(1) Elect 10 members of the Board of Directors;
(2) Ratify appointment of independent registered public accounting firm;
(3)(5) Consider and vote on a stockholder proposal if presented at the meeting as described in Item No. 35 of the Proxy Statement; and
(4) Transact other business properly coming before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
(6) Transact other business properly coming before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
RECORD DATE
 
Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 26, 200731, 2008 are entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
ANNUAL REPORT toTO STOCKHOLDERS
 
The Southern Company Annual Report to Stockholders for 20062007 (“Annual Report”) is enclosed but is not a part of this mailing.mailing or has been provided separately.
 
VOTING
 
Even if you plan to attend the meeting in person, please provide your voting instructions in one of the following ways as soon as possible:
(1) Internet — use the Internet address on the proxy form
(2) Telephone — use the toll-free number on the proxy form
(3) Mail — mark, sign and date the proxy form and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope
By Order of the Board of Directors, G. Edison Holland, Jr., Corporate Secretary, April 11, 200714, 2008


Proxy StatementGeneral Information
General Information
Q:How do I give voting instructions?
 
A:You may attend the meeting and give instructions in person or give instructions by the Internet, by telephone or by mail. Information for giving instructions is on the proxy form. The Proxies, named on the enclosed proxy form, will vote all properly executed proxies that are delivered pursuant to this solicitation and not subsequently revoked in accordance with the instructions given by you.
Q:Can I change my vote?
 
A:Yes, you may revoke your proxy by submitting a subsequent proxy or by written request received by the Company’s corporate secretary before the meeting.
 
Q:Who can vote?
A:All stockholders of record on the record date of March 26, 2007.31, 2008. On that date, there were 751,605,276767,624,255 shares of Southern Company common stock (“Common Stock”) outstanding and entitled to vote.
Q:How much does each share count?
 
A:Each share counts as one vote, except votes for Directors may be cumulative. Abstentions that are marked on the proxy form are included for the purpose of determining a quorum, but shares that a broker fails to vote are not counted toward a quorum. Neither is counted for or against the matters being considered.
 
Q:What does it mean if I get more than one proxy form?
 
A:You will receive a proxy form for each account that you have. Please vote proxies for all accounts to ensure that all your shares are voted. If you wish to consolidate multiple registered accounts, please contact Stockholder Services at(800) 554-7626.
 
Q:Can the Company’s Proxy Statement and Annual Report be accessed from the Internet?
 
A:Yes. You can access the Company’s website at www.southerncompany.com to view these documents.
Q:Does the Company offer electronic delivery of proxy materials?
 
A:Yes. Most stockholders can elect to receive ane-mail that will provide electronic links to the Annual Report and Proxy Statement. Opting to receive your proxy materials on-line will save us the cost of producing and mailing documents and also will give you an electronic link to the proxy voting site.
You may sign up for electronic delivery when you vote your proxy via the Internet or:
 
n Go to our investor web site at http://investor.southerncompany.com/;
 
n Click on the word “Enroll” for Electronic Delivery of Proxy Materials; and
 
n Follow the directions provided to complete your enrollment.
Once you enroll for electronic delivery, you will receive proxy materials electronically as long as your account remains active or until you cancel your enrollment. If you consent to electronic access, you will be responsible for your usual Internet-related charges (e.g., on-line fees and telephone charges) in connection with electronic viewing and printing of proxy materials and annual reports. The Company will continue to distribute printed materials to stockholders who do not consent to access these materials electronically.


1

1


Q:What is “householding”?
 
A:Certain beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock, sharing a single address, may receive only one copy of the Proxy Statement and Annual Report unless the broker, bank or nominee has received contrary instructions from any beneficial owner at that address. This practice — known as householding — is designed to reduce printing and mailing costs. If a beneficial owner does not wish to participate in householding, he or she may contact Stockholder Services at(800) 554-7626 or at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 and ask to receive a Proxy Statement or Annual Report. As noted earlier, beneficial owners may view the Proxy Statement and Annual Report on the Internet.
Q:When are stockholder proposals due for the 20082009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?
 
A:The deadline for the receipt of stockholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 20082009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is December 15, 2007.2008. Proposals must be submitted in writing to Patricia L. Roberts, Assistant Corporate Secretary, Southern Company, 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Additionally, the proxy solicited by the Board of Directors for next year’s meeting will confer discretionary authority to vote on any stockholder proposal presented at that meeting that is not included in the Company’s proxy materials unless the Company is provided written notice of such proposal no later than February 28, 2008.2009.
Q:Who pays the expense of soliciting proxies?
 
A:The Company pays the cost of soliciting proxies. The officers or other employees of the Company or its subsidiaries may solicit proxies to have a larger representation at the meeting. The Company has retained Georgeson ShareholderLaurel Hill Advisory Group to assist with the solicitation of proxies for a fee not to exceed $10,000, plus reimbursement ofout-of-pocket out-of-pocket expenses.
The Company’s 20062007 Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) onForm 10-K will be provided without charge upon written request to Patricia L. Roberts, Assistant Corporate Secretary, Southern Company, 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308.
Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 28, 2008:
This Proxy Statement and the Annual Report are also available at http://investor.southerncompany.com/proxy.cfm and http://investor.southerncompany.com/annuals.cfm, respectively.


2

2


 
Corporate Governance
 
COMPANY ORGANIZATION
Southern Company is a holding company managed by a core group of officers and governed by a Board of Directors that is currently comprised of 1112 members.
The nominees for election as Directors consist of nineeleven non-employees and one executive officer of the Company.
The Board of Directors has adopted and operates under a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines which are available on the Company’s website at www.southerncompany.com under Investors/Corporate Governance.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WEBSITE
In addition to the Corporate Governance Guidelines, other information relating to corporate governance of the Company is available on the Company’s Corporate Governance webpage at www.southerncompany.com under Investors/Corporate Governance or directly at http://investor.southerncompany.com/governance.cfm, including:
nCode of Ethics
 
nPolitical Contributions Policy and Report
nBy-LawsBy-laws of the Company
nExecutive Stock Ownership Guidelines
 
nBoard Committee Charters
 
nBoard of Directors — Background and Experience
 
nManagement Council — Background and Experience
 
nSecurities and Exchange CommissionSEC filings
 
nComposition of Board Committees
 
nLink for online communication with Board of Directors
The Corporate Governance documents also may be obtained by requesting a copy from Patricia L. Roberts, Assistant Corporate Secretary, Southern Company, 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
No Director will be deemed to be independent unless the Board of Directors affirmatively determines that the Director has no material relationship with the Company, directly, or as an officer, shareowner or partner of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. The Board of Directors has adopted categorical guidelines which provide that a Director will not be deemed to be independent if within the preceding three years:
nThe Director was employed by the Company or whose immediate family member was an executive officer of the Company.
nThe Director received, or whose immediate family member received, during any 12 month period direct compensation from the Company of more than $100,000, other than director and committee fees. (Compensation received by an immediate family member for services as a non- executivenon-executive employee of the Company need not be considered.)
nThe Director was affiliated with or employed by, or whose immediate family member was affiliated or employed in a professional capacity by, a present or former external auditor of the Company.
 
nThe Director was employed, or whose immediate family member was employed, as an executive officer of a company where any member of the Company’s present executives serve on that company’s compensation committee.


3

3


nA company for which the Director currently serves as an executive officer or an employee or whose immediate family member currently serves as an executive officer that makes payments to or receives payments from the Company for property or services in an amount which in any single fiscal year exceeds the greater of $1,000,000 or two percent of that company’s consolidated gross revenues.
Additionally, a Director will be deemed not to be independent if the Director or the Director’s spouse serves as an executive officer of a charitable organization to which the Company made discretionary contributions exceeding the greater of $1,000,000 or two percent of the organization’s total annual charitable receipts.
In determining independence, the Board reviews and considers all commercial, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable or other business relationships that a Director or the Director’s immediate family members have with the Company. This review specifically included all ordinary course transactions with entities with which the Directors are associated. In particular, the Board reviewed transactions between subsidiaries of the Company and The Home Depot, Inc. and Vulcan Materials Company. Messrs. Francis S. Blake and Donald M. James are the chief executive officers of The Home Depot, Inc. and Vulcan Materials Company, respectively. Throughout 2006,2007, the subsidiaries purchased goods and services in the amount of $812,959$524,669 from The Home Depot, Inc. and $476,302$452,920 from Vulcan Materials Company. These amounts represented over 5,000numerous individual purchases from The Home Depot, Inc. and several individual transactions with Vulcan Materials Company. The Board determined that its subsidiaries followed the Company procurement policies and procedures, that the amounts were well under the thresholds under the Director independence requirements and that neither Mr. Blake nor Mr. James had a direct or indirect material interest in the transactions.
While no Director or immediate family member serves in an executive capacity for a charitable organization, the Board reviewed all contributions made by the Company and its subsidiaries to charitable organizations with which the Directors are associated. The Board determined that the contributions were consistent with similar contributions and none were approved outside the Company’s normal procedures.
As a result of its annual review of Director independence, the Board affirmatively determined that none of the following persons who are currently serving as a Director or are nominees for election as Directors has a material relationship with the Company and, as a result, such persons are determined to be independent: Juanita Powell Baranco, Dorrit J. Bern, Francis S. Blake, Jon A. Boscia, Thomas F. Chapman, H. William Habermeyer, Jr., Warren A. Hood, Jr., Donald M. James, Zack T. Pate, J. Neal Purcell, William G. Smith, Jr. and Gerald J. St. Pé. David M. Ratcliffe, a current Director, is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Also, Daniel P. Amos and Bruce S. GordonZack T. Pate who served as Directorsa Director during 20062007 until their resignationhis retirement date of February 21, 2006, wereMay 23, 2007, was determined not to have a material relationship with the Company and to be independent.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD
Communications may be sent to the Company’s Board or to specified Directors by regular mail or electronic mail. Regular mail should be sent to the attention of Patricia L. Roberts, Assistant Corporate Secretary, Southern Company, 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. The electronic mail address is CORPGOV@southerncompany.com. The electronic mail address also can be accessed from the Corporate Governance webpage located under Investors“Investors” on the Southern Company website at www.southerncompany.com, under the link entitled Governance“Governance Inquiries. With the exception of commercial solicitations, all stockholder communications directed to the Board or to specified Directors will be relayed to them.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Only non-employee Directors are compensated for Board service. The
During 2007 the pay components are:were:
Annual retainers:
 
n$70,000 of which $30,000 iswas deferred in shares of Company common stockCommon Stock until Board membership ends (1)
 
n$10,000 if serving as chair of a standing Board committee with the exception that the chair of the Audit Committee receivesreceived $25,000


4

4


Equity grants:
n1,000 additional shares of Company common stockCommon Stock in quarterly grants of 250 shares, are deferred until Board membership ends
Meeting fees:
 
n$2,500 for participation in a meeting of the Board
 
n$2,000 for participation in a meeting of a committee of the Board other than a meeting of the Audit Committee
 
n$4,000 for attendance in person at a meeting of the Audit Committee
 
n$2,000 for participation by telephone in a meeting of the Audit Committee
n$2,000 for each day of a visit to a plant or office of the Company and for any other business meeting at which the Director participatesparticipated as a representative of the Company
(1) 
Effective January 1, 2008, the director compensation program was amended with pay components being as of November 1, 2006. Priorfollows:
Annual retainers:
n$85,000 cash retainer
n$12,500 if serving as a chair of a committee of the Board
n$12,500 if serving as the Presiding Director of the Board
Equity grant:
n$90,000 in deferred Common Stock units until Board membership ends
Meeting fees:
nMeeting fees are not paid for participation in the initial eight meetings of the Board in a calendar year. If more than eight meetings of the Board are held in a calendar year, $2,500 will be paid for participation in each meeting of the Board beginning with the ninth meeting.
nMeeting fees are no longer paid for participation in a meeting of a committee of the Board.
DIRECTOR DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
The $90,000 equity grant is required to November 1, 2006, $40,000 if first elected as a Director before 1997, of which $10,000 wasbe deferred in shares of Company common stock; or $49,000 if first elected as a Director in 1997 or later, of which $19,000 was deferred in shares of Company common stock.
DIRECTOR DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
All quarterly equity grants and $30,000 of the annual retainer are required to be deferred inCommon Stock under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of The Southern Company (the “Director Deferred Compensation Plan”) and are invested in Company common stockCommon Stock units which earn dividends as if invested in Company common stock.Common Stock. Earnings are reinvested in additional stock units. Upon leaving the Board, distributions are made in shares of Company common stock.Common Stock.
In addition, Directors may elect to defer up to 100% of their remaining compensation in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan until membership on the Board ends. Such deferred compensation may be invested as follows, at the Director’s election:
in Company common stockCommon Stock units which earn dividends as if invested in Company common stockCommon Stock and are distributed in shares of Company common stockCommon Stock upon leaving the Board
 
in Company common stock units which earn dividends as if invested in Company common stock and are distributed in cash upon leaving the Board
inat prime interest which is paid in cash upon leaving the Board
All investments and earnings in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan are fully vested and at the election of the Director, may be distributed in a lump-sum payment or in up to 10 annual distributions after leaving the Board. The Company has established a grantor trust that primarily holds Company common stockCommon Stock that funds the Company common stockCommon Stock units that are distributed in shares of Company common stock.Common Stock. Directors have voting rights in the shares held in the trust attributable to these units.


5

5


 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table reports all compensation to the Company’s non-employee Directors during 2006,2007, including amounts deferred in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan. Non-employee Directors do not receive Option Awards or Non-EquityNon- Equity Incentive Plan Compensation,compensation, and there is no pension plan for non-employee Directors.
                             
          Change in    
          Pension Value    
  Fees       and    
  Earned     Non-Equity Nonqualified    
  or Paid Stock Option Incentive Plan Deferred All Other  
  in Cash Awards Awards Compensation Compensation Compensation  
Name ($)(1) ($)(2)(3) ($) ($) Earnings ($) ($)(4) Total ($)
 
Daniel P. Amos(5)
  13,500   7,919               21,419 
 
Juanita Powell Baranco(6)(7)
  84,366   51,533            52   135,951 
 
Dorrit J. Bern
  100,666   54,869               155,535 
 
Francis S. Blake
  100,166   54,869               155,035 
 
Thomas F. Chapman
  100,999   54,869               155,868 
 
Bruce S. Gordon(5)
  20,834   6,419               27,253 
 
Donald M. James
  98,166   54,869            220   153,255 
 
Zack T. Pate
  124,666   54,869               179,535 
 
J. Neal Purcell
  135,666   54,869               190,535 
 
William G. Smith, Jr.(6)
  82,666   48,982            282   131,930 
 
Gerald J. St. Pé
  105,666   47,369            865   153,900 
 
 
                             
              Change in
       
              Pension Value
       
  Fees
           and
       
  Earned
        Non-Equity
  Nonqualified
       
  or Paid
  Stock
  Option
  Incentive Plan
  Deferred
  All Other
    
  in Cash
  Awards
  Awards
  Compensation
  Compensation
  Compensation
    
Name ($)(1)  ($)(2)(3)  ($)  ($)  Earnings ($)  ($)(4)  Total ($) 
  
Juanita Powell Baranco
  92,500   66,643               159,143 
Dorrit J. Bern
  106,500   66,643               173,143 
Francis S. Blake
  81,000   66,643               147,643 
Jon A. Boscia(5)
                     
Thomas F. Chapman
  108,500   66,643               175,143 
H. William Habermeyer, Jr.(6)
  71,666   55,559               127,225 
Warren A. Hood, Jr.(7)
  19,800               391   20,191 
Donald M. James
  93,500   66,643               160,143 
Zack T. Pate(8)
  76,334   14,889            8,061   99,284 
J. Neal Purcell
  117,500   66,643               184,143 
William G. Smith, Jr. 
  96,500   66,643               163,143 
Gerald J. St. Pé
  108,500   66,643            114   175,257 
(1)Includes amounts voluntarily deferred in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan.
 
(2)Includes fair market value of equity grants on grant dates and retainer compensation required to be deferred in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan. All such stock awards are vested immediately upon grant.
 
(3)The aggregate number of Company common stockCommon Stock units held at year-end in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan for each person except Messrs. Amos and Gordon is provided in the Stock Ownership Table under the column Deferred Stock Units. At year-end, Mr. Gordon held 2,797 common stock units and Mr. Amos held no common stock units in the Director Deferred Compensation Plan.
 
(4)Consists of “gross-ups”tax“gross-ups” for an award given to Dr. Pate upon his retirement from the Board and reimbursement for taxes onassociated with spousal air travel and gifts.travel.
 
(5)Messrs. Amos and Gordon resigned as DirectorsMr. Boscia was elected a Director of the Company effective February 21, 2006.December 7, 2007. No compensation was paid to Mr. Boscia during 2007.
 
(6)Ms. Baranco and Mr. Smith were firstHabermeyer was elected Directorsa Director of the Company effective February 23, 2006.March 1, 2007.
 
(7)Ms. Baranco’sMr. Hood was elected a Director of the Company effective December 7, 2007. Mr. Hood’s compensation includes compensation earned in 20062007 as a Director of GeorgiaMississippi Power Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Mr. Hood resigned as a Director of Mississippi Power Company as well as compensation earnedeffective December 6, 2007.
(8)Dr. Pate retired as a Director of the Company. Ms. Baranco resigned as a Director of Georgia Power Company effective February 21, 2006.on May 23, 2007.
DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, non-employee Directors are required to beneficially own, within five years of their initial election to the Board, Company common stockCommon Stock equal to at least four times the annual Director retainer fee.


6


MEETINGS OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
Non-employee Directors meet in executive session with no member of management present followingon each regularly-scheduled Board meeting.meeting date. There is a presidingPresiding Director at each of these executive sessions. Dr. Zack T. Pate chair of the Nuclear Committee, served as presidingPresiding Director during the past two years and will continue to servefrom May 25, 2005 until the Annual

6


Meeting of Stockholdershis retirement on May 23, 2007. Mr. Thomas F. Chapman will becomebecame the presidingPresiding Director on May 23, 2007 to serve a two-year term or until a successor is named by the non-employee Directors.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
Committee Charters
Charters for each of the five standing committees can be found at the Company’s website — www.southerncompany.com under Investors/Corporate Governance.
Audit Committee:
 
nMembers are Mr. Purcell, Chair,Smith,(Chair), Ms. Baranco,Bern, Mr. Blake and Dr. Pate(1)Mr. Hood(1)
nMet 10 times in 20062007
nOversees the Company’s financial reporting, audit processes, internal controls and legal, regulatory and ethical compliance; appoints the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, approves its services and fees and establishes and reviews the scope and timing of its audits; reviews and discusses the Company’s financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, including critical accounting policies and practices, material alternative financial treatments within generally accepted accounting principles, proposed adjustments, control recommendations, significant management judgments and accounting estimates, new accounting policies, changes in accounting principles, any disagreements with management and other material written communications between the internal auditorsand/or the independent registered public accounting firm and management; and recommends the filing of the Company’s annual financial statements with the SEC.
The Board has determined that the members of the Audit Committee are independent as defined by the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules within its listing standards and rules of the SEC promulgated pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Board has determined that Mr. PurcellSmith qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC.
(1) Dr. Pate will retire from the Board on his normal retirement date, May 23, 2007.
(1) During 2007 and until January 21, 2008, Mr. Purcell served as Chair of the Committee and Ms. Baranco served as a member of the Committee. Dr. Pate served as a member of the Committee until his retirement from the Board on May 23, 2007. Mr. Smith was appointed Chair and Ms. Bern and Mr. Hood were appointed as members of the committee on January 21, 2008. The Board had determined that Mr. Purcell qualified as an audit committee financial expert.
Compensation and Management Succession Committee:
 
nMembers are Mr. St. PéPurcell,(Chair), Chair, Mr. Chapman,Boscia, Mr. JamesHabermeyer and Mr. SmithJames(1)
 
nMet nineeight times in 20062007
 
nEvaluates performance of executive officers and establishes their compensation, administers executive compensation plans and reviews management succession plans. Annually reviews a tally sheet of all components of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation and takes actions required of it under the Pension Plan for Employees of the Company.
The Board has determined that each member of the Compensation and Management Succession Committee is independent.
(1) During 2007 and until January 21, 2008, Mr. St. Pé served as Chair of the Committee and Mr. Chapman served as a member of the Committee. Mr. Purcell was appointed Chair and Messrs. Boscia and Habermeyer were appointed members of the Committee on January 21, 2008. Mr. Smith served as a member of the Committee in 2007 until his appointment to the Audit Committee on May 23, 2007.
Governance


7


Governance
The Committee focuses on good governance practices in its operation. In late 2005 and during 2006 through 2007, this included:
• Considering compensation for the named executive officers in the context of all of the components of total compensation.
 
• Considering annual adjustments to pay over the course of two meetings and requiring more than one meeting to make other important decisions.
 
• Receiving meeting materials several days in advance of meetings.
 
• Having regular executive sessions of Committee members only.
 
• Having direct access to an outside compensation consultant.consultants.

7


• Conducting a performance/payout analysis versus peer companies for the short-termannual incentive planprogram to provide a check on the Company’s goal-setting process.
Role of Executive Officers
The Chief Executive Officer, with input from the Human Resources staff, recommends to the Committee base salary, target bonus levels, actual bonus payouts and long-term incentive grants for Company officers. The Committee considers, discusses, modifies as appropriate and takes action on such proposals.
Role of Compensation Consultants
In 2006,2007, the Committee directly retained Hewitt Associates (“Hewitt”) as its outside compensation consultant. The Committee informed Hewitt in writing that it expected Hewitt to advise it if and when there were elements of management proposals to the Committee that Hewitt believed the Committee should not support, set expectations for Hewitt to be honest and direct with the Committee at all times and stated that Hewitt’s ongoing engagement would be determined by the Committee.
During 2006,2007, Hewitt assisted the Committee with comprehensive market data and its implications for pay at the Company and various other governance, design and compliance matters. The consultant also advised the Governance Committee on Director pay levels.
The Committee also retained Towers Perrin in 2007 as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on page 24.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The following Directors
None of the persons who served onas members of the Compensation and Management Succession Committee during 2006: Mr. Dan P. Amos (resigned February 21, 2006), Mr. Chapman, Mr. James, Mr. Smith and Mr. St. Pé. None of such persons2007 was an officer or employee of the Company during 20062007 or at any time in the past ornor had reportable transactions with the Company.
Finance Committee:
 
nMembers are Ms. Bern, Chair, Mr. James, (Chair), Mr. Boscia and Mr. SmithPurcell(1)
 
nMet eight times in 20062007
 
nReviews the Company’s financial matters, recommends actions such as dividend philosophy to the Board and approves certain capital expenditures
The Board has determined that each member of the Finance Committee is independent.
(1) During 2007 and until January 21, 2008, Ms. Bern served as Chair of the Committee. Mr. James was appointed Chair and Messrs. Boscia and Purcell were appointed members of the Committee on January 21, 2008. Mr. Smith served as a member of the Committee until his appointment to the Audit Committee on May 23, 2007.
Governance Committee:
 
nMembers are Ms. Baranco, (Chair), Mr. Chapman Chair, Ms. Bern and Mr. St. Pé(1)


8


nMet foureight times in 20062007
 
nOversees the composition of the Board and its committees, determines non-employee Directors’ compensation, maintains the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and coordinates the performance evaluations of the Board and its committees.
The Board has determined that each member of the Governance Committee is independent.
(1) During 2007 and until January 21, 2008, Mr. Chapman served as Chair of the Committee and Ms. Bern served as a member of the Committee. Ms. Baranco was appointed a member and Chair of the Committee on January 21, 2008.
Nominees for Election to the Board
The Governance Committee, comprised entirely of independent Directors, is responsible for identifying, evaluating and recommending nominees for election to the Board. The Committee solicits recommendations for candidates for consideration from its current Directors and is authorized to engage third party advisers to assist in the identification and evaluation of candidates for consideration. Any stockholder may make recommendations to the Governance Committee by sending a written statement setting forth the candidate’s qualifications, relevant biographical information and signed consent to serve. These materials should be submitted in writing to the Company’s assistant corporate secretary and

8


received by that office by December 15, 200712, 2008 for consideration by this Committee as a nominee for election at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2008.2009. Any stockholder recommendation is reviewed in the same manner as candidates identified by the Committee or recommended to the Committee.
The Governance Committee only considers candidates with the highest degree of integrity and ethical standards. The Committee evaluates a candidate’s independence from management, ability to provide sound and informed judgment, history of achievement reflecting superior standards, willingness to commit sufficient time, financial literacy and number of other board memberships. The Board as a whole should be diverse and have collective knowledge and experience in accounting, finance, leadership, business operations, risk management, corporate governance and the Company’s industry. During 2006,2007, the Committee engaged the services of a third-party search firm to aid in identifying prospective candidates and evaluating their qualifications. The Committee recommends candidates to the Board of Directors for consideration as nominees. Final selection of the nominees is within the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.
Mr. H. William Habermeyer,Jon A. Boscia and Mr. Warren A. Hood, Jr. waswere recommended by the Governance Committee for election to the Board and waswere elected as a DirectorDirectors effective March 1,December 7, 2007. Mr. Habermeyer wasMessrs. Boscia and Hood were identified jointly by the members of the Governance Committee and the third-party search firm.
NuclearNuclear/Operations Committee:(1)
 
nMembers are Dr. Pate(1)Mr. Habermeyer, (Chair), ChairMs. Baranco and Mr. HabermeyerSt. Pé(2)
 
nReviewsOversees significant information, activities and oversees the nuclear generating policies and facilitiesevents relative to significant operations of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Chair serves as Chair of the Nuclear Operating Committee for Southern Nuclear Operating Company Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.including nuclear and other generation facilities, transmission and distribution, fuel and information technology initiatives.
 
nAttended 14seven meetings in 20062007
(1) Dr. Pate will retire from the Board on his normal retirement date, May 23, 2007.
(1) Effective January 21, 2008 the Committee’s name was changed from the Nuclear Committee to the Nuclear/Operations Committee.
(2) Until his retirement on May 23, 2007, Dr. Pate served as Chair of the Committee at which time Mr. Habermeyer was appointed Chair. Ms. Baranco and Mr. St. Pé were appointed members of the Committee on January 21, 2008.
DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE
The Board of Directors met 13seven times in 2006.2007. The average attendance for Directors at all Board and Committee meetings was 97 percent. No nominee attended less than 75 percent of applicable meetings.
Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. NineTen of the 10eleven members of the Board of Directors serving during 2006 attendedon May 23, 2007, the 2006date of the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.Stockholders, attended the meeting.


9

9


 
Stock Ownership Table
 
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, NOMINEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table shows the number of shares of Company common stockCommon Stock owned by Directors, nominees and executive officers as of December 31, 2006 with the exception of Mr. Habermeyer whose shares are shown as of March 1, 2007, the date of his election to the Board of Directors.2007. The shares owned by all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group constitute less than one percent of the total number of shares of the class.
                 
    Shares Beneficially Owned Include:
     
      Shares  
      Individuals  
  Shares   Have Rights to  
  Beneficially Deferred Stock Acquire within Shares Held by
Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers Owned(1) Units(2) 60 days(3) Family Members(4)
 
Juanita Powell Baranco
  6,265   5,806         
 
Dorrit J. Bern
  35,399   33,899         
 
Francis S. Blake
  12,070   11,870         
 
W. Paul Bowers
  220,417       211,169     
 
Thomas F. Chapman
  21,126   21,126         
 
Thomas A. Fanning
  226,782       223,148     
 
Michael D. Garrett
  175,427       173,584     
 
H. William Habermeyer, Jr. 
  70   70         
 
Donald M. James
  34,959   32,959         
 
Charles D. McCrary
  318,554       313,745     
 
Zack T. Pate
  39,206   34,833         
 
J. Neal Purcell
  22,214   15,990       224 
 
David M. Ratcliffe
  996,256       980,167     
 
William G. Smith, Jr. 
  7,427   3,946         
 
Gerald J. St. Pé
  90,047   36,148       7,480 
 
Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers as
a Group (20 people)
  3,015,584   196,647   2,657,287   7,704 
 
 
                 
     Shares Beneficially Owned Include: 
        Shares
    
        Individuals
    
  Shares
     Have Rights to
    
  Beneficially
  Deferred Stock
  Acquire within
  Shares Held by
 
Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers Owned(1)  Units(2)  60 days(3)  Family Members(4) 
  
Juanita Powell Baranco
  9,542   9,062         
Dorrit J. Bern
  41,804   40,304         
Francis S. Blake
  16,760   16,560         
Jon A. Boscia
  4,000             
Thomas F. Chapman
  27,013   27,013         
Thomas A. Fanning
  287,834       283,095     
Michael D. Garrett
  168,476       168,550     
H. William Habermeyer, Jr.
  1,551   1,551         
G. Edison Holland, Jr.
  262,498       256,348     
Warren A. Hood, Jr.
  3,525   3,525         
Donald M. James
  40,956   38,956         
Charles D. McCrary
  263,133       258,108     
J. Neal Purcell
  28,127   21,903       224 
David M. Ratcliffe
  1,539,731       1,522,922     
William G. Smith, Jr.
  12,360   8,723         
Gerald J. St. Pé
  94,587   41,049       8,537 
Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers as a Group (21 people)
  3,732,711   208,646   3,358,830   8,776 
(1) “Beneficial ownership” means the sole or shared power to vote, or to direct the voting of, a security, or investment power with respect to a security, or any combination thereof.
 
(2) Indicates the number of Deferred Stock Units held under the Director Deferred Compensation Plan.
 
(3) Indicates shares of Company common stock that certain executive officers have the right to acquire within 60 days. Shares indicated are included in the Shares Beneficially Owned column.
 
(4) Each Director disclaims any interest in shares held by family members. Shares indicated are included in the Shares Beneficially Owned column.


10

10


 
Matters to be Voted Upon
 
ITEM NO. 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees for Election as Directors
The Proxies named on the proxy form will vote, unless otherwise instructed, each properly executed proxy form for the election of the following nominees as Directors. If any named nominee becomes unavailable for election, the Board may substitute another nominee. In that event, the proxy would be voted for the substitute nominee unless instructed otherwise on the proxy form. Each nominee, if elected, will serve until the 20082009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
     
  
(PHOTO OF JUANITA POWELL BARANCO)(PHOTO OF JUANITA POWELL BARANCO)
 Juanita Powell Baranco

Age:

Director since:

Board committees:

Principal occupation:


Other directorships:
 

58

2006

AuditGovernance (chair), Nuclear/Operations

Executive vice president and chief operating officer of Baranco Automotive Group, automobile sales

Cox Radio Incorporated
 
   
(PHOTO OF DORRIT J. BERN)(PHOTO OF DORRIT J. BERN)
 Dorrit J. Bern

Age:

Director since:

Board committees:

Principal occupation:



Other directorships:
 

5657

1999

Finance (chair), GovernanceAudit

Chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Charming Shoppes, Inc., multi-channel apparel, home, food and retail

Charming Shoppes, Inc., OfficeMax, Inc.
 

11


  
  
(PHOTO OF FRANCIS S. BLAKE)(PHOTO OF FRANCIS S. BLAKE)
 
Francis S. Blake


Age:


Director since:


Board committees:


Principal occupation:



Recent business experience:




Other directorships:
 

57
58


2004


Audit


Chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Home Depot, home improvement


Served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy from May 2001 to April 2002 and as executive vice president of The Home Depot until January 2007 when he assumed his current position.position


The Home Depot, Inc.
   
 


11


(PHOTO OF THOMAS F. CHAPMAN)(PHOTO OF JON A. BOSCIA)
 
Thomas F. ChapmanJon A. Boscia

Age:

Director since:

Board committees:

Principal occupation:


Recent business experience:




Other directorships:


55

2007

Compensation and Management Succession, Finance

President and chief executive officer of Boardroom Advisors, LLC, governance consulting

Served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Lincoln Financial Group, insurance, institutional investments, comprehensive financial planning and advisory services, until his retirement in 2007.

None
(PHOTO OF THOMAS F. CHAPMAN)
Thomas F. Chapman

Age:

Director since:

Board committees:

Principal occupation:



Recent business experience:



Other directorships:
 

6364

2000, Presiding Director since May 23, 2007

Governance (chair), Compensation and Management Succession

Retired chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Equifax, Inc., information services, data analytics, transaction processing and consumer financial products

Served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Equifax, Inc. until his retirement on December 12, 2005.in 2005


None
 
   
 
(PHOTO OF H. WILLIAM HABERMEYER, JR)(PHOTO OF H. WILLIAM HABERMEYER, JR.)
 
H. William Habermeyer, Jr.


Age:


Director since:


Board committees:


Principal occupation:



Recent business experience:



Other directorships:
 



6465


2007

Nuclear
Nuclear/Operations (chair), Compensation and Management Succession

Retired president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida, Inc., electric utility


Served as president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida, Inc. from December 2000 until his retirement on June 1, 2006.in 2006

Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
, USEC Inc.
   

12


     
  
(PHOTO OF DONALD M. JAMES)(PHOTO OF WARREN A. HOOD, JR.)
 
Donald M. JamesWarren A. Hood, Jr.


Age:


Director since:


Board committees:


Principal occupation:



Other directorships:
 

58
56


2007


Audit


Chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Hood Companies, Inc., packaging and construction products


BancorpSouth Bank, Hood Companies, Inc.
(PHOTO OF DONALD M. JAMES)
Donald M. James


Age:


Director since:


Board committees:


Principal occupation:



Other directorships:



59


1999


Finance (chair), Compensation and Management Succession Finance


Chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Vulcan Materials Company, construction materials


Vulcan Materials Company, Protective Life Corporation, Wachovia Corporation
   
 
(PHOTO OF J. NEAL PURCELL)(PHOTO OF J. NEAL PURCELL)
 
J. Neal Purcell


Age:


Director since:


Board committees:


Principal occupation:



Recent business experience:




Other directorships:
 


65
66


2003

Audit
Compensation and Management Succession (chair), Finance


Retired vice-chairman, audit operations, of KPMG, public accounting


Served as KPMG’s vice-chairman in charge of National Audit Practice Operations from October 1998 until his retirement on January 31, 2002.in 2002

Dollar General Corporation,
Kaiser Permanente Healthcare and Hospitals, Synovus
Financial Corporation
   
 

13


(PHOTO OF DAVID M. RATCLIFFE)
 
David M. Ratcliffe


Age:


Director since:


Principal occupation:



Recent business experience:








Other directorships:
 

58
59


2003


Chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of the Company


Served as president and chief executive officer of Georgia Power Company from May 1999 until January 2004 and as chairman and chief executive officer of Georgia Power Company from January 2004 until April 2004. He served as executive vice president of the Company from May 1999 until April 2004, and as president of the Company from April 2004 until July 2004, when he assumed his current position.position

CSX Corporation, Southern system companies — Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company and Southern Power Company
   

13


  
(PHOTO OF WILLIAM G. SMITH, JR.)(PHOTO OF WILLIAM G. SMITH, JR.)
 
William G. Smith, Jr.


Age:


Director since:


Board committees:

Principal occupation:



Other directorships:
 


53
54


2006

Compensation and Management Succession, Finance
Audit (chair)

Chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Capital City Bank Group, Inc.


Capital City Bank Group, Inc.
   
 
(PHOTO OF Gerald J. St. P)(PHOTO OF GERALD J. ST. PE)
 
Gerald J. St. Pé


Age:


Director since:


Board committees:


Principal occupation:



Recent business experience:



Other directorships:
 

67
68


1995

Compensation and Management Succession(chair),
Governance, Nuclear/Operations


Former president of Ingalls Shipbuilding and retired executive vice president of Litton Industries


Served as chief operating officer of Northrop-Grumman Ship Systems from August 1999 to November 2001.2001


Merchants and Marine Bank, McLand Disposal, Signal International
  

14


Each nominee has served in his or her present position for at least the past five years, unless otherwise noted.
The affirmative vote of a plurality of shares present and entitled to vote is required for the election of Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE NOMINEES LISTED IN ITEM NO. 1.
ITEM NO. 2 — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte & Touche”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2007.2008. This appointment is being submitted to stockholders for ratification. Representatives of Deloitte & Touche will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so.
The affirmative vote of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote is required for ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ITEM NO. 2.
ITEM NO. 3 — TO AMEND THE COMPANY’S BY-LAWS TO (1) IMPLEMENT A MAJORITY VOTE STANDARD FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS IN UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS, RETAINING A PLURALITY VOTE STANDARD IN CONTESTED ELECTIONS, AND (2) ELIMINATE CUMULATIVE VOTING IN UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS, EACH CONDITIONED ON THE ELIMINATION OF CUMULATIVE VOTING IN THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Company’s Board of Directors determined that it would be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to allow for majority voting and to eliminate cumulative voting in uncontested elections of Directors. The Board recommends that the stockholders approve an amendment to the By-laws to change the standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections from a plurality voting standard to a majority voting standard and also to eliminate cumulative voting in uncontested elections, subject to the elimination of cumulative voting in the Certificate of Incorporation, as described more fully in Item No. 4 below.
Under the current plurality vote standard, a director nominee in a director election can be elected or re-elected with as little as a single affirmative vote, even while a substantial majority of the votes cast are “withheld” from that director nominee. The proposed majority vote standard would require that a nominee for director in an uncontested election receive a “for” vote from a majority of the votes present and voting at a stockholder meeting to be elected to the Board. Additionally, the By-laws currently provide that when electing directors, stockholders may exercise cumulative voting rights. Under cumulative voting, in voting for directors each holder of common stock is entitled to cast a number of votes equal to the number of votes he or she would be entitled to cast with respect to his or her shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. A stockholder may give one candidate all the votes such stockholder is entitled to cast or may distribute such votes among as many candidates as such stockholder chooses. The Board feels that cumulative voting and a majority vote standard are incompatible, and is recommending the elimination of cumulative voting in uncontested elections in conjunction with the adoption of a majority vote standard.
The Board is seeking to eliminate cumulative voting and to implement a majority vote standard in uncontested elections because it believes that such changes are in the best interest of stockholders at this time. The Board recommends retaining cumulative voting in the By-laws for any contested election of directors, to which a plurality standard would apply. Please see Item No. 4 below for additional information regarding the proposed elimination of cumulative voting as contained in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Background of This Item
The proposed majority vote standard would require that a nominee for director in an uncontested election receive a majority of the votes cast at a stockholder meeting in order to be elected to the Board. The Board believes that the proposed majority vote standard for uncontested elections is a more equitable standard. At present, a plurality vote standard guarantees the election of a director in an uncontested election; however, a majority vote standard would mean that nominees in uncontested elections are only elected if a majority of the votes cast are voted in their favor. The Board believes that this majority vote


15


standard in uncontested director elections will strengthen the director nomination process and enhance director accountability.
Additionally, the Board will add appropriate provisions to its Corporate Governance Guidelines to require any nominee for election as a director of the Company to submit an irrevocable letter of resignation as a condition to being named as such nominee, which would be tendered in the event that nominee fails to receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in an uncontested election at a meeting of stockholders. Such resignation would be considered by the Board, and the Board would be required to either accept or reject such resignation within 90 days from the certification of the election results.
The By-laws also currently provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors. The proposed amendment would eliminate cumulative voting in uncontested elections of directors, but retain cumulative voting in contested elections of directors.
The Board does not believe that it should amend the By-laws to establish a majority vote standard and to eliminate cumulative voting while the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation still provides for cumulative voting. The elimination of cumulative voting is desirable in connection with the adoption of the majority vote standard with respect to uncontested elections. Because both the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws currently provide for cumulative voting, the Board recommends that the provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation relating to cumulative voting be eliminated. The Board believes that less confusion will result if both the majority vote standard and cumulative voting provisions are contained only in the By-laws rather than in both the By-laws and the Certificate of Incorporation. This proposed amendment does not provide any less protection to stockholders because under the Company’s By-laws, stockholders are required to ratify any amendment to the By-laws, and any further change in either the majority vote standard or cumulative voting would be subject to the stockholder ratification requirement.
Amendments
The proposed By-law amendment would include the following:
• The By-laws will be amended to remove provisions about cumulative voting for directors in uncontested elections and
• The plurality voting provisions in the By-laws will be replaced with provisions requiring that, in order to be elected in an uncontested election, a nominee for director must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders, provided that, in contested elections, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast will be required to elect a director.
A complete text of the amendment is set forth in Appendix A.
The affirmative vote of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote is required for amendment of the By-laws as presented in this Item No. 3.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ITEM NO. 3
ADOPTION OF THIS ITEM NO. 3 IS CONDITIONED ON THE APPROVAL BY STOCKHOLDERS OF ITEM NO. 4 BELOW. NEITHER ITEM NO. 3 NOR ITEM NO. 4 WILL BE IMPLEMENTED UNLESS BOTH ITEMS ARE APPROVED.
ITEM NO. 4 — TO AMEND THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO ELIMINATE CUMULATIVE VOTING IN ELECTIONS OF DIRECTORS, CONDITIONED UPON ADOPTION OF THE MAJORITY VOTE STANDARD AND THE ELIMINATION OF CUMULATIVE VOTING IN CONTESTED ELECTIONS IN THE BY-LAWS
The Board has determined that it would be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to require that a nominee or director in an uncontested election receive a majority of the votes cast at a stockholders meeting to be elected to the Board (see Item No. 3 above). The Board is seeking to eliminate cumulative voting in uncontested elections because it believes that a change to a majority vote standard in uncontested elections is in the best interest of stockholders at this time, and it views cumulative voting as inconsistent with a majority vote standard for the election of directors.
The elimination of cumulative voting in uncontested elections requires an amendment to the By-laws as discussed in Item No. 3 above, and also requires an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, which would remove subdivision (2) of Article Ninth (the cumulative voting provision). The Board feels it is appropriate to remove cumulative voting entirely from the Certificate of Incorporation and to amend the cumulative voting provisions discussed above in the By-laws so that all of


16


the provisions pertaining to voting in director elections are contained in the By-laws. As discussed above, cumulative voting will be permitted in a contested election, to which the plurality voting standard applies.
This amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation has been approved and declared advisable by the Board but requires adoption by the Company’s stockholders. This elimination would facilitate adoption of the majority vote standard for the election of directors in the manner described above in Item No. 3.
This Item would not change the present number of directors, and the Board would retain the authority to change that number and to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships.
Background of This Item
The Board is seeking to eliminate cumulative voting because it believes that a change to a majority vote standard in uncontested elections would be in the best interest of stockholders at this time and it views cumulative voting as incompatible with a majority vote standard for election.
Amendment
The proposed amendment would eliminate subdivision (2) of Article Ninth of the Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety.
Approval of this Item requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ITEM NO. 4.
ADOPTION OF THIS ITEM NO. 4 IS CONDITIONED ON THE APPROVAL BY STOCKHOLDERS OF ITEM NO. 3 ABOVE. NEITHER ITEM NO. 3 NOR ITEM NO. 4 WILL BE IMPLEMENTED UNLESS BOTH ITEMS ARE APPROVED.
ITEM NO. 5 — STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL ON ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
The Company has been advised that The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, P. O. Box 476, Convent Station, New Jersey 07961, holder of 100 shares of Company common stock; American Baptist Home Mission Society of The American Baptist Churches, USA, P. O. Box 851, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482, holder of 1,3301,942 shares of Company common stock; StateCongregation of Connecticut Retirement Plans & Trust Funds, 55 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106,Benedictine Sisters, 285 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX holder of 196,00014,000 shares of Company common stock;stock, and Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell New Jersey, 40 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey 07042, holder of 100 shares of Company common stock, propose to submit the following resolution at the 20072008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

14


“Whereas:
“The International Energy Agency warned in its 2007 World Energy Outlook that ‘urgent action is needed if greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations are to be stabilized at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system.’
“In October 2006, a report authorized by former chief economist of The World Bank, Sir Nicolas Stern, estimated that climate change will cost between 5% and 20% of GDP if emissions are not reduced, and that GHGs can be reduced at a cost of approximately 1% of global economic growth.
“U.S. power plants are responsible for nearly 40% of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions, and 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
“Coal-burning power plants are responsible for 80% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from all U.S. power plants and Southern Company is the second-largest emitter of CO2, the principal greenhouse gas (GHG)GHG linked to climate change, among U.S. power generators. http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/benchmarking/default.asp
“Since 1990, CO2 emissions from U.S. power plants have increased by 27%. Moreover, the global rate of GHG emissions from burning fossil fuels increased four-fold between 2000 and 2005 (Financial Times11/10/06)(U.S. Energy Information Administration).
“Levels of CO2, which persistspersist in the atmosphere for over 100 years, are now higher than anytime in the past 400,000 years and they will continue to rise as long as emissions from human activities continue.


17


“In order to avoid the most damaging effects of climate change, scientists urge that global CO2 emissions be kept at 2004 levels for the next 50 years through a combination of measures, including conservation, energy efficiency, switching to cleaner fuels and new low-carbon technologies. http://fire.pppl.gov/energy_socolow_081304.pdf
“Claude Mandil, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, noted that ‘...the benefits of strong, early action on climate change outweigh the costs. That conclusion is one that the IEA fully endorses — notably in its World Energy Outlook 2006.’ ‘The world’s energy economy is on a pathway that is plainly not sustainable’ (FT Energy Special10/20/06).
“While CO2 is not now regulated federally,at the in-coming chair offederal level, the U.S. Senate environmental committee has indicated that California’s new law requiring a 25% reductionEnvironment and Public Works Committee voted to report the Lieberman-Warner Security Act (S. 2191) to the full Senate in total CO2December 2007. The bill would reduce emissions by almost 20% below current levels by 2020 will be a model for federal legislation. (AP 11/9/06)and 60% by 2050.
“Shareholders desire to understand how well our company would be prepared to operate under mandatory 25%20% and 60% CO2 emissions reduction mandates, were such carbon constraints enacted by the U.S. Congress.
“AEP, the nation’s largest electric generator, Entergy and Exelon have set total GHG emissions reduction targets. Duke, Energy, Exelon, FPL, NRG, and several other majorothers, through their participation in the U.S. corporationsClimate Action Partnership, have also publicly stated that the U.S. should reduce its GHG footprint by 60% to 80% from current levels by 2050. They have endorsed adoption of mandatory federal policy to limit CO2 emissions as a way to provide economic and regulatory certainty needed for major investments in our energy future.
“Southern Company however, opposes mandatory regulation of CO2 and other GHG emissions in favor of voluntary action. While our company has added cleaner coal burning capacity, is investing in renewable energy, and has reduced the intensity of its CO2 emissions, it has yet to adopt a voluntary reduction goal for its total CO2 emissions. (Southern Company Response to CDP4) http://www.cdproject.net/online_response.asp?cid=1269&id=4&exp=10desc=Electric+Utility&letter=SCDP5)
“RESOLVED: Shareholders request that the Board of Directors report to shareholders actions the company would need to take to reduce total CO2 emissions, including quantitative goals for existing and proposed plants based on current and emerging technologies, by September 20, 2007.30, 2008. Such report shall omit proprietary information and be prepared at reasonable cost.”
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “AGAINST” ITEM NO. 35 FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
The Company issued in 2005 theEnvironmental Assessment: Report to Shareholders,outlining options and actions the Company is taking with regard to CO2 and other emissions, including an extensive review of CO2 price scenarios; issued in 2006 itsCorporate Responsibility Report,which included data on CO2 emissions and actions being undertaken to address those emissions; and in April 2007, issued a2008, updated our report,Climate Change — A Summary of Southern Company Actions,on specific current and long-term activities to address CO2 emissions.emissions, as well as issued a report,Energy Efficiency Regulatory Structures, on the need for and the impacts of energy efficiency efforts as a resource to meet growth and regulatory structures. All these reports are available either through the Company’s external website at www.southerncompany.com or by contacting Patricia L. Roberts, Assistant Corporate Secretary, Southern Company, 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 and requesting a copy.
The vote needed to pass the proposed stockholders’ resolution is a majority of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “AGAINST” ITEM NO. 3.5.


18

15


 
Audit Committee Report
 
The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting, including disclosure controls and procedures, and for preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and management’s report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting in the Annual Report to stockholdersStockholders with management. The Committee also reviews the Company’s quarterly and annual reporting onForms 10-Q and10-K prior to filing with the SEC. The Committee’s review process includes discussions of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and estimates and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing opinions on the conformity of the consolidated financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and on the conformity of management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting with the criteria established in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Committee reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm, the firm’s judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards, rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules. In addition, the Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence from management and the Company including the matters in the written disclosures madeas required under Rule 3600Trules of the PCAOB, which, on an interim basis, has adopted Independence Standards Board No. 1, “Independence Discussions with Audit Committees.”PCAOB. The Committee also has considered whether the independent registered public accounting firm’s provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining the firm’s independence.
The Committee discussed the overall scopes and plans with the Company’s internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm for their respective audits. The Committee meets with the internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm with and without management present, to discuss the results of their audits, evaluations by management and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Committee also meets privately with the Company’s compliance officer. The Committee held 10 meetings during 2006.2007.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board approved) that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20062007 and filed with the SEC. The Committee also reappointed Deloitte & Touche as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2007.2008. Stockholders will be asked to ratify that selection at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Members of the Committee:
J. Neal Purcell, Chair
Juanita Powell Baranco
Francis S. Blake
Zack T. Pate
William G. Smith, Jr., Chair
Dorrit J. Bern
Francis S. Blake
Warren A. Hood, Jr.


19

16


PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES
The following represents the fees billed to the Company for the last two fiscal years by Deloitte & Touche — the Company’s principal independent registered public accounting firm:
          
  2006 2005
 
  (In thousands)
Audit Fees(a) $12,994  $12,270 
Audit-Related Fees(b)  673   410 
Tax Fees(c)  90   117 
All Other Fees  0   0 
 
 Total $13,757  $12,797 
 
 
         
  2007  2006 
 
  (In thousands) 
 
Audit Fees(a) $12,525  $12,994 
Audit-Related Fees(b)  913   673 
Tax Fees(c)  0   90 
All Other Fees  0   0 
Total $13,438  $13,757 
(a)Includes services performed in connection with financing transactions
 
(b)Includes benefit plan and other non-statutory audit services and accounting consultations in both 20062007 and 20052006
 
(c)Includes review services in connection with the consolidated federal tax return and tax compliance licensing and training costs
The Audit Committee has adopted a Policy on Engagement of the Independent Auditor for Audit and Non-Audit Services (see Appendix A)B) that includes requirements for the Audit Committee to pre-approve services provided by Deloitte & Touche. This policy was initially adopted in July 2002 and since that time, all services included in the chart above have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee.


20

17


 
Executive Compensation
 
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
In this Compensation Discussion and Analysis (the “CD&A”) and elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, references to the “Compensation Committee” are to the Compensation and Management Succession Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES
The Company’s executive compensation program is based on a philosophy that total executive compensation must be competitive with the companies in our industry, must be tied to and motivate our executives to meet our short- and long-term performance goals and must foster and encourage alignment of executive interests with the interests of our stockholders and our customers. The program generally is designed to motivate all employees, including executives, and to achieve operational excellence and financial goals while maintaining a safe work environment.
Our executive compensation program places significant focus on rewarding performance. The program is performance-based in several respects:
Our actual earnings per share (“EPS”) and business unit performance, which includes return on equity (“ROE”) or net income, compared to target performance levels established early in the year, determine the ultimate short-term (annual)annual incentive program payouts.
 
Company common stockCommon Stock price changes result in higher or lower ultimate values of stock options.
 
Our dividend payout and total shareholder return (“TSR”) compared to those of our industry peers lead to higher or lower payouts under the Performance Dividend Program (the “PDP”(“performance dividends”).
In support of our performance-based pay philosophy, we have no general employment contracts with our named executive officers or guaranteed severance, except upon a change in control, (“CIC”), and no pay is conditioned solely upon continued employment withof any of the named executive officers, other than base salary.
Our pay-for-performance principles apply not only to the named executive officers, but to thousands of employees. Our short-term incentive program covers nearly all of our 26,000nearly 27,000 employees and our CICchange-in-control protection program covers all employees not part of a collective bargaining unit. Our stock options and PDPperformance dividends cover approximately 5,8006,300 employees. These programs engage our people in our business, which ultimately is good not only for them, but for our customers and our stockholders.

18


OVERVIEW OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMPONENTS
Our executive compensation program is composed of several elements,components, each of which plays a different role. The table below discusses the intended role of each material pay element,component, what it rewards and why the Company useswe use it. Following the table is additional information that describes how the Companywe made 20062007 pay decisions.
     
  Intended Role and What the Element
  
Pay Element Rewards Why We Use the Element
Pay Element
 
Base Salary
 Base salary is pay for competence in the executive role, with a focus on scope of responsibilities. 
•   Market practice.

•   Provides a threshold level of cash compensation for job performance.
Short-TermAnnual Incentive
 The Company’s Performance Pay Program (the “PPP”)annual incentive program rewards achievement of operational, EPS and business unit financial goals. 
•   Market practice.

•   Focuses attention on achievement of short-term goals that ultimately works to fulfill our mission to customers and leadleads to increased stockholder value in the long term.


21


Intended Role and What the Element
Pay ElementRewardsWhy We Use the Element
 
Long-Term Incentive:
Stock Options
 Stock options reward price increases in the Company’s common stockCommon Stock over the market price on date of grant, over a 10-year term. 
•   Represents performance-basedMarket practice.
•   Performance-based compensation.

•   Aligns executives’ interests with those of stockholders.
Long-Term Incentive:
PDPPerformance Dividends
 The PDP providesPerformance dividends provide cash compensation dependent on the number of stock options held at year-end,year end, the Company’s declared dividends paid during the year and four-year TSRtotal shareholder return versus industry peers. 
•   Market practice.
•   Performance-based compensation.

•   Enhances the value of stock options and focuses executives on maintaining a significant dividend yield for stockholders.

•   Aligns executives’ interests with stockholderstockholders’ interests since payouts are dependent on performance, defined asthe returns realized by our stock performancestockholders versus those of our industry peers.
• Competitive market practice.
Retirement Benefits
 
•   The Southern Company Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DCP”) provides the opportunity to defer to future years up to 50% of base salary and all or part of base salary and bonusannual incentives or performance dividends in either a prime interest rate or Company common stockCommon Stock account.

•   Executives participate in employee benefit plans available to all employees of the Company, including a 401(k) savings plan and the funded Southern Company Pension Plan (the “Pension(“Pension Plan”).

•   The Supplemental Benefit Plan (the “SBP”) counts pay, including deferred salary, ineligible to be counted under the Pension Plan and the 401(k) plan due to Internal Revenue Service rules, including deferred salary.
rules.
•   The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) counts short-termannual incentive pay above 15% of base salary for pension purposes.

•   Additional years of service agreements provide enhanced retirement benefits as if a participant had worked additional years at the Company.
 
•   The DCPMarket practice.
•   Permitting compensation deferral is a cost-effective method of providing additional cash flow to the Company while enhancing the retirement savings of executives.

•   The purpose of the SBP and the SERPthese supplemental plans is to eliminate the effect of tax limitations on the payment of retirement benefits.

•   Additional years of service enhancements are provided on an as-needed basis to attract and retain executives who were employed by the Company earlier in their careers.
•   Represents market practice for companiesan important component of competitive market-based compensation in our peer group and generally.

22

19


     
  Intended Role and What the Element
  
Pay Element Rewards Why We Use the Element
 
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
 
•   Personal financial planning maximizes the perceived value of our executive compensation program to executives and allows executives to focus on Company operations.

•   Home security systems lower our risk of harm to executives.

•   Club memberships are provided primarily for business use.
• Limited personal use of Company aircraft allows the CEO to meet both his business and personal commitments.

 •   Perquisites benefit both the Company and executives, at low cost to us.the Company.
Post-Termination Pay
 CIC•   Change-in-control agreements provide severance pay, accelerated vesting and payment of short- and long-term incentive awards upon a CICchange in control of the Company coupled with involuntary termination not for “Cause” or a voluntary termination for “Good Reason.” 
•   Market practice.
•   Providing protections to senior executives upon a CICchange in control minimizes disruption during a pending or anticipated CIC.
change in control.
•   Payment and vesting occur only upon the occurrence of both an actual CICchange in control and loss of the executive’s position.
MARKET DATA
For the named executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviews compensation data from large, publicly-owned electric and gas utilities. The data iswas developed and analyzed by Hewitt Associates, one of the compensation consultantconsultants retained by the Compensation Committee. The companies included each year in the primary peer group are those whose data is available through the consultant’s database. Those companies are drawn from this list of regulated utilities of $2 billion in revenues and up. Proxy data for thethis entire list of companies below also is used. No other companies’ data are used in our market-pay benchmarking.
       
 
Allegheny Energy, Inc.
Alliant Energy Corporation
Ameren Corporation
American Electric Power Company, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Cinergy Corp.
CMS Energy Corporation
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
Dominion Resources Inc.
DTE Energy Company
 DTE Energy Company
Duke Energy Corporation
Edison International
Energy East Corporation
Entergy Corporation
Exelon Corporation
FirstEnergy Corp.
FPL Group, Inc.
Great Plains Energy Incorporated
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
KeySpan Corporation
 KeySpan Corporation
NiSource Inc.
Northeast Utilities
NSTAR
OGE Energy Corp.
Pepco Holdings, Inc.
PG&E Corporation
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
PNM Resources, Inc.
PPL Corporation
Progress Energy, Inc.
 Progress Energy, Inc.
Public Service Enterprise Group IncorporationIncorporated
Puget Energy, Inc.
SCANA Corporation
Sempra Energy
Sierra Pacific Resources
TECO Energy, Inc.
TXU Corp.
Vectren Corporation
Wisconsin Energy Corporation
WPS Resources Corporation
Xcel Energy Inc.
 
The Company is one of the largest U.S. utility companies in revenues and market capitalization, and its largest business units are some of the largest in the industry as well. For that reason, the consultant size-adjusts the market data in order to fit it to the scope of our business.
In using this market data, market is defined as the size-adjusted 50th percentile of the data, with a focus on pay opportunities at target performance (rather than actual plan payouts). We provide pay opportunities (baseThe Company specifically looks at the market data for chief executive officer positions and other positions in terms of scope of responsibilities, that most closely resemble the positions held by our named executive officers. Based on that data, the Company recommends to the Compensation Committee a total target compensation opportunity for each named executive officer. Total target compensation opportunity is the sum of base salary, annual incentive payout (at the target PPP payouts,performance level), stock option awards at a target value and performance dividend payout at a target PDP payouts) at market and design our incentive plans to pay significantlyvalue. Actual compensation paid may be more or less than the total target amount whencompensation

23


opportunity based on actual performance is above or below target performance levels. As a result, our plans arecompensation program is designed to result in payouts that are market-appropriate given our performance for thatthe year or period.

20


The Company doesdid not target a specified weight for base salary or short-termannual or long-term incentives as a percent of total target compensation opportunities, nor did amounts realized or realizable from prior compensation serve to increase or decrease 20062007 compensation amounts. The competitive posture of one element of pay affects the targeted competitive posture of other elements such that totalTotal target compensation opportunities for senior management as a group are managed to be at the median of the market for companies our size and in our industry. The market data influencedtotal target compensation opportunities established in 2007 for each named executive officer baseare shown below.
                 
           Total Target
 
     Annual
  Long-Term
  Compensation
 
Name Salary  Incentive  Incentive  Opportunity 
  
D. M. Ratcliffe $1,075,700  $1,075,700  $4,579,700  $6,731,100 
T. A. Fanning $616,000  $463,000  $845,000  $1,924,000 
M. D. Garrett $621,000  $465,750  $854,000  $1,940,750 
C. D. McCrary $634,000  $475,500  $871,000  $1,980,500 
G. E. Holland, Jr. $542,000  $325,200  $643,000  $1,510,200 
As is our long-standing practice, the salary levels shown above were not effective until March 2007. Therefore, the amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table are lower because that table reports actual amounts paid in 2007. Also, the amounts reviewed by the Committee and incentive opportunities as follows for 2006:
Base salaries for senior executives were targeted at market, though individual salaries may be above or below that level for reasons of time in position, criticality to the business or individual performance.
Target PPP opportunities were somewhat higher than market because in 2000, a long-term incentive plan (the Productivity Improvement Plan) was terminated and its award opportunities folded in with PPP. Target opportunities are set at a percentage of base salary.
To counterbalance the above-market PPP opportunities, stock option award sizes were set to be somewhat below market after taking into account the related PDP opportunity.
reported here are rounded and may differ slightly from amounts reported in the other tables and charts herein. For purposes of comparing the value of our compensation program to the market data, stock options are valued at 15%, and PDPperformance dividend targets at 10%, of the average daily stockCommon Stock price for the year preceding the grant, both of which represent risk-adjusted present values on the date of grant and are consistent with the methodologies used to develop the market data. For the 20062007 grant of stock options and the PDPperformance dividend targets established for the 2006 – 20092007 — 2010 performance period, this value was $8.53$8.515 per stock option granted. In the long-term incentive column, 60% of the value shown is attributable to stock options and 40% attributable to performance dividends. The stock option value used for market data comparisons exceeds the value reported in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table because it assumesthe value above is calculated assuming that the options are held for their full10-year term. The calculation of the Black-Scholes value reported in the tableGrants of Plan-Based Awards Table uses historical holding period averages of approximately five years.
As discussed above, the Compensation Committee targets total target compensation opportunities for senior executives as a group at market. Therefore, some senior executives may be paid somewhat above and others somewhat below market. This practice allows for minor differentiation based on time in the position, scope of responsibilities and individual performanceperformance. The differences in the total pay opportunities for each named executive officer are based almost exclusively on the differences indicated by the market data for persons holding similar positions. However, in setting the total target compensation opportunities for Messrs. Garrett and internal equity.McCrary in 2007, the Compensation Committee recognized that Mr. McCrary has been in his position considerably longer than Mr. Garrett and that while the market data may distinguish between their two positions based on the size of the business units they lead, the Company’s CEO and the Compensation Committee consider their positions equivalent in terms of scope of responsibility. They lead the Company’s two largest business units. The average total target compensation opportunities for the named executive officers for 20062007 were twofour percent above the market data described above. However, because of the use of market data from a large number of peer companies for positions that are not identical in terms of scope of responsibility from company to company, we do not consider this difference material and we continue to believe that our compensation program is market-appropriate.
In 2007, the Compensation Committee engaged an additional executive compensation consulting firm, Towers Perrin, to conduct a broad assessment of the Company’s executive compensation program. Benchmarking data as well as actual levels of payouts made at our peer companies was reviewed. The consulting firm was directed to review the level of total target pay opportunities, the weight of each primary pay component and the annual and long-term incentive goal metrics. Based on the findings from this review, the Company and the Compensation Committee continue to believe that our executive compensation program provides the appropriate level and mix of compensation for the senior management of the Company, including the named executive officers.


24


• In 2004, the Compensation Committee received from its executive compensation consulting firm a detailed comparison of our executive benefits program to the benefits of a group of other large utilities and general industry companies. The results indicated that the Company’s executive benefits program was slightly below market. The Compensation Committee plans to have this study updated in 2008.
DESCRIPTION OF KEY COMPENSATION COMPONENTS
20062007 Base Salary
Base salaries for each of the named executive officers for 20062007 were recommended for the Compensation Committee’s approval by Mr. Ratcliffe, except for his own salary. Those recommendations took the market data into account, as well as, the need to retain an experienced team, internal equity, time in position and individual performance. Thisperformance which included the degree of competence and initiative exhibited and the individual’s relative contribution to the results of operations in prior years. The Compensation Committee approved the recommended salaries in 2006.2007.
Mr. Ratcliffe’s 20062007 base salary was set by the Compensation Committee and was influenced by the above-described market data and Mr. Ratcliffe’s performance and time in the position.
20062007 Incentive Compensation
Achieving Operational and Financial Goals — Our Guiding Principle for Incentive Compensation
Our number one priority is to provide our customers outstanding reliability and superior service at low prices while achieving a level of financial performance that benefits our stockholders in the short and long term.long-term.

21


In 2006,2007, we strove for and rewarded:
• Continued industry-leading reliability and customer satisfaction, while maintaining our low retail prices relative to the national average; and
 
• Meeting increased energy demand with the best economic and environmental choices.
In 2006,2007, we also focused on and rewarded:
• EPS Growth — A continuation of growing EPS an average of five percent per year from a base, excluding synfuel earnings from synthetic fuel investments, established in 2002. The target goal shown below is five percent greater than the goal established for 2005.2006.
 
• ROE in the top quartile of comparable electric utilities.
 
• Dividend Growth.
• Long-term risk-adjusted TSR.total shareholder return.
• Financial Integrity — An attractive risk-adjusted return, sound financial policy and a stable ‘A’“A” credit rating.
The incentive compensation program is designed to encourage the Company to achieveachievement of these goals.
Mr. Ratcliffe, with the assistance of our Human Resources staff, recommends to the Compensation Committee program design and award amounts for senior executives.executives, including the named executive officers.
2006 PPP2007 Annual Incentive Program
Program Design
PPP
The Performance Pay Program is the Company’s annual cash incentive plan.program. Most employees of the Company are participants, including the named executive officers, a total of about 26,000nearly 27,000 participants.
The performance measured by the program uses goals set at the beginning of each year by the Compensation Committee.


25


An illustration of the PPPannual incentive goal structure for 20062007 is provided below.
(CHART)
(CHART)
Operational goals for 2006 were safety, customer service, plant availability, transmission and distribution system reliability, inclusion and capital expenditures. Each of these operational goals is explained in more detail under Goal Details below. The result of all operational goals is averaged and multiplied by the bonus impact of the EPS and business unit financial goals. The amount for each goal can range from 0.90 to 1.10, or 0 if a threshold performance level is not achieved as more fully described below. The level of achievement for each operational goal is determined and the results are averaged. Each of our business units has operational goals. For Messrs. Garrett and McCrary, the PPP payout is adjusted up or down based on the operational goal results for Georgia Power Company and Alabama Power Company, respectively. For Messrs. Ratcliffe and Fanning, it is calculated using the corporate-wide weighted average of the operational goal results. For Mr. Bowers, it is calculated using the operational goal results for our generation business unit.

22


Operational goals for 2007 were safety, customer service, plant availability, transmission and distribution system reliability and inclusion. Each of these operational goals is explained in more detail under “Goal Details” below. The result of all operational goals is averaged and multiplied by the bonus impact of the EPS and business unit financial goals. The amount for each goal can range from 0.90 to 1.10, or 0.00 if a threshold performance level is not achieved as more fully described below. The level of achievement for each operational goal is determined and the results are averaged. Each of our business units has operational goals. For Messrs. Garrett and McCrary, the payout is adjusted up or down based on the operational goal results for Georgia Power Company and Alabama Power Company, respectively. For Messrs. Ratcliffe, Fanning and Holland, it is calculated using the corporate-wide weighted average of the operational goal results.
• EPS is weighted at 50% of the financial goals. EPS is defined as earnings from continuing operations divided by average shares outstanding during the year, excluding earnings from synthetic fuel earnings (“synfuel earnings”).investments. The EPS performance measure is applicable to all participants in the PPP,Performance Pay Program, including the named executive officers.
 
Business Unit Financial Performanceunit financial performance is weighted at 50% of the financial goals. For our traditional utility operating companies (Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company and Mississippi Power Company), the business unit financial performance goal is ROE, which is defined as the operating company’s net income divided by average equity for the year. For our other business units, we establish financial performance measures that are tailored to each business unit.
For Messrs. Garrett and McCrary, their PPP payout is calculated using the ROE for Georgia Power Company and Alabama Power Company, respectively. For Messrs. Ratcliffe and Fanning, it is calculated using a corporate-wide weighted average of all the business unit financial performance goals, including primarily the operating companies’ ROE. And, for Mr. Bowers, his business unit financial performance measure is weighed one-half the corporate-wide weighted average and one-half the financial performance measure for our generation business unit.
In addition, superior individual performance can increase an individual’s payout by up to 10% of base salary, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.
For Messrs. Garrett and McCrary, the annual incentive payout is calculated using the ROE for Georgia Power Company and Alabama Power Company, respectively. For Messrs. Ratcliffe, Fanning and Holland it is calculated using a corporate-wide weighted average of all the business unit financial performance goals, including primarily the traditional operating companies’ ROE.
The Compensation Committee may make adjustments, both positive and negative, to goal achievement for purposes of determining payouts. Such adjustments include the impact of items considered one timeone-time or outside of normal operations or not anticipated in the business plan when the earnings goal was established and of sufficient magnitude to warrant recognition. For the payoutpayouts based on 20062007 performance, no adjustments were made as described below underthat materially impacted the heading 2006 Achievement. The maximum effect of these adjustments for any ofpayouts to the named executive officers was less than five percent.officers.
Under the terms of the program, no payout can be made if the Company’s current earnings are not sufficient to fund the Company’s common stockCommon Stock dividend at the same level asor higher than the prior year.
Goal Details
Operational Goals:
Customer Service — The Company uses customer satisfaction surveys to evaluate the Company’s performance. The survey results provide an overall ranking for each traditional operating company, as well as a ranking for each customer segment: residential, commercial and industrial.
Reliability — Transmission and distribution system reliability performance is measured by the frequency and duration of outages. Performance targets for reliability are set internally based on historical performance, expected weather conditions and expected capital expenditures.


26


Availability — Peak season equivalent forced outage rate is an indicator of fossil/hydro plant availability and efficient generation fleet operations during the months when generation needs are greatest. The rate is calculated by dividing the number of hours of forced outages by total generation hours.
Safety — The Company’s Target Zero program is focused on continuous improvement in having a safe work environment. The performance is measured by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable incident rate.
Inclusion/Diversity — The Company’s inclusion program seeks to improve itsour inclusive workplace. This goal includes measures for work environment (employee satisfaction survey), representation of minorities and females in leadership roles and supplier diversity.
Capital expenditures — We aim to manage capital expenditures to meet customer commitments without sacrificing financial integrity.
Southern Company capital expenditures “gate” or threshold goal — We strive to manage total capital expenditures for the participating business units at or below $2.7$3.8 billion for 2006,2007, excluding nuclear fuel. If the capital expenditure target is exceeded, total operational goal performance is capped at 0.90 for all business units, regardless of the actual operational

23


goal results. Adjustments to the goal may occur due to significant events not anticipated in the business plan established early in 2006,2007, such as acquisitions or disposition of assets, new capital projects and other events.
The range of performance levels established for the operational goals are detailed below.
                 
 Customer          
Level of Performance Service Reliability Availability Safety Inclusion Capital
 
Maximum (1.10) Top Quartile Improve historical performance  2.00%   1.25  Significant improvement Below budget
 
Target (1.00) 2nd quartile Maintain historical performance  2.75%   1.75  Improve Slightly above budget
 
Threshold (0.90) 3rd quartile Below historical performance  3.75%   2.50  Below expectations Above budget
 
0 Trigger 4th quartile Significant issues  6.00%   >2.50  Significant issues See gate goal
 
               
Level of
 Customer
         
Performance Service Reliability Availability  Safety Inclusion
 
Maximum (1.10) Top quartile for each customer segment Improve
historical performance
  2.00%  1.00  Significant improvement
Target (1.00) Top quartile overall Maintain historical performance  2.75%  1.50  Improve
Threshold (0.90) 3rd quartile Below
historical performance
  3.75%  2.00  Below expectations
0 Trigger 4th quartile Significant
issues
  6.00%  >2.00  Significant
issues
EPS and Business Unit Financial Performance:
The range of EPS and business unit financial performanceROE goals for 20062007 is shown below. ROE goals vary from the allowed retail ROE range due to state regulatory accounting requirements, wholesale activities, other non-jurisdictional revenues and expenses and other activities not subject to state regulation.
                         
    Business Unit Performance     Payout Below
        Payout Factor at Threshold for
      Net Income   Highest Level of Operational
 EPS Excluding   (Southern Payout Operational Goal Goal
Level of Performance Synfuel Earnings ROE Generation Only) Factor Achievement Achievement
 
Maximum  $2.11   14.25%   $310 million   2.00   2.20   0 
 
Target  $2.055   13.25%   $285 million   1.00   1.10   0 
 
Threshold  $1.97   10.50%   $226 million   0.25   0.275   0 
 
Below threshold  <$1.97   <10.50%         < $226  million  0   0   0 
 

24


                     
              Payout Below
 
           Payout Factor at
  Threshold for
 
  EPS Excluding
        Highest Level of
  Operational
 
Level of
 Synthetic Fuel
     Payout
  Operational Goal
  Goal
 
Performance Investment Earnings  ROE  Factor  Achievement  Achievement 
  
Maximum  $2.265   14.25%  2.00   2.20   0.00 
Target  $2.155   13.50%  1.00   1.10   0.00 
Threshold  $2.08   10.50%  0.25   0.275   0.00 
Below threshold  <$2.08   <10.50%  0.00   0.00   0.00 
20062007 Achievement
Each named executive officer had a target PPPannual incentive opportunity set by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of 2006.2007. Targets are set as a percentage of base salary. Mr. Ratcliffe’s target was set at 100%. For Messrs. Fanning, Garrett and McCrary, it was set at 75% and for Mr. BowersHolland it was set at 60%. Actual PPP payouts were developed by adding the payouts derived from EPS and business unit financial performance goal achievement for 20062007 and multiplying that sum by the result


27


of the operational goal achievement. The gate goal target was not exceeded and therefore had no impact ondid not affect payouts. Actual 20062007 goal achievement is shown in the table below.following table.
                             
          Business Unit Total Weighted  
  Operational EPS, EPS Goal   Financial Business Unit  
  Goal Excluding Performance   Performance Financial Total PPP
  Multiplier Synfuel Factor Business Unit Factor Performance Factor
Name (A) Earnings (50% Weight) Financial Performance (50% Weight) Factor (B) (A x B)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  1.08  $2.10   1.84   Corporate average   1.53   1.68   1.82 
 
T. A. Fanning  1.08  $2.10   1.84   Corporate average   1.53   1.68   1.82 
 
M. D. Garrett  1.08  $2.10   1.84   14.02% ROE   1.77   1.80   1.95 
 
C.D. McCrary  1.09  $2.10   1.84   13.31% ROE   1.06   1.45   1.58 
 
W. P. Bowers  1.09  $2.10   1.84  $305 million net income and corporate average  1.68   1.76   1.92 
 
                           
     EPS,
               
     Excluding
       Business Unit
       
  Operational
  Synthetic
  EPS Goal
    Financial
  Total Weighted
  Total
 
  Goal
  Fuel
  Performance
    Performance
  Financial
  Payout
 
  Multiplier
  Investment
  Factor
  Business Unit
 Factor
  Performance
  Factor
 
Name (A)  Earnings  (50% Weight)  Financial Performance (50% Weight)  Factor (B)  (A x B) 
  
D. M. Ratcliffe  1.08  $2.21   1.69  Corporate average  1.25   1.47   1.59 
T. A. Fanning  1.08  $2.21   1.69  Corporate average  1.25   1.47   1.59 
M. D. Garrett  1.08  $2.21   1.69  13.50% ROE  1.00   1.34   1.45 
C. D. McCrary  1.09  $2.21   1.69  13.73% ROE  1.31   1.50   1.63 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   1.08  $2.21   1.69  Corporate average  1.25   1.47   1.59 
Note that the Total PPPPayout Factor may vary from the Total Weighted Financial Performance Factor multiplied by the operational goal multiplierOperational Goal Multiplier due to rounding. To calculate a PPPan annual incentive payout amount, the target opportunity (PPP(annual incentive target times base salary) is multiplied by the Total PPPPayout Factor.
PPP
Annual incentive payouts were determined using EPS and ROE performance results that differ somewhat from the results reported in Company’s financial statements in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report to Stockholders (the “Financial Statements”). These differences areThis difference is described below.
EPS excluding synfuel earnings from synthetic fuel investments TheIn 2007, the Company’s synthetic fuel investments generategenerated tax credits as a result of synthetic fuel production. Due to higher oil prices in 2006,over the past two years, such tax credits were partially phased out and one synfuel investment was terminated. As a result, the Company’s synthetic fuel investments did not contribute significantly to earnings and EPS duringterminated in 2006. These tax credits willwere no longer be available after December 31, 2007. Company management uses EPS, excluding synfuel earnings from synthetic fuel investments, to evaluate the performance of the Company’s ongoing business activities. We believe the presentation of earnings and EPS, excluding the results of the synthetic fuel investments, also is useful for investors because it provides additional information for purposes of comparing our performance for such periods. For 2006,2007, reported EPS was $2.12$2.29 per share including synfuel earnings from synthetic fuel investments, and $2.10$2.21 per share excluding synfuel earnings.them. As established by the Compensation Committee in early 2006,2007, the PPPannual incentive goal for 20062007 measured the EPS performance, excluding synfuel earnings.earnings from synthetic fuel investments.
ROE adjustments — The following adjustments were made to
Actual performance exceeded the business unit ROE goaltarget performance due to system decisions that should not impact the employees of the affected business units.
Alabama Power Company — The 2006 reported ROE was 13.23%. ROE performance for PPP was 13.31%, due to an adjustment approvedlevels established by the Compensation Committee to exclude the impact of New Source Review litigation that was settled during 2006. (See Note 3 to the Financial Statements for more information about the New Source Review settlement.)
Georgia Power Company — The 2006 reported ROE was 13.80%. ROE performance for PPP was 14.02%, due to an adjustment made to mitigate the ROE impact of the merger of Georgia Power Company and Savannah Electric and Power Company during 2006. This adjustment was approved by the Compensation Committee at the time the ROE goal for Georgia Power Company was established.

25


Pursuant to its discretion mentioned above, for superior individual performance in 2006, the Compensation Committee increasedearly 2007; therefore, the payout levels also exceeded the target pay opportunities that were established. More information on how the target pay opportunities are established is provided under the section entitled “Market Data” in this CD&A.
The table below shows the pay opportunity set in early 2007 for Messrs. Garrettthe annual incentive payout at target-level performance and Bowers by five percent of their base salaries.the actual payout based on the actual performance shown above. The actual amount of this additional payout istarget reported in the Bonus column in the Summary Compensation Table.Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table may differ due to rounding.
         
  Target Annual
 Actual Annual
Name Incentive Opportunity Incentive Payout
 
D. M. Ratcliffe $1,075,700  $1,710,336 
T. A. Fanning $463,000  $733,923 
M. D. Garrett $465,750  $675,223 
C. D. McCrary $475,500  $774,728 
G. E. Holland, Jr. $325,200  $516,633 
Stock Options
Stock options are granted annually and were granted in 20062007 to the named executive officers and about 5,8006,300 other employees. Options have a10-year term, vest over a three-year period, fully vest upon retirement or termination of


28


employment following a CICchange in control and expire at the earlier of five years from the date of retirement or the end of the10-year term.
Stock option award sizes for 20062007 were calculated using guidelines set as a dollar amount (for Mr. Ratcliffe) or a percent of base salary, (for the other named executive officers).as shown below. These guidelines, for all but Mr. Ratcliffe, are kept stable from year to year unless the market data indicates a clear need to change them. Mr. Ratcliffe’s guideline is reset by the Compensation Committee each year in their deliberations regarding his total pay package and is adjusted as necessary to remain competitive with the market data for total target compensation.pay opportunities. In 2006,2007, the dollar amount was approximately five percent3.5% greater than the amount in 2005.2006.
The number of options granted is the guideline amount divided by the Company’s average daily stockCommon Stock price for the year12 months preceding the grant. This is done to mitigate volatility in the number of options granted from year to year and to provide a standard formula usedgrant methodology.
The calculation of the 2007 stock option grants for the named executive officers is shown below.
                     
              Number of Stock
 
              Options Granted
 
              (Guideline
 
        Guideline
  Average Daily
  Amount/Average
 
Name Guideline%  Salary  Amount  Stock Price  Daily Stock Price) 
 
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  1,703% of Salary  $1,075,700  $18,318,667  $34.06   537,835 
T. A. Fanning  550% of Salary  $616,000  $3,388,000  $34.06   99,382 
M. D. Garrett  550% of Salary  $621,000  $3,415,500  $34.06   100,261 
C. D. McCrary  550% of Salary  $634,000  $3,487,000  $34.06   102,333 
G. E. Holland, Jr.  475% of Salary  $542,000  $2,574,500  $34.06   75,523 
For Mr. Ratcliffe, the long-term incentive compensation pay opportunity is redetermined annually as discussed and shown under the section entitled “Market Data” in this CD&A. To determine Mr. Ratcliffe’s stock option grant, the value attributed to determinestock options ($2,747,800 in 2007) was divided by the sizestock option value. The stock option value was 15% of quarterly new-hire grants.the average daily stock price for the year preceding the grant (approximately $5.11 in 2007).
This calculation resulted in a grant of 537,835 stock options in 2007. More information about the stock option program is contained in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table and the information accompanying it.
PDPPerformance Dividends
All option holders, (about 5,800 employees), including the named executive officers, can receive performance-based dividend equivalents on stock options held at the end of the year. Dividend equivalents can range from 0% to 100% of our common stockthe Common Stock dividend paid during the year per option held at the end of the year. Actual payout will depend on our TSRtotal shareholder return over a four-year performance measurement period compared to a group of other electric and gas utility companies. The peer group is determined at the beginning of each four-year performance measurement period. The peer group varies from the “Market Data” peer group due to the timing and criteria of the peer selection process. The peer group for performance dividends is set by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the four-year measurement period. However, despite these timing differences, there is substantial overlap in the companies included.
TSR
Total shareholder return is calculated by measuring the ending value of a hypothetical $100 invested in each company’s common stock at the beginning of each of 16 quarters.
No PDP amountsperformance dividends are paid if the Company’s earnings are not sufficient to fund a common stockCommon Stock dividend at least equal to that paid in the prior year.


29


2003-20062007 Payout
The peer group used to determine the 2007 payout for the 2003-20062004-2007 performance measurement period was made up of utilities with revenues of $2 billion or more with regulated revenues of 70% or more. Those companies are listed below.
     
Allegheny Energy, Inc. Exelon CorporationProgress Energy, Inc.
Alliant Energy Corporation FirstEnergy Corporation Public Service Enterprise Group
AmerenAlliant Energy Corporation FPL Group, Inc. Incorporated
American Electric Power Company, Inc.Ameren Corporation NiSource Inc. Puget Energy, Inc.
Avista CorporationAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc.  Northeast Utilities SCANA Corporation
Cinergy Corp. Avista Corporation NorthWestern Corporation Sempra Energy
Consolidated Edison, Inc.  NSTAR Sierra Pacific Resources
DTE Energy Company OGE Energy Corp. Westar Energy, Inc.
Energy East Corporation Pepco Holdings, Inc. Wisconsin Energy Corporation
Entergy Corporation Pinnacle West Capital Corporation Xcel Energy Inc.
Exelon CorporationProgress Energy, Inc. 

26


The scale below determined the percent of the full year’s dividend paid on each option held at December 31, 20062007 based on performance during 2003-2006.the2004-2007 performance measurement period. Payout for performance between points was interpolated on a straight-line basis.
     
  Payout (% of A Full
Performance vs. Peer Group Year’s Dividend Paid)
90th percentile or higher  100%100%
50th percentile (Target)    50%50%
10th percentile or lower     0%0%
The above payout scale, when established in 2003,2004, paid 25% of the dividend at the 30th percentile and zero below that. The scale was extended to the 10th percentile on a straight-line basis by the Compensation Committee in October 2005 in order to avoid the earnings volatility and employee relations issues that the payout cliff created. (About 5,800 employees receive PDP awards.)
TSR
Total shareholder return was calculated by measuring the ending value of a hypothetical $100 invested in each company’s stock at the beginning of each of 16 quarters.
For tax purposes, the Compensation Committee approved a scale of two times the scale shown above (as originally established) and used negative discretion to arrive at a payout commensurate with the scale shown.
The Company’s TSRtotal shareholder return performance during the four-year period ending with 20062007 was the 32nd39th percentile, resulting in a payout of 27.5%36% of the full year’s dividend, or $0.42.$0.58. This figure was multiplied by each named executive officer’s outstanding stock options at December 31, 20062007 to calculate the payout under the program. The amount paid is included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column in the Summary Compensation Table.
2006-20092010 Opportunity
The peer group for the2007-2010 performance measurement period 2006-2009(which will be used to determine the 2010 payout amount) is made up of utility companies with revenues of $1.2 billion or more with regulated revenues of approximately 60% or more. Those companies are listed below.
The guideline used to establish the peer group for the 2003-20062004-2007 performance measurement period was somewhat different from that used in 20062007 to establish the peer group for the 2006-20092007-2010 performance measurement period. The guideline for inclusion in the peer group is reevaluated annually as needed to assist in identifying 25 to 30 companies similar to the


30


Company. While the guideline does vary somewhat, 2225 of the 29 companies in the peer group for the 2003-20062004-2007 performance measurement period also were in the peer group established for the 2006-20092007-2010 period.
     
Allegheny Energy, Inc. Edison International PG&E CorporationProgress Energy, Inc.
Alliant Energy Corporation Energy East Corporation Pinnacle West Capital CorporationPuget Energy, Inc.
Ameren Corporation Entergy Corporation Progress Energy, Inc.SCANA Corporation
American Electric Power Company, Inc. Exelon Corporation PugetSempra Energy Inc.
Aquila, Inc. FPL Group, Inc. SCANA CorporationSierra Pacific Resources
Centerpoint Energy,Avista CorporationHawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. KeySpan CorporationSempraTECO Energy, Inc.
Cinergy Corp.CenterPoint Energy, Inc.  NiSource Inc. Sierra Pacific ResourcesUIL Holdings Corporation
CMS Energy Corporation Northeast Utilities WestarUnisource Energy Inc.Corporation
Consolidated Edison, Inc. NSTAR Wisconsin EnergyVectren Corporation
DPL Inc. Pepco Holdings, Inc. Westar Energy, Inc.
DTE Energy Company PG&E CorporationWisconsin Energy Corporation
Duke Energy CorporationPinnacle West Capital CorporationXcel Energy Inc.

27


The scale below will determine the percent of the full year’s dividend paid on each option held at December 31, 2009,2010, based on the2007-2010performance during 2006-2009.measurement period. Payout for performance between points iswill be interpolated on a straight-line basis.
     
  Payout (% of a Full
Performance vs. Peer Group Year’s Dividend Paid)
 
90th percentile or higher  100%100%
50th percentile (Target)   50%50%
10th percentile or lower     0%0%
See the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table and the accompanying information following it for more information about threshold, target and maximum payout opportunities for the 2006-2009 PDP.2007-2010 Performance Dividend Program.
Timing of Incentive Compensation
As discussed above, EPS and business unit financial performance goals for the 2006 PPP2007 annual incentive program were established at the February 20062007 Compensation Committee meeting. Annual stock option grants also were made at that meeting. The establishment of incentive compensation goals and the granting of stock options were not timed with the release of non-public material information. This procedure was consistent with prior practices. Stock option grants are made to new hires or newly-eligible participants on preset, regular quarterly dates that were approved by the Compensation Committee. The exercise price of options granted to employees in 2006, and in all prior years,2007 was the averageclosing price of the high and low market price of our common stockCommon Stock on the date of grant. Beginning with the grant made in February 2007, the exercise price is or will be no lower than the closing market price on the date of grant. The date of grant is the date the Compensation Committee approved the stock option awards or the last trading day prior to the approval date if the New York Stock Exchange is closed on the approval date.
Post-Employment Compensation
As mentioned above, we provide certain post-employment compensation to employees, including the named executive officers.
Retirement Benefits
Generally, all full-time employees of the Company, including the named executive officers, participate in our funded Pension Plan after completing one year of service. Normal retirement benefits become payable when participants both attain age 65 and complete five years of participation. We also provide unfunded benefits that count salary and short-term incentive pay that is ineligible to be counted under the Pension Plan. (These plans are the SBPSupplemental Benefit Plan and the SERPSupplemental Executive Retirement Plan that are mentioned in the chart above.on page 22 of this CD&A.) See the Pension Benefits Table and the information accompanying it for more information about pension-related benefits.


31


The Company also provides the DCPDeferred Compensation Plan which is an unfunded plan that permits participants to defer income as well as certain federal, state and local taxes until a specified date or their retirement, disability, death or other separation from service. Up to 50% of base salary and up to 100% of PPPthe annual incentive and PDPperformance dividends may be deferred, at the election of eligible employees. All of the named executive officers are eligible to participate in the DCP.Deferred Compensation Plan. See the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table and the information accompanying it for more for more information about the DCP.Deferred Compensation Plan.
Mr. Holland also has an agreement that increases his retirement benefits to a level as if he has additional years of service. Mr. Holland was hired by the Company after providing many years of service to the Company while associated with a law firm that represents the Company. The Company entered into this agreement with Mr. Holland as a hiring incentive. More information about this agreement is included in the Pension Benefits Table and the section entitled Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.
CICChange-in-Control Protections
Providing
The Compensation Committee approved thechange-in-control protection program in 1998. The program provides some level of severance benefits to all employees not part of a collective bargaining unit, if the conditions of the program are met, as described below. The Compensation Committee established this program and the levels of severance amount in order to provide certain compensatory protections to senior executives upon a CIC allowschange in control and thereby allow them to negotiate aggressively with a prospective purchaser. Providing such protections to our employees in general minimizes disruption during a pending or anticipated CIC.change in control. For all participants, payment and vesting occur only upon the occurrence of both a true CICan actual change in control and loss of the individual’s position.
CIC
Change-in-control protections, including severance pay and, in some situations, vesting or payment of long-term incentive awards, are provided upon a CICchange in control of the Company coupled with an involuntary termination not for “Cause” or a voluntary termination for “Good Reason.” This means there is a “double trigger” before severance benefits are paid;i.e.,there must be both a CICchange in control and a termination of employment.

28


If the conditions described above are met, the named executive officers are entitled to severance payments equal to three times their base salary plus the annual incentive amount assuming target-level performance. Less than 20 officers of the Company are entitled to this level of severance payment. Most officers of the Company are entitled to severance payments equal to two times their base salary plus the annual incentive amount assuming target-level performance. These amounts are consistent with that provided by other companies of our size and in our industry and were established based on market data provided to the Compensation Committee from its compensation consultant.
More information about post-employment compensation, including severance arrangements under our CICchange-in-control program, is included in the section entitled Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.
Executive Stock Ownership Requirements
Effective January 1, 2006, the Compensation Committee adopted stockCommon Stock ownership requirements for officers of the Company and its subsidiaries that are in a position of Vice President or above. All of the named executive officers are covered by the requirements. The guidelines were implemented to further align the interest of officers and stockholders by promoting a long-term focus and long-term share ownership.
The types of ownership arrangements counted toward the requirements are shares owned outright, those held in Company-sponsored plans and Company stockCommon Stock accounts in the DCPDeferred Compensation Plan and SBP.the Supplemental Benefit Plan. One-third of vested Company stock options may be counted, but if so, the ownership target is doubled.


32


The requirements are expressed as a multiple of base salary as per the table below.
     
  Multiple of Salary without
 Multiple of Salary Counting
Name Counting Stock Options 1/3 of Vested Options
 
D. M. Ratcliffe 5 Times 10 Times
T. A Fanning 3 Times6 Times
M. D. Garrett 3 Times 6 Times
C. D. McCrary 3 Times 6 Times
M. D. GarrettG. E. Holland, Jr.  3 Times 6 Times
W. P. Bowers3 Times6 Times
Current officers have until September 30, 2011 to meet the applicable ownership requirement. Newly-elected officers will have five years to meet the applicable ownership requirement.
Impact of Accounting and Tax Treatments on Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), limits the tax deductibility of each named executive officer’s compensation that exceeds $1 million per year unless the compensation is paid under a performance-based plan as defined in the Code and that has been approved by stockholders. The Company has obtained stockholder approval of the Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, under which all of our incentive compensation is paid. For tax purposes, in order to ensure that PPPthe annual incentive and PDPperformance dividend payouts are fully deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Compensation Committee approved in February 20062007 a formula that represented a maximum PPPannual incentive amount payable (defined as 0.6% of the Company’s net income) and the maximum 2006-2009 PDP2010 performance dividend amount payable (also defined as 0.6%for the2007-2010 performance measurement period (0.6% of the Company’s average net income)income during2007-2010). In 2006,2007, the Compensation Committee used (for PPP)annual incentive), or will use (for PDP)performance dividends), negative discretion from those amounts to determine the actual payouts pursuant to the methodologies described above.
Because our policy is to maximize long-term stockholder value, as described fully in this CD&A, tax deductibility is not the only factor considered in setting compensation.
Policy on Recovery of Awards
The Company’s 2006 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan provides that, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance as a result of misconduct, and if an executive knowingly or grossly negligently engaged in or failed to prevent the misconduct or is subject to automatic forfeiture under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the executive will reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of awards earned or accrued during the12-month period following the first public issuance or filing that was restated.
Company Policy Regarding Hedging the Economic Risk of Stock Ownership
The Company’s policy is that insiders, including outside directors, will not trade in Company options on the options market and will not engage in short sales.


33

29


 
COMPENSATION AND MANAGEMENT SUCCESSION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee met with management to review and discuss the CD&A. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K covering the 20062007 fiscal year and in this proxy statement. The Board of Directors approved that recommendation.
Members of the Committee:
Gerald
J. St. Pé,Neal Purcell, Chair
Thomas F. ChapmanJon A. Boscia
H. William Habermeyer, Jr.
Donald M. James
William G. Smith, Jr.
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR 20062007
The Summary Compensation Table shows the amount and type of compensation received or earned in 2006 and 2007 for the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the next three most highly-paid executive officers of the Company.Company who served in 2007. Collectively, these five officers are referred to as the “named executive officers.”
                                     
              Change in    
              Pension Value    
              and    
            Non-Equity Nonqualified    
            Incentive Deferred    
        Stock Option Plan Compensation All Other  
Name and Principal   Salary Bonus Awards Awards Compensation Earnings Compensation Total
Position Year ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
 
David M. Ratcliffe
  2006   1,028,471         2,152,767   2,563,680   2,036,219   73,127   7,854,264 
Chairman, President & CEO                                    
 
Thomas A. Fanning
  2006   583,011         551,320   939,527   357,950   43,041   2,474,849 
Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer                                    
 
Michael D. Garrett
  2006   575,100   29,288      391,843   967,002   880,636   47,183   2,891,052 
President, Georgia Power Company                                    
 
Charles D. McCrary
  2006   609,407         411,589   900,736   203,672   55,606   2,181,010 
President, Alabama Power Company                                    
 
W. Paul Bowers
  2006   480,371   24,249      465,036   674,784   140,705   38,201   1,823,346 
President, Southern Company Generation                                    
 
Column (d)
                                     
              Change in
    
              Pension Value
    
              and
    
            Non-Equity
 Nonqualified
    
            Incentive
 Deferred
    
        Stock
 Option
 Plan
 Compensation
 All Other
  
Name and Principal
   Salary
 Bonus
 Awards
 Awards
 Compensation
 Earnings
 Compensation
 Total
Position
 Year
 ($)
 ($)
 ($)
 ($)
 ($)
 ($)
 ($)
 ($)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
 
David M. Ratcliffe
  2007   1,068,268         2,215,880   2,901,883   4,683,305   88,585   10,957,921 
Chairman, President &
CEO
  2006   1,028,471         2,152,767   2,563,680   2,036,219   73,127   7,854,264 
 
Thomas A. Fanning
  2007   610,624         520,341   954,988   814,123   43,658   2,943,734 
Executive Vice
President & COO
  2006   583,011         551,320   939,527   357,950   43,041   2,474,849 
 
Michael D. Garrett
  2007   613,731         413,075   828,844   2,259,654   47,440   4,162,744 
President, Georgia
Power Company
  2006   575,100   29,288      391,843   967,002   880,636   47,183   2,891,052 
 
Charles D. McCrary
  2007   629,961         421,612   983,174   1,156,038   58,132   3,248,917 
President, Alabama
Power Company
  2006   609,407         411,589   900,736   203,672   55,606   2,181,010 
 
G. Edison Holland, Jr. 
  2007   538,329         311,155   708,668   854,238   45,736   2,458,126 
Executive Vice President & General Counsel  2006   522,709         303,755   806,198   256,730   41,564   1,930,956 
 
The amounts reported in this column were for individual performance during 2006 by Messrs. Garrett and Bowers. These amounts were not based on achievement of pre-determined performance goals. Please see the CD&A for more information about the Compensation Committee’s discretion to make awards of up to 10% of an individual’s base salary. Payouts under the Company’s short- and long-term incentive compensation programs (PPP and PDP) are reported in column (g).
Column (e)
No equity-based compensation has been awarded to the named executive officers, or any other employees of the Company, other than Stock Option Awardsstock options awards which are reported in columnColumn (f).
Column (f)
This column reports the dollar amounts recognized in 2006 and 2007, respectively, for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to 2006 in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (“FAS 123R”) disregarding any estimates of forfeitures relating to service-based vesting conditions. The assumptions used in calculating these amounts are discussed in Note 1 to the Financial Statements.

30


For Messrs. Ratcliffe, Garrett and McCrary,all of the named executive officers except Mr. Fanning, the amounts shown equal the grant date fair value for the 20062007 options granted in 2006,2007, as reported in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table, because these named executive officers have beenwere retirement eligible for several yearsduring all of 2007 and therefore their options will vest in full upon termination. Accordingly, under


34


FAS 123R, the full grant date fair value of their option awards is expensed in the year of grant. However, for Messrs.Mr. Fanning, and Bowers,the amount expensed (and reported in this column) is greater than the amount reported reflectsin the amounts expensed in 2006 attributable to the following stock option grants made in 2006 and in prior yearsGrants of Plan-Based Awards Table because they werehe did not become retirement eligible on the grant dates.until 2007. Therefore, the grant date fair value for options granted to Messrs.Mr. Fanning and Bowers is amortized over the vesting period of each option. The grant date fair value for the grant made in 2006 is reportedincludes amounts attributable to earlier grants as shown in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table.following table.
         
  Amount Expensed Amount Expensed
  in 2006 in 2006
  (T. A. Fanning) (W. P. Bowers)
Grant Date ($) ($)
 
2003  6,232   6,801 
 
2004  69,199   56,304 
 
2005  152,829   121,735 
 
2006  323,060   280,196 
 
Total  551,320   465,036 
 
     
  Amount Expensed
Grant Date in 2007
 
2004  8,342 
2005  29,728 
2006  72,817 
2007  409,454 
Total  520,341 
Column (g)
The amounts in this column are the aggregate of the payouts under the PPPannual incentive program and the PDPperformance dividend program attributable to performance periods ending December 31, 2007 that are discussed in detail in the CD&A. The amounts paid under each program to the named executive officers are shown below:
             
  PPP PDP Total
Name ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  1,891,539   672,141   2,563,680 
 
T. A. Fanning  807,777   131,750   939,527 
 
M. D. Garrett  856,660   110,342   967,002 
 
C. D. McCrary  729,090   171,646   900,736 
 
W. P. Bowers  558,708   116,076   674,784 
 
             
  Annual
 Performance
  
  Incentive
 Dividends
 Total
Name ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  1,710,336   1,191,547   2,901,883 
T. A. Fanning  733,923   221,065   954,988 
M. D. Garrett  675,223   153,621   828,844 
C. D. McCrary  774,728   208,446   983,174 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   516,633   192,035   708,668 
Column (h)
This column reports the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of each named executive officer’s accumulated benefit under the Pension Plan and the supplemental pension plans (collectively, the “Pension Benefits”) that are described more fully followingduring 2006 and 2007. The amount included for 2006 is the difference between the actuarial present values of the Pension Benefits Table.
The amounts reported are earned through September 30, 2006 over the comparable amounts computedmeasured as of September 30, 2005.2005 and September 30, was2006; the 2007 amount is the difference in the actuarial present values of the Pension Benefits measured as of September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2007. The Pension Benefits as of each measurement date are based on the named executive officer’s age, pay and service accruals and the plan provisions applicable as of the measurement date. The actuarial present values as of each measurement date usedreflect the assumptions the Company selected for Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” (“FAS 87”) cost purposes as of that measurement date; however, the Company’s financial statement reporting purposes for fiscal years 2005named executive officers were assumed to remain employed at the Company until their benefits commence at the Pension Plans’ stated normal retirement date, generally age 65. As a result, the amounts in column (h) related to Pension Benefits represent the combined impact of several factors — growth in the named executive officer’s Pension Benefits over the measurement year; impact on the total present values of one year shorter discounting period due to the named executive officer being one year closer to normal retirement; impact on the total present values attributable to changes in assumptions from measurement date to measurement date; and 2006. impact on the total present values attributable to plan changes between measurement dates.
For more information onabout the Pension Benefits and the assumptions used to calculate the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits as of September 30, 2006,2007, see the information following the Pension Benefits Table. The amounts computedkey differences between assumptions used for the actuarial present values of accumulated benefits calculations as of September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2007 follow:
•  Discount rate was increased to 6.3% as of September 30, 2007 from 6.0% as of September 30, 2006.
•  Unpaid incentives have been assumed to be 135% of target levels as of September 30, 2007; payments at 130% of target levels was assumed as of September 30, 2006.


35


The pension plans’ provisions were substantively the same as of September 30, 2005 usedand September 30, 2006. However, the same assumptions except thatpresent values of accumulated Pension Benefits as of September 30, 2007 reflect new provisions regarding the discount rate usedform and timing of payments from the supplemental pension plans. These changes bring those plans into compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The key change was 5.5% per year,to the rate usedform of payment. Instead of providing monthly payments for the lifetime of each named executive officer andhis/her spouse, these plans will pay the single sum value of those benefits for an average lifetime in 10 annual installments. Calculations of the present value of accumulated benefits calculations shown prior to September 30, 2007 reflect supplemental pension benefits being paid monthly for the lifetimes of named executive officers and their spouses. The 2007 change in pension value reported in column (h) for each named executive officer is greater than what it otherwise would have been due to the new form of payment. This new form of payment is described more fully in the Company’s 2005 financial statements, rather than six percent per year. information following the Pension Benefits Table.
The discount ratefollowing table shows how much each of the above-described factors contributed to the change in each named executive officer’s pension value during 2007. As described above, the change in the way supplemental pension benefits will be paid had the biggest impact; that change was prompted by the pension accounting standards which require this assumptionmade in 2007 to be reselected each year based on fixed income investments’ market yields. The assumptions used to calculate the September 30, 2005 values differ from those used to derive pension obligations reportedcomply with Code Section 409A. It is a one-time adjustment in the 2005 financial statements in one respect: the obligations were calculated assuming that a portionvalue of theaccumulated pension benefits would be paid out throughto reflect the purchaseinstallment form of a third-party annuity. That program has been eliminatedpayment instead of monthly payments over the lifetime of participants and annuities were never purchased so that assumption was not used when computingtheir spouses. As shown below, the benefit values above.changes in FAS 87 assumptions reduced pension values.
                     
        One-Time
  
  Shorter
   Change in
 Code Section
  
  Discount
 Additional
 FAS 87
 409A-Related
 Total of
  Period
 Pay/Service
 Assumptions
 Changes
 All Factors
Name ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  578,827   1,768,585   −490,491   2,789,380   4,646,301 
T. A. Fanning  123,533   327,880   −159,249   517,406   809,570 
M. D. Garrett  280,789   972,390   −257,341   1,254,990   2,250,828 
C. D. McCrary  223,761   257,316   −207,212   876,634   1,150,499 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   133,504   260,252   −136,496   579,031   836,291 
This column also reports above-market earnings on deferred compensation. Above-market earnings are defined by the SEC as any amount above 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate as prescribed under Section 1274(d) of the Code.

31


Under the DCP,Deferred Compensation Plan, eligible employees are permitted to defer up to 50% of their salary and 100% of payments under the PPPannual incentive or the PDP.performance dividend programs. The deferred amounts are then treated as if invested in one of two investment options — at the election of the participant. Amounts may be treated as if invested in the Company’s common stockCommon Stock (“Stock Equivalent Account”) or the prime interest rate as published in theWall Street Journalas the base rate on corporate loans posted as of the last business day of each month by at least 75% of the United States’ largest banks (“Prime Equivalent Account”).
The amounts invested in the Stock Equivalent Account are treated as if dividends are paid and reinvested at the same rate as that paid to the Company’s stockholders. That amount is not considered “above-market” as defined by the SEC.
In 2006 and 2007, the prime interest rate used in the Prime Equivalent Account exceeded 120% of the applicable long-term rate in effect at the measurement point under the SEC’s rules. Therefore, earnings that exceed the amount calculated at that rate are reported here. The range of interest rates under the Prime Equivalent Account was 7.25% to 8.25% in 2006 and 2007 and the applicable long-term rate was 7.14%.


36


The table below itemizes the amounts reported in this column.
             
    Above-Market  
  Change in Earnings on Deferred  
  Pension Value Compensation Total
Name ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  2,002,835   33,384   2,036,219 
 
T. A. Fanning  353,902   4,048   357,950 
 
M. D. Garrett  872,674   7,962   880,636 
 
C. D. McCrary  198,676   4,996   203,672 
 
W. P. Bowers  136,681   4,024   140,705 
 
                 
      Above-Market
  
    Change in
 Earnings on Deferred
  
    Pension Value
 Compensation
 Total
Name Year ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  2007   4,646,301   37,004   4,683,305 
   2006   2,002,835   33,384   2,036,219 
T. A. Fanning  2007   809,570   4,553   814,123 
   2006   353,902   4,048   357,950 
M. D. Garrett  2007   2,250,828   8,826   2,259,654 
   2006   872,674   7,962   880,636 
C. D. McCrary  2007   1,150,499   5,539   1,156,038 
   2006   198,676   4,996   203,672 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   2007   836,291   17,947   854,238 
   2006   240,600   16,130   256,730 
Column (i)
This column reports the following items: perquisites; tax reimbursements by the Company on certain perquisites; Company contributions in 20062007 to the Southern Company Employee Savings Plan (the “ESP”(“ESP”), which is a tax-qualified defined contribution plan intended to meet requirements of Section 401(k) of the Code, and contributions in 20062007 under the Southern Company Supplemental Benefit Plan (Non-Pension Related) (the “SBP-N”(“SBP”). The SBP-NSBP is described more fully in the information following the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table.
The amounts reported for 2007 are itemized below.
                     
    Tax      
  Perquisites Reimbursements ESP SBP-N Total
Name ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  18,419   7,467   9,213   38,028   73,127 
 
T. A. Fanning  11,050   5,335   9,381   17,275   43,041 
 
M. D. Garrett  10,437   10,326   9,900   16,520   47,183 
 
C. D. McCrary  14,673   12,942   8,498   19,493   55,606 
 
W. P. Bowers  7,728   8,528   9,746   12,199   38,201 
 
                     
    Tax
      
  Perquisites
 Reimbursements
 ESP
 SBP
 Total
Name ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  19,118   14,986   10,834   43,647   88,585 
T. A. Fanning  7,434   5,510   11,047   19,667   43,658 
M. D. Garrett  8,842   7,298   11,475   19,825   47,440 
C. D. McCrary  14,535   13,020   9,924   20,653   58,132 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   9,546   9,243   10,967   15,980   45,736 
Description of Perquisites
Personal Financial Planningis provided for most officers of the Company, including all of the named executive officers. The Company pays for the services of the financial planner on behalf of the officers, up to a maximum amount of $7,000$8,700 per year, after the initial year that the benefit is first provided. The Company also provides a five-year allowance of $6,000 for estate planning and tax return preparation fees. The full cost paid by the Company in 20062007 is reported here.

32


Home Security Monitoringis provided by the Company’s security personnel. The amount of the benefit reported here represents the incremental cost of the Company-provided monitoring. The incremental cost is the full cost of providing security monitoring at Company-owned facilities and covered employees’ residences divided by the number of security systems monitored.
Personal Use of Company-Provided Club Memberships.  The Company provides club memberships to certain officers, including all of the named executive officers. The memberships are provided for business use; however, personal use is permitted. The amount included reflects the pro-rata portion of the membership fees paid by the Company that are attributable to the named executive officers’ personal use. Direct costs associated with any personal use, such as meals, are paid for or reimbursed by the employee and therefore are not included.


37


Personal Use of Corporate-Owned Aircraft.  The Company owns aircraft that are used to facilitate business travel.
All flights on Company-ownedthese aircraft must have a business purpose, except Mr. Ratcliffe mayunder very limited circumstances. There was no such personal use the aircraft for personal travel if approved in advance by a member of the Compensation Committee. In 2006, one personal trip was approved so that he could attend a business meeting in Atlanta and meet a personal commitment later the same day in another city. The amount included reflects the incremental cost of that flight, including the cost of returning the aircraft to its departure location. The amount calculated is based on the variable operating costs to the Company of the specific flight, principally fuel costs. Fixed costs which do not change based on usage, such as pilot salaries and the cost of maintenance not related to the trip, are excluded. Also, ifduring 2007. If seating is available, the Company permits a spouse or other family member to accompany an employee on a flight. However, because in such cases the aircraft is being used for a business purpose, there is no incremental cost associated with the spousal travel and no amounts are included for such travel. Any additional expenses incurred that are related to spousal travel, are included.
Other Miscellaneous Perquisites.  The amount included reflects the full cost to the Company of providing the following items: personal use of Company-provided tickets for sporting and other entertainment events and gifts distributed to and activities provided to attendees at Company-sponsored events.


38

33


 
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS MADE IN 20062007
The Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table provides information on stock option grants made and goals established for future payouts under the Company’s incentive compensation programs during 20062007 by the Compensation Committee. In this table, the annual incentive and the performance dividend amounts are referred to as “PPP” and “PDP”, respectively.
                                 
    Estimated Possible Payouts        
    Under Non-Equity Incentive All Other Option   Closing Price on Grant Date
    Plan Awards Awards: Number of Exercise or Last Trading Fair Value of
      Securities Base Price of Date Prior to Stock and
  Grant Threshold Target Maximum Underlying Options Option Awards Grant Date Option Awards
Name Date $ ($) ($) (#) ($/Sh) ($/Sh) ($)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
  2/20/2006   PPP 233,844   1,039,307   2,286,475                 
       PDP 122,826   1,228,259   2,456,516   518,739   33.81   33.86   2,152,767 
 
T. A. Fanning
  2/20/2006   PPP 99,863   443,834   976,435                 
       PDP 24,076   240,757   481,514   95,392   33.81   33.86   395,877 
 
M. D. Garrett
  2/20/2006   PPP 98,845   439,313   966,489                 
       PDP 20,164   201,636   403,272   94,420   33.81   33.86   391,843 
 
C. D. McCrary
  2/20/2006   PPP 103,826   461,450   1,015,190                 
       PDP 31,366   313,663   627,325   99,178   33.81   33.86   411,589 
 
W. P. Bowers
  2/20/2006   PPP 65,474   290,994   640,187                 
       PDP 21,212   212,116   424,231   67,517   33.81   33.86   280,196 
 
                                 
            All Other
    
            Option
   Grant Date
            Awards:
   Fair
            Number of
   Value of
            Securities
 Exercise or
 Stock and
            Underlying
 Base Price of
 Option
  Grant
   Threshold
 Target
 Maximum
 Options
 Option Awards
 Awards
Name
 Date
   $
 ($)
 ($)
 (#)
 ($/Sh)
 ($)
(a) (b)   (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
  2/19/2007   PPP   242,029   1,075,683   2,366,503   537,835   36.42   2,215,880 
   2/19/2007   PDP   163,838   1,638,377   3,276,754             
 
T. A. Fanning
  2/19/2007   PPP   103,857   461,587   1,015,491   99,382   36.42   409,454 
   2/19/2007   PDP   30,396   303,964   607,928             
 
M. D. Garrett
  2/19/2007   PPP   104,776   465,671   1,024,476   100,261   36.42   413,075 
   2/19/2007   PDP   21,123   211,228   422,456             
 
C. D. McCrary
  2/19/2007   PPP   106,941   475,293   1,045,645   102,333   36.42   421,612 
   2/19/2007   PDP   28,661   286,613   573,225             
 
G. E. Holland, Jr. 
  2/19/2007   PPP   73,109   324,927   714,839   75,523   36.42   311,155 
   2/19/2007   PDP   26,405   264,047   528,095             
 
Columns (c), (d) and (e)
The amounts reported as PPP reflect the amounts established by the Compensation Committee in early 20062007 to be paid for certain levels of performance as of December 31, 20062007 under the PPP,annual incentive program, the Company’s short-term incentive program. The Compensation Committee assigns each named executive officer a target incentive opportunity, expressed as a percentage of base salary, that is paid for target-level performance under the PPP.annual incentive program. The target incentive opportunities established for the named executive officers for 20062007 performance was 100% for Mr. Ratcliffe, 75% for Messrs. Fanning, Garrett and McCrary and 60% for Mr. Bowers.Holland. The payout for threshold performance was set at 0.225 times the target incentive opportunity and the maximum amount payable was set at 2.20 times the target. The amount paid to each named executive officer under the PPPannual incentive program for actual 20062007 performance is included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column in the Summary Compensation Table and is itemized in the notes following that table. More information about the PPP,annual incentive program, including the applicable performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee, is provided in the CD&A.
The Company also has a long-term incentive program, the PDP,performance dividend program, that pays performance-based dividend equivalents based on the Company’s TSRtotal shareholder return compared with the TSRtotal shareholder return of its peer companies over a four-year performance measurement period. The Compensation Committee establishes the level of payout for prescribed levels of performance over the measurement period.
In February 2006,2007, the Compensation Committee established the PDPperformance dividend program goal for the four-year performance measurement period beginning on January 1, 20062007 and ending on December 31, 2009.2010. The amount earned in 2010 based on performance over that four-year performance measurement period will be paid following the end of the period. However, no amount is earned and paid unless the Compensation Committee approves the payment at the beginning of the final year of the performance measurement period. Also, nothing is earned unless the Company’s earnings are sufficient to fund the Company’s common stocka Common Stock dividend at the same level asor higher than the prior year.
The PDPperformance dividend program pays to all option holders a percentage of the Company’s common stockCommon Stock dividend paid to stockholders in the last year of the performance measurement period. It can range from approximatelyless than five percent for performance above the 10th percentile compared with the performance of the peer companies to 100% of the dividend if the Company’s TSRtotal shareholder return is at or above the 90th percentile. That amount is then paid per option held at the end of the four-year period. The amount, if any, ultimately paid to the option holders, including the named executive officers, at the end of the 2006last year of the 2007 – 20092010 performance measurement period will be based on (1) the Company’s TSR total shareholder return


39


compared to that of its peer companies as of December 31, 2009,2010, (2) the actual dividend paid in 20092010 to our stockholders, if any, and (3) the number of options held by the named executive officers on December 31, 2009.2010.

34


The number of options held on December 31, 20092010 will be affected by the number of additional options granted to the named executive officers prior to December 31, 2009,2010, if any, and the number of options exercised by the named executive officers prior to December 31, 2009,2010, if any. None of these components necessary to calculate the range of payout under the PDPperformance dividend program for the 2006-20092007 – 2010 performance measurement period is known at the time the goal is established.
The amounts reported as PDP in columns (c), (d) and (e) were calculated based on the number of options held by the named executive officers on December 31, 2006,2007, as reported in columns (b) and (c) of the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table and the Company’s common stockCommon Stock dividend of $1.535$1.595 per share paid to stockholders in 2006.2007. These factors are itemized below.
                 
  Stock Options Performance Dividend Performance Dividend Performance Dividend
  Held as of Equivalent Per Option Equivalent Per Option Per Option Paid at
  December 31, Paid at Threshold Paid at Target Maximum
  2006 Performance Performance Performance
Name (#) ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  1,600,336   0.07675   0.7675   1.535 
 
T. A. Fanning     313,690   0.07675   0.7675   1.535 
 
M. D. Garrett     262,718   0.07675   0.7675   1.535 
 
C. D. McCrary     408,681   0.07675   0.7675   1.535 
 
W. P. Bowers     276,372   0.07675   0.7675   1.535 
 
                 
  Stock Options
 Performance Dividend
 Performance Dividend
 Performance Dividend
  Held as of
 Per Option
 Per Option
 Per Option Paid at
  December 31,
 Paid at Threshold
 Paid at Target
 Maximum
  2007
 Performance
 Performance
 Performance
Name (#) ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  2,054,391   0.07975   0.7975   1.595 
T. A. Fanning  381,146   0.07975   0.7975   1.595 
M. D. Garrett  264,863   0.07975   0.7975   1.595 
C. D. McCrary  359,389   0.07975   0.7975   1.595 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   331,094   0.07975   0.7975   1.595 
More information about the PDPperformance dividend program is provided in the CD&A.
Columns (f), and (g) and (h)
The stock options vest at the rate of one-third per year, on the anniversary date of the grant. Also, grants fully vest upon termination as a result of death, total disability or retirement and expire five years after retirement, three years after death or total disability, or their normal expiration date if earlier. Please see Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control below for more information about the treatment of stock options under different termination and CICchange-in-control events.
The Compensation Committee granted these stock options to the named executive officers at its regularly scheduled meeting on February 20, 2006. February 20, 200619, 2007. The grant date was a holiday (Presidents’ Day) and the New York Stock Exchange was closed. Therefore, under the terms of the Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, the exercise price was determined as ofthe closing price ($36.42 per share) on the last trading day prior to the grant date. As has been the long-standing practice of the Compensation Committee, the exercise price was set at the average of the high and the low price on that date ($33.81 per share), which was five cents lower than the closing price on that date ($33.86 per share).February 16, 2007.
Column (i)(h)
The value of stock options granted in 2006 were2007 was derived using the Black-Scholes stock option pricing model. The assumptions used in calculating these amounts are discussed in Note 1 to the Financial Statements.


40

35


 
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 20062007 FISCAL YEAR-END
This table provides information pertaining to all outstanding stock options held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2006.2007.
                                     
  Option Awards Stock Awards
     
      Equity
      Incentive
      Plan
      Equity Awards:
    Equity     Incentive Market or
    Incentive     Plan Payout Value
    Plan     Market Awards: of Unearned
    Awards:   Number of Value Number of Shares,
  Number of Number of Number of   Shares or of Shares Unearned Units
  Securities Securities Securities   Units of or Units Shares, or Other
  Underlying Underlying Underlying   Stock of Stock Units or Rights
  Unexercised Unexercised Unexercised Option   That That Have Other Rights That Have
  Options Options Unearned Exercise Option Have Not Not That Have Not
  (#) (#) Options Price Expiration Vested Vested Not Vested Vested
Name Exercisable Unexercisable (#) ($) Date (#) ($) (#) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
  92,521   0      25.26   02/15/2012             
   83,780   0       27.975   02/14/2013                 
   54,843   27,422       29.50   02/13/2014                 
   182,021   91,010       29.315   08/02/2014                 
   183,334   366,666       32.70   02/18/2015                 
   0   518,739       33.81   02/02/2016                 
 
T. A. Fanning
  31,126   0      25.26   02/15/2012             
   42,314   0       27.975   02/14/2013                 
   42,143   21,072       29.50   02/13/2014                 
   26,948   53,895       32.70   02/18/2015                 
   0   95,392       33.81   02/02/2016                 
 
M. D. Garrett
  36,314   0      27.975   02/14/2013             
   35,613   17,806       29.50   02/13/2014                 
   26,189   52,376       32.70   02/18/2015                 
   0   94,420       33.81   02/02/2016                 
 
C. D. McCrary
  79,571   0      25.26   02/15/2012             
   72,054   0       27.975   02/14/2013                 
   47,616   23,808       29.50   02/13/2014                 
   28,818   57,636       32.70   02/18/2015                 
   0   99,178       33.81   02/02/2016                 
 
W. P. Bowers
  50,046   0      25.26   02/15/2012             
   46,181   0       27.975   02/14/2013                 
   34,701   17,351       29.50   02/13/2014                 
   20,192   40,384       32.70   02/18/2015                 
   0   67,517       33.81   02/02/2016                 
 
                       
            Stock Awards
                  Equity
                  Incentive
                  Plan
  Option Awards     Equity
 Awards:
      Equity
         Incentive
 Market or
      Incentive
         Plan
 Payout Value
      Plan
       Market
 Awards:
 of Unearned
      Awards:
     Number of
 Value
 Number of
 Shares,
  Number of
 Number of
 Number of
     Shares or
 of Shares
 Unearned
 Units
  Securities
 Securities
 Securities
     Units of
 or Units
 Shares,
 or Other
  Underlying
 Underlying
 Underlying
     Stock
 of Stock
 Units or
 Rights
  Unexercised
 Unexercised
 Unexercised
 Option
   That
 That Have
 Other Rights
 That Have
  Options
 Options
 Unearned
 Exercise
 Option
 Have Not
 Not
 That Have
 Not
  Exercisable
 Unexercisable
 Options
 Price
 Expiration
 Vested
 Vested
 Not Vested
 Vested
Name
 (#)
 (#)
 (#)
 ($)
 Date
 (#)
 ($)
 (#)
 ($)
  (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
  92,521   0   25.26 02/15/2012    
   82,265   0    29.50 02/13/2014        
   273,031   0    29.315 08/02/2014        
   366,667   183,333    32.70 02/18/2015        
   172,913   345,826    33.81 02/20/2016        
   0   537,835    36.42 02/19/2017        
 
T. A. Fanning
  42,314   0   27.975 02/14/2013    
   63,215   0    29.50 02/13/2014        
   53,895   26,948    32.70 02/18/2015        
   31,798   63,594    33.81 02/20/2016        
   0   99,382    36.42 02/19/2017        
 
M. D. Garrett
  17,806   0   29.50 02/13/2014    
   26,188   26,188    32.70 02/18/2015        
   31,474   62,946    33.81 02/20/2016        
   0   100,261    36.42 02/19/2017        
 
C. D. McCrary
  71,424   0   29.50 02/13/2014    
   57,636   28,818    32.70 02/18/2015        
   33,060   66,118    33.81 02/20/2016        
   0   102,333    36.42 02/19/2017        
 
G. E. Holland, Jr. 
  48,992   0   27.975 02/14/2013    
   58,072   0    29.50 02/13/2014        
   50,209   25,104    32.70 02/18/2015        
   24,398   48,796    33.81 02/20/2016        
   0   75,523    36.42 02/19/2017        
 
Stock options vest one-third per year on the anniversary of the grant date. Options granted infrom 2002 and 2003,through 2004, with an expiration date infrom 2012 and 2013, respectively,through 2014 were fully vested as of December 31, 2006.2007. The options granted in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 20062007 become fully vested as shown below.
   
Expiration Date Date Fully Vested
February 13, 2014February 13, 2007
August 2, 2014August 2, 2007
 
February 18, 2015 February 18, 2008
February 20, 2016 February 20, 2009
February 19, 2017February 19, 2010
Only Mr. Ratcliffe received a stock option grant in August 2004. This grant was made by the Compensation Committee and was effective after he was named Chief Executive Officer and represented a significant portion of the increase in his compensation in 2004 upon assuming that position.

36


Options also fully vest upon death, total disability or retirement and expire three years following death or total disability or five years following retirement, or on the original expiration date if earlier. Please see the section entitled Potential Payments Upon


41


upon Termination or Change in Control for more information about the treatment of stock options under different termination and CICchange-in-control events.
 
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL 20062007
 
This table reports the number of shares acquired upon the exercise of stock options during 2007 and the value realized based on the difference in the exercise price over the market price on the exercise date. None of the named executive officers exercised stock options in 2006.received Stock Awards.
 
             
  Option Awards Stock Awards
  Number of Shares
   Number of Shares
  
  Acquired on
 Value Realized on
 Acquired on
 Value Realized on
  Exercise
 Exercise
 Vesting
 Vesting
Name
 (#)
 ($)
 (#)
 ($)
  (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
  83,780   881,785  0 0
T. A. Fanning
  31,926   352,785  0 0
M. D. Garrett
  98,116   782,764  0 0
C. D. McCrary
  151,625   1,736,758  0 0
G. E. Holland, Jr. 
  54,624   698,679  0 0
PENSION BENEFITS AND VALUES AT 20062007 FISCAL YEAR-END
 
             
    Number of
 Present Value of
 Payments
    Years Credited
 Accumulated
 During
    Service
 Benefit
 Last Fiscal Year
Name
 Plan Name
 (#)
 ($)
 ($)
  (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
 Pension Plan  35.75   864,119  
  Supplemental Benefit Plan (Pension-Related)  35.75   10,247,552  
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  35.75   3,181,744  
  Supplemental Pension Agreement  0.00   0   
T. A. Fanning
 Pension Plan  25.92   377,260  
  Supplemental Benefit Plan (Pension-Related)  25.92   1,875,824  
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  25.92   615,370  
  Supplemental Pension Agreement  0.00   0   
M. D. Garrett
 Pension Plan  38.67   888,676  
  Supplemental Benefit Plan (Pension-Related)  38.67   4,545,023  
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  38.67   1,496,956  
  Supplemental Pension Agreement  0.00   0   
C. D. McCrary
 Pension Plan  32.92   659,324  
  Supplemental Benefit Plan (Pension-Related)  32.92   3,194,145  
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  32.92   1,026,375  
  Supplemental Pension Agreement  0.00   0   
G. E. Holland, Jr.
 Pension Plan  14.67   273,463  
  Supplemental Benefit Plan (Pension-Related)  14.67   1,020,878  
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  14.67   332,839  
  Supplemental Pension Agreement  12.25   1,434,192   
               
    Number of Present Value of Payments
    Years Credited Accumulated During
    Service Benefit Last Fiscal Year
Name Plan Name (#) ($) ($)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
 Pension Plan  34.75   802,103    
  SBP-P  34.75   6,683,107    
  SERP  34.75   2,161,904    
 
T. A. Fanning
 Pension Plan  24.92   355,044    
  SBP-P  24.92   1,281,720    
  SERP  24.92   422,160    
 
M. D. Garrett
 Pension Plan  37.67   828,741    
  SBP-P  37.67   2,875,057    
  SERP  37.67   976,029    
 
C. D. McCrary
 Pension Plan  31.92   616,547    
  SBP-P  31.92   2,355,184    
  SERP  31.92   757,614    
 
W. P. Bowers
 Pension Plan  26.58   384,344    
  SBP-P  26.58   976,621    
  SERP  26.58   335,195    
 


42


The named executive officers earn Company-paidemployer-paid pension benefits from three integratedcoordinated retirement plans. The Company also has an individual agreement with Mr. Holland that provides additional pension benefits. More information about pension benefits is provideddescribed in the CD&A.
The Pension Plan
The Pension Plan is a tax-qualified, funded tax-qualified plan. It is the Company’s primary retirement plan. Generally, all full-time employees participate in this funded plan after one year of service.plan. Normal retirement benefits become payable when participants both attain age 65 and complete five years of participation. The plan benefit equals the greater of amounts computed using a “1.7% offset formula” and a “1.25% formula,”formula” as described below. Benefits are limited to a statutory maximum.
The 1.7% offset formula amount equals 1.7% of final average base rate of pay times years of credited serviceparticipation less an offset related to Social Security benefits. The offset equals a service ratio times 50% of the anticipated Social Security benefits in excess of $4,200. The service ratio adjusts the offset for the portion of a full career that a participant has worked. To determine final average base rateThe highest three rates of pay for this formula, an amount is associated with eachout of thea participant’s last 10 calendar years of a participant’s service and the three largest amounts are averaged.averaged to derive final average pay. The amount associated with each calendar yearpay considered for this formula is the participant’s highest base salary rate during the calendar yearof pay reduced for any voluntary deferrals under the DCP.deferrals. A statutory limit restricts the amount considered each year; the limit for 20062007 was $220,000.$225,000.

37


The 1.25% formula amount equals 1.25% of final average pay level times years of credited service.participation. For this formula, the final average pay computation is the same as described above, for the 1.7% offset formula, but PPP amountsannual cash incentives paid during each calendar year are added to the base rates of pay.
Early retirement benefits become payable once plan participants have during employment both attained age 50 and completed 10 years of credited service.participation. Participants who retire early from active service receive benefits equal to the amounts computed using the same formulas employed at normal retirement. However, a 0.3% reduction applies for each month (3.6% for each year) prior to normal retirement that participants elect to have their benefit payments commence. For example, 64% of the formula benefits are payable starting at age 55. AsAll of December 31, 2006, all the named executive officers except Mr. Fanning, wereare eligible to retire immediately.
The Pension Plan’s benefit formulas produce amounts payable monthly over a participant’s post-retirement lifetime. At retirement, plan participants can choose to receive their benefits in one of sixseven alternative forms of payment. All six forms pay benefits monthly over the lifetime of the retiree or the joint lifetimes of the retiree and a spouse. A reduction applies if a retiring participant chooses a payment form other than a single life annuity which provides equal payments over a participant’s post-retirement life.annuity. The reduction makes the value of the benefits paid in the form chosen comparable to what it would have been if benefits were paid as a single life annuity.annuity over the retiree’s life.
Participants vest in the Pension Plan benefits after completing five years of service. All the named executive officers are vested in their Pension Plan benefits. Participants who terminate employment after vesting are entitled to a pension benefit commencing at age 65. Vested participants who earn 10 or more years of credited service can elect to have their pension benefits commencing at age 50 if they participated in the Pension Plan benefits commence as early as age 50.for 10 years. If such an election is made, the early retirement reductions that apply are actuarially determined factors and are larger than 0.3% per month.
If a vested participant dies while actively employed, benefits will be paid to a surviving spouse. A survivor’s benefit equals 45% of the monthly benefit that the participant had earned before his or her death. Payments to a surviving spouse of a participant who attained age 50 prior to deathcould have retired will begin receiving benefits immediately; otherwise,immediately. Payments to a survivor paymentsof a participant who was not retirement eligible will begin when the deceased participant would have attained age 50. After commencing, survivor benefits are payable monthly for the remainder of a survivor’s life. Participants who are age 50 or oldereligible for early retirement may opt to have an 80%, instead of 45%, survivor benefit paid if they die; however, there is a charge associated with this election. Surviving spouses of vested participants who have terminated employment and not yet elected to start receiving benefits, receive smaller benefits.
If vested participants become totally disabled, periods that Social Security Disability Income or Companyemployer-provided disability income benefits are paid will count as service for benefit calculation purposes. The crediting of this additional service ceases at the point a disabled participant dies, stops receiving disability income benefits or elects to commence retirement payments. Outside of the extra service crediting, the normal plan provisions apply to disabled participants.
SBP-Pension Related (the “SBP-P”)
The sameSouthern Company Supplemental Benefit Plan that provides for deferred compensation related to contributions the Company can not make to the ESP due to various limits under the Code also provides for a supplemental defined benefit pension. Please see the description of the non-pension component of the SBP following the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table. (Pension-Related) (“SBP-P”)
The SBP-P is an unfunded retirement plan that is not tax qualified.tax-qualified. This plan pays more highly compensatedprovides high-paid employees including each of the named executive officers,any benefits that equal the excess of what their Pension Plan benefits would be ifcannot pay due to statutory compensation/pay/benefit limits and voluntary pay deferrals under the DCP were ignored over what their Pension Plan benefits actually are. In 2006, the form of payment election made for Pension Plan benefits also applies to SBP-P benefits.deferrals. The SBP-P’s vesting, early retirement survivor benefit and disability provisions mirror those of the Pension Plan.


43


The amounts paid by the SBP-P are based on the additional monthly benefit that the Pension Plan would pay if the statutory limits and pay deferrals were ignored. When an SBP-P participant separates from service, vested monthly benefits provided by the benefit formulas are converted into a single sum value. It equals the present value of what would have been paid monthly for an actuarially determined average post-retirement lifetime. The discount rate used in the calculation is based on the30-year Treasury yields for the September preceding the calendar year of separation, but not more than six percent. Vested participants terminating prior to becoming eligible to retire will be paid their single sum value as of September 1 following the calendar of separation. If the terminating participant is retirement eligible, the single sum value will be paid in 10 annual installments starting shortly after separation. The unpaid balance of a retiree’s single sum will be credited with interest at the prime rate published in The Wall Street Journal. If the separating participant is a “key man” under Section 409A of the Code, the first installment will be delayed for six months after the date of separation.
If an SBP-P participant dies after becoming vested in the Pension Plan, the spouse of the deceased participant will receive the installments the participant would have been paid upon retirement. If a vested participant’s death occurs prior to age 50, the installments will be paid to a survivor as if the participant had survived to age 50.
SERPThe Southern Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”)
The SERP is also is an unfunded retirement plan that is not tax qualified.tax-qualified. This plan provides more highly compensatedto high-paid employees including each of the named executive officers, additional benefits that the Pension Plan and the SBP-P would pay if the 1.7% offset formula calculations reflected a portion of annual cash incentives under the PPP.incentives. To derive the SERP benefits, a final average pay is determined reflecting participants’ base salary levelrates of pay and their payouts under the PPPincentives to the extent such PPP payoutsthey exceed 15% of those base salary levelsrates (ignoring statutory limits and voluntary pay deferrals under the DCP)deferrals). This final average pay is used in the 1.7% offset formula to derive a gross benefit. The Pension Plan and the SBP-P benefits are subtracted from the gross benefit to calculate the SERP benefit payable. In 2006, the form of payment election made

38


for Pension Plan benefits also applies to SERP benefits.benefit. The SERP’s early retirement, survivor benefit and disability provisions matchmirror the Pension Plan’sSBP-P’s provisions. However, except upon a change in control, SERP benefits do not vest until participants retire, so no benefits are paid if a participant terminates prior to becoming eligible to retire.
Changes EffectiveSupplemental Pension Agreements (“SPA”)
An SPA is an individual agreement providing for additional pension benefits. These agreements provide certain executives the benefits that Southern’s other three pension plans would pay if the participant had worked additional years. These agreements are usually entered into on an as-needed basis to attract and retain executives. The number of additional years of service is most often based on periods of relevant employment with another company. For example, service may be awarded for employment with an accounting or law firm. The Company is in 2007 to the process of amending each SPA so that benefits will be paid in the same form and at the same time as SBP-P andbenefits. All information has been shown as if this amendment process had been completed. Mr. Holland is the SERP
In early 2007, changes were made to the SBP-P and the SERP to comply with Code Section 409A. One of the changes made affects the form of payment for the SBP-P and the SERP. Participants will elect to receive a lifetime of monthly benefits, as is currently provided for, or the single-sum value of those monthly payments for an average lifetime paid out in 10 annual installments.
Description of Assumptions in Calculating Present Value of Accumulated Pension Benefits
The amounts in column (d) of this Pension Benefit Table show the present values of accumulated benefits eachonly named executive officer has earned aswith an SPA. It provides him with an additional 12.25 years of September 30, 2006. September 30, 2006 isservice in recognition of some of his years of service to the measurement date used in the Financial Statements.
Each present value of pension benefits is a weighted sumCompany while associated with one of the present values of the full benefit paid monthly over the named executive officer’s post-retirement lifetime and reduced amounts payable over the joint lifetimes of the named executive officer and a spouse. The weights are the form of payment assumptions described below.Company’s principal law firms.
The present values of pension benefits in each form of payment equals the sum of all the expected monthly payments after being discounted to reflect the time value of money between the measurement date and the expected payment dates. The expected monthly payments are based on the benefits payable to the executive, and to a spouse for forms paid over joint lifetimes, times the probability that the named executive officer or spouse will survive from the named executive officer’s normal retirement age to the payment date. The probabilities of survival were derived from a table of actuarial mortality rates.
The following assumptions were used in the present value calculations:
• Discount rate — six percent6.3% as of September 30, 20062007
• Retirement date — Normal retirement age (65 for all named executive officers)
• Mortality after normal retirement — RP2000 Combined Healthy mortality rate table
• Mortality, withdrawal, disability and retirement rates prior to normal retirement — None
• Form of payment for Pension Benefits:
 • Unmarried retirees: 100% elect a single life annuity
 • Married retirees: 20% elect a single life annuity; 40% elect a joint and 50% survivor annuity; and 40% elect a joint and 100% survivor annuity
• Percent married at retirement — 80% of males and 70% of females
• Spouse ages — Wives two years younger than their husbands
• Incentives earned but unpaid as of the measurement date — 130% of target percentages times base rate of pay for year incentive is earned
• Installment determination — 5.3% discount rate for single sum calculation and 7.3% prime interest rate on unpaid balances during installment payment period.


44


For all of the named executive officers, the number of years of credited service is one year less than the number of years of employment with the Company.employment.

39


 
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION AS OF 20062007 FISCAL YEAR-END
 
                     
  Executive
  Registrant
     Aggregate
    
  Contributions
  Contributions
  Aggregate Earnings
  Withdrawals/
  Aggregate Balance
 
  in Last FY
  in Last FY
  in Last FY
  Distributions
  at Last FYE
 
Name
 ($)
  ($)
  ($)
  ($)
  ($)
 
  (a) (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (f) 
 
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
  0   43,647   774,971   0   9,232,125 
T. A. Fanning
  140,929   19,667   82,603   0   956,753 
M. D. Garrett
  0   19,825   97,708   0   1,231,703 
C. D. McCrary
  0   20,653   88,949   0   1,082,275 
G. E. Holland, Jr.
  0   15,980   184,642   0   2,344,766 
                     
  Executive Registrant   Aggregate  
  Contributions Contributions Aggregate Earnings Withdrawals/ Aggregate Balance
  in Last FY in Last FY in Last FY Distributions at Last FYE
  ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
Name (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe
  0   38,028   770,461   0   8,413,507 
 
T. A. Fanning
  208,234   17,725   59,042   0   713,555 
 
M. D. Garrett
  0   16,520   90,606   0   1,114,170 
 
C. D. McCrary
  0   19,493   85,330   0   972,672 
 
W. P. Bowers
  86,675   12,199   62,794   0   703,349 
 
The Company provides the DCPDeferred Compensation Plan (“DCP”) which is designed to permit participants to defer income as well as certain federal, state and local taxes until a specified date or their retirement, disability, death or other separation from service. Up to 50% of base salary and up to 100% of PPPthe annual incentive and PDPthe performance dividends may be deferred, at the election of eligible employees. All of the named executive officers are eligible to participate in the DCP.
Participants have two options for the deemed investments of the amounts deferred — the Stock Equivalent Account and the Prime Equivalent Account. Under the terms of the DCP, participants are permitted to transfer between investments at any time.
The amounts deferred in the Stock Equivalent Account are treated as if invested at an equivalent rate of return to that of an actual investment in the Company’s common stock,Common Stock, including the crediting of dividend equivalents as such are paid by the Company from time to time. It provides participants with an equivalent opportunity for the capital appreciation (or loss) and income held by a Company stockholder. During 2006,2007, the rate of return in the Stock Equivalent Account was 11.7%9.83%, which was the Company’s TSRtotal shareholder return for 2006.2007.
Alternatively, participants may elect to have their deferred compensation deemed invested in the Prime Equivalent Account which is treated as if invested at a prime interest rate compounded monthly, as published in theWall Street Journalas the base rate on corporate loans posted as of the last business day of each month by at least 75% of the United States’ largest banks. The range of interest rates earned on amounts deferred during 20062007 in the Prime Equivalent Account was 7.25% to 8.25%.
Column (b)
This column reports the actual amounts of compensation deferred under the DCP by each named executive officer in 2006.2007. The amountsamount of salary deferred by the named executive officers, if any, was included in the Salary column in the Summary Compensation Table. The amount of incentive compensation deferred in 20062007 was the amount paid for performance under the PPP and the PDP that were earned as of December 31, 20052006 but not payable until the first quarter of 2006.2007. This amount is not reflected in the Summary Compensation Table because that table reports incentive compensation that was earned in 2006,2007, but not payable until early 2007.2008. These deferred amounts may be distributed in a lump sumlump-sum or in up to 10 annual installments at termination of employment or in a lump sumlump-sum at a specified date, at the election of the participant.
Column (c)
This column reflects the Company’s contributions under the SBP-N.Supplemental Benefit Plan (“SBP”). Under the Code, the Company is prohibited from making employer matching contributions under the ESPEmployee Savings Plan on employee contributions above stated limits in the ESPthat plan and, if applicable, above legal limits set forth in the Code. The SBP-NSBP is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan under which the Company contributes the amount of Company contributions that it is prohibited from making in the ESP.Employee Savings Plan. The contributions are treated as if invested in the Company’s common stockCommon Stock and are payable in cash


45


upon termination of employment in a lump sumlump-sum or in up to 20 annual installments, at the election of the participant. The amounts reported in this column also were reported in the All Other Compensation column in the Summary Compensation Table.

40


Column (d)
This column reports earnings on both compensation the named executive officers elected to defer and earnings on Companyemployer contributions under the SBP-N.SBP. See the notes to column (h) of the Summary Compensation Table for a discussion of amounts of nonqualified deferred compensation earnings included in the Summary Compensation Table.
Column (e)
There were no aggregate withdrawals or distributions.
Column (f)
This column includes amounts that were deferred under the DCP and contributions under the SBP-NSBP in prior years and reported in prior years’ Proxy Statements. The chart below shows the amounts reported in prior years’ Proxy Statements.
             
  Amounts Deferred under Amounts Contributed by the  
  the DCP Prior to 2006 Company under the SBP-N  
  and Reported in Prior Prior to 2006 and Reported in  
  Years’ Proxy Statements Prior Years’ Proxy Statements Total
Name ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  5,381,881   165,113   5,546,994 
 
T. A. Fanning  423,735   44,771   468,506 
 
M. D. Garrett  0   33,651   33,651 
 
C. D. McCrary  489,924   110,968   600,892 
 
 
             
     Employer Contributions
    
  Amounts Deferred under
  under the SBP
    
  the DCP Prior to 2007
  Prior to 2007 and
    
  and Reported in Prior
  Reported in Prior Years’
    
  Years’ Proxy Statements
  Proxy Statements
  Total
 
Name ($)  ($)  ($) 
 
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  5,381,881   203,141   5,585,022 
T. A. Fanning  631,969   62,496   694,465 
M. D. Garrett  0   50,171   50,171 
C. D. McCrary  489,924   130,461   620,385 
G. E. Holland, Jr.  298,508   46,536   345,044 
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
This section describes and estimates payments that could be made to the named executive officers under different termination and CICchange-in-control events. The estimated payments would be made under the terms of the CompanyCompany’s compensation and benefits programs or the CICchange-in-control severance agreements with each of the named executive officers. The amount of potential payments is calculated as if the triggering events occurred as of December 31, 20062007 and assumes that the price of the Company’s common stockCommon Stock is the closing market price as of December 29, 2006.31, 2007.
Description of Termination and CICChange-in-Control Events
The following charts list different types of termination and CICchange-in-control events that can affect the treatment of payments under the Company’s compensation and benefit programs. These events also affect payments to the named executive officers under their CICchange-in-control severance agreements. No payments are made under the severance agreements unless within two years of the CIC,change in control, the named executive officer is involuntarily terminated or he or she voluntarily terminates for Good Reason. (See the description of Good Reason below.)
Traditional Termination Events
• Retirement or Retirement Eligible — Termination of a named executive officer who is at least 50 years old and has at least 10 years of credited service.
 
• Resignation — Voluntary termination of a named executive officer who is not retirement eligible.
 
• Lay Off — Involuntary termination of a named executive officer not for cause, who is not retirement eligible.


46


• Involuntary Termination — Involuntary termination of a named executive officer for cause. Cause includes individual performance below minimum performance standards and misconduct, such as violation of the Company’s Drug and Alcohol Policy.
 
• Death or Disability — Termination of a named executive officer due to death or disability.

41


CIC-RelatedChange-in-Control-Related Events
At the parent companyCompany or subsidiary level:
• Southern CICChange in Control I — Acquisition by another entity of 20% or more of the Company’s common stock,Common Stock, or following a merger with another entity the Company’s stockholders own 65% or less of the companyentity surviving the merger.
 
• Southern CICChange in Control II — Acquisition by another entity of 35% or more of the Company’s common stock,Common Stock, or following a merger with another entity the Company’s stockholders own less than 50% of the companyentity surviving the merger.
 
• Southern Termination — A merger or other event and the Company is not the surviving company or the Company’s common stockCommon Stock is no longer publicly traded.
 
• Subsidiary CICChange in Control — Acquisition by another entity, other than another subsidiary of the Company, of 50% or more of the stock of a subsidiary of the Company, a merger with another entity and the subsidiary is not the surviving company or the sale of substantially all the assets of the subsidiary.
At the employee level:
• Involuntary CICChange-in-Control Termination or Voluntary CICChange-in-Control Termination for Good Reason — Employment is terminated within two years of a CIC,change in control, other than for cause, or the employee voluntarily terminates for Good Reason. Good Reason for voluntarilyvoluntary termination within two years of a CICchange in control is generally satisfied when there is a material reduction in salary, incentive compensation opportunity or benefits, relocation of over 50 miles or a diminution in duties and responsibilities.


47

42


The following chart describes the treatment of different pay and benefit elements in connection with the Traditional Termination Events described above. All of the named executive officers are eligible to retire under the terms of our pension plans and therefore any termination of employment also would be a retirement.
           
    Lay Off
      
    (Involuntary
     Involuntary
Retirement/Termination    Termination
Death or
Termination
Program Retirement/Retirement Eligible Not For Cause) Resignation Death or Disability (For Cause)
Pension Benefits:
• Pension Plan
• SBP-P
• SERPBenefit Plans
 Lifetime of monthly benefits paid.
Reductions apply if payments start prior to age 65.Benefits payable as described in the notes following the Pension Benefits Table.
 SERP-related benefits forfeited. Other vested benefits paid monthly for lifetime after executive reaches retirement eligibility. Reductions apply if payments start prior to age 65.Benefits payable as described in the notes following the Pension Benefits Table. Same as Lay Off. At death, surviving spouse receives a lifetime of monthly payments equal to 45% (or 80% if participant has made that election) of benefits earned. If vested underBenefits payable as described in the notes following the Pension Plan, all pension benefits continue to accumulate while disabled. Lifetime of monthly payments after executive becomes retirement eligible and elects commencement.Benefits Table. Same as for retirement and resignation, as the case may be.
PPPAnnual Incentive Program Pro-rated if terminate before 12/31. Pro-rated if terminate before 12/31. Forfeit. Pro-rated if terminate before 12/31. Forfeit.
PDPPerformance Dividend Program Paid year of retirement plus two additional years. Forfeit. Forfeit. Payable until options expire or exercised. Forfeit.
Stock Options Vest; expire earlier of original expiration date or five years. Vested options expire in 90 days; unvested are forfeited. Vested options expire in 90 days; unvested are forfeited. Vest; expire earlier of original expiration or three years. Forfeit.
Financial Planning Perquisite Continues for one year. Terminates. Terminates. Continues for one year. Terminates.

43


Supplemental Benefit Plan — non-pension related Payable per prior elections (lump sum or up to 20 annual installments). Same as Retirement. Same as Retirement. Same as the Deferred Compensation Plan. Same as Retirement.
Lay Off
(InvoluntaryInvoluntary
Retirement/TerminationTermination
ProgramRetirement EligibleNot For Cause)ResignationDeath or Disability(For Cause)
DCPDeferred Compensation Plan Payable per prior elections (lump sum or up to 10 annual installments). Same as Retirement. Same as Retirement. Payable to beneficiary or disabled participant per prior elections; amounts deferred prior to 2005 can be paid as a lump sum at DCP administrativeper plan administration committee’s discretion. Same as Retirement.
SBP-NPayable per prior elections (lump sum or up to 20 annual installments).Same as Retirement.Same as Retirement.Same as the DCP, above.Same as Retirement.


48


The chart below describes the treatment of payments under pay and benefit programs under different CICchange-in-control events, except the Pension Plan (the “CIC(“Change-in-Control Chart”). The Pension Plan is not affected by CICchange-in-control events.
         
        Involuntary CIC-Related
        Termination or VoluntaryChange-in-
      Southern Termination or CIC-Related Control-Related
Termination or
Voluntary
Southern
Change-in-
Termination or
Control-Related
Southern Change
Southern Change
Subsidiary Change
Termination
Program Southern CICin Control I Southern CICin Control II Subsidiary CICin Control for Good Reason
Nonqualified Pension Benefits:
• SBP-P
• SERPBenefits
 All SERP-related benefits vest if participantparticipants vested in Pension Plan benefits;Plan; otherwise, no impact.Vesting as upon a Southern CIC I, Benefits vest for all participants and single sum value of benefits earned to change-in-control date paid as a lump sum following termination or retirement. Same as Southern CICChange in Control II. Based on type of CICchange-in-control event.
PPP
Annual Incentive Program
 No plan termination – is paid at greater of target or actual performance. If plan terminated within two years of CIC,change in control, pro-rated at target performance level. Same as Southern CICChange in Control I. Pro-rated at target performance level. If not otherwise eligible for payment, if PPPthe annual incentive program still in effect, pro-rated at target performance level.
PDP
Performance Dividend Program
 No plan termination is paid at greater of target or actual performance. If plan terminated within two years of CIC,change in control, pro-rated at greater of target or actual performance level. Same as Southern CICChange in Control I. Pro-rated at greater of actual or target performance level. If not otherwise eligible for payment, if PDPthe performance dividend program is still in effect, greater of actual or target performance level for year of severance only.
Stock OptionsNot affected by change-in-control events because Common Stock is still publicly traded.Not affected bychange-in-control events because Common Stock is still publicly traded.Vest and convert to surviving company’s securities; Southern Termination; if cannot convert, pay spread in cash; if participant is an employee of a subsidiary, stock options vest upon a Subsidiary Change in Control.Vest.
Deferred Compensation PlanNot affected by change-in-control events.Not affected bychange-in-control events.Not affected by change-in-control events.Not affected by change-in-control events.
SBPNot affected by change-in-control events.Not affected bychange-in-control events.Not affected by change-in-control events.Not affected by change-in-control events.


49

44


         
        Involuntary CIC-Related
        Termination or VoluntaryChange-in-
      Southern Termination or CIC-Related Control-Related
Termination or
Voluntary
Southern
Change-in-
Termination or
Control-Related
Southern Change
Southern Change
Subsidiary Change
Termination
Program Southern CICin Control I Southern CICin Control II Subsidiary CICin Control for Good Reason
Stock Options
Not affected by CIC events.Not affected by CIC events.Vest and convert to surviving company’s securities if there is a Southern Termination; if can not convert, pay spread in cash; not affected by a Subsidiary CIC.Vest.
DCP
Not affected by CIC events.Payable in lump sum following termination.Same as Southern CIC II.Based on type of CIC event.
SBP-N
Not affected by CIC events.Participant provided opportunity to elect lump sum payment.Participant provided opportunity to elect lump sum payment.Based on type of CIC event.
Severance Benefits
 Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Three times base salary plus target PPPannual incentive program amount plus tax gross up if severance amounts exceed Code Section 280G “excess parachute payment” by 10% or more.
Health Benefits
 Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Up to five years participation in group health plan plus payment of three years’ premium amounts.
Outplacement Services
 Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Six months.
Potential Payments
This section describes and estimates payments that would become payable to the named executive officers upon a termination or CICchange in control as of December 31, 2006.2007.
Pension Benefits
The monthly amounts that would have become payable to the named executive officers if the Traditional Termination Events occurred as of December 31, 20062007 under the Pension Plan, the SBP-P, and the SERP are itemized in the chart below. The amounts shown under the column “Retirement” are amounts that would have become payable to the named executive officers that were retirement eligible on December 31, 2007 and are the monthly Pension Plan benefits and the first of 10 annual installments from the SBP-P and the SERP. The amounts shown under the column “Resignation or Involuntary Termination” are the amounts that would have become payable to the named executive officers who were not retirement eligible on December 31, 2007 and are the monthly Pension Plan benefits that would become payable as of the earliest possible date under the Pension Plan and the single sum value of benefits earned up to the termination date under the SBP-P, paid as a single payment rather than in 10 annual installments. Benefits under the SERP would be forfeited. The amounts shown that are payable to a spouse in the event of the death of the named executive officer are the monthly amounts payable to a spouse under the Pension Plan and the first of 10 annual installments from the SBP-P and the SERP. The amounts in this chart are monthly benefit amounts whereasvery different from the pension values shown in the Summary Compensation Table and the Pension Benefit Tables areBenefits Table. Those tables show the present values of all the monthly valuesbenefit amounts anticipated to be paid over the lifetimes of the named executive officers and their spouses. TheseThose plans are described in the notes following the Pension Benefits Table. All the named executive officers, except Mr. Fanning, were retirement eligible on December 31, 2006. Mr. Fanning became retirement eligible in March 2007. The benefits were determined using the same assumptions used to compute benefit values in the Pension Benefit Table with three exceptions: the amounts have been determined as of December 31, 2006 instead of as of September 30, 2006; the benefit payments were assumed to commence as soon as possible instead of at normal retirement and, as such, appropriate early retirement reductions were applied; and the benefits were not adjusted to reflect optional forms of payment such that all benefits are the amounts that would have been paid monthly over the named executive officer’s life.

50

45


Resignation orDeath
RetirementInvoluntary Retirement(monthly payments
(monthly payments)(monthly payments)to a spouse)
Name($)($)($)
D. M. RatcliffePension Plan
SBP-P
SERP
7,389
61,565
24,105
All plans treated as retiring4,410
36,743
14,386
T. A. FanningPension Plan
SBP-P
SERP
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,943
7,013
0
3,191
11,518
3,794
M. D. GarrettPension Plan
SBP-P
SERP
7,699
26,711
10,903
All plans treated as retiring4,806
16,671
6,805
C. D. McCraryPension Plan
SBP-P
SERP
5,798
22,148
7,125
All plans treated as retiring4,058
15,501
4,986
W. P. BowersPension Plan
SBP-P
SERP
3,479
8,840
3,034
All plans treated as retiring3,403
8,648
2,968
               
       Resignation or
  Death
 
       Involuntary Retirement
  (payments
 
    Retirement
  (monthly payments)
  to a spouse)
 
Name   ($)  ($)  ($) 
 
D. M. Ratcliffe Pension Plan  8,200   All plans treated as   4,671 
  Supplemental Benefit Plan  1,341,367   retiring   1,341,367 
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  416,413       416,413 
T. A. Fanning Pension Plan  3,694   All plans treated as   3,413 
  Supplemental Benefit Plan  289,876   retiring   289,876 
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  95,062       95,062 
M. D. Garrett Pension Plan  8,545   All plans treated as   5,080 
  Supplemental Benefit Plan  613,775   retiring   613,775 
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  202,091       202,091 
C. D. McCrary Pension Plan  6,494   All plans treated as   4,304 
  Supplemental Benefit Plan  458,841   retiring   458,841 
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  147,384       147,384 
G. E. Holland, Jr.  Pension Plan  2,719   All plans treated as   1,912 
  Supplemental Benefit Plan  150,872   retiring   150,872 
  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan  49,116       49,116 
  Supplemental Pension Agreement  210,691       210,691 
As described in the CICChange-in-Control Chart, the only change in the form of payment, acceleration or enhancement of the pension benefits is that the lump-sum paymentsingle sum value of nonqualified pensions that normally would have been paid monthly overbenefits earned up to the lifetimes ofchange-in-control date under the named executive officers and their spouses at termination following certain CIC eventsSBP-P and the vesting of SERP-related benefits.SERP could be paid as a single payment rather than in 10 annual installments. Also, the SERP benefits vest for participants who are not retirement eligible upon a change in control. Estimates of the lump-sum paymentssingle sum payment that would have been made to the named executive officers, assuming termination as of December 31, 20062007 following a CICchange-in-control event, other than a Southern CICChange in Control I (which does not impact how pension benefits)benefits are paid), are itemized below. These lump-sum amounts would be paid instead of the benefits shown in the Traditional Termination Events table above; they are not paid in addition to the amounts shown in the Pension Benefits Table. These amounts would have been in lieu of the monthly payments whose values are represented in the Pension Benefits Table under the circumstances described above.those amounts.
             
  SBP-P SERP Total
Name ($) ($) ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  9,446,128   3,698,512   13,144,640 
 
T. A. Fanning  1,197,178   Not Applicable   1,197,178 
 
M. D. Garrett  4,165,085   1,700,121   5,865,206 
 
C. D. McCrary  3,578,526   1,151,210   4,729,736 
 
W. P. Bowers  1,530,481   525,281   2,055,762 
 
                 
  Supplemental
  Supplemental
  Supplemental
    
  Benefit Plan
  Executive
  Pension
    
  (Pension-Related)
  Retirement Plan
  Agreement
  Total
 
Name ($)  ($)  ($)  ($) 
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  13,413,665   4,164,129   0   17,577,794 
T. A. Fanning  2,898,761   950,621   0   3,849,382 
M. D. Garrett  6,137,748   2,020,914   0   8,158,662 
C. D. McCrary  4,588,413   1,473,839   0   6,062,252 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   1,508,718   419,158   2,106,910   4,034,786 
The lump-sumpension benefit amounts in the tabletables above arewere calculated using the same basic methodology used to compute the values in the Pension Benefits Table. However, amounts were computed as of December 31, 2006 instead of September 30, 2006. In addition, certain assumptions were changed to those that have been selected by the Company for lump-sum calculations following a CIC. Benefit payments were assumed to commence at the earliest date monthly2007 assuming payments would have been available insteadbegin as soon as possible under the terms of deferred to the named executive officers’ normal retirement dates; therefore,plans. Accordingly, appropriate early retirement reductions apply. Also, onlywere applied. Any unpaid incentives were assumed to be paid at 1.35 times the target level. Pension Plan benefits were calculated assuming named executive officers chose a single life annuity form of payment, providingbecause that results in the greatest monthly benefit. The single sum values of the SBP-P and the SERP benefits over the named executive officer’s lifetime is considered. A 5.75%were based on a 4.85% discount rate is assumed instead of six percent, and mortality rates specifiedas prescribed by the Internal Revenue Serviceterms of the plan for those who separated from service in Revenue Ruling 2001-62 were assumed instead of those disclosed in the information following the Pension Benefits Table.2007.

46


PPPAnnual Incentive Program
Because this section assumes that a termination or CICchange-in-control event occurred on December 31, 2006,2007, there is no amount that would be payable other than the amountwhat was reported and described in the Summary Compensation Table because actual performance in 20062007 exceeded target performance.
PDPPerformance Dividend Program
Because the assumed termination date is December 31, 2006,2007, there is no additional amount that would be payable other than the amount reported in the Summary Compensation Table under the Traditional Termination Events. As described in the

51


Traditional Termination Events Chart, there is some continuation of benefits under the PDPperformance dividend program for retirees.
However, under the CIC-RelatedChange-in-Control-Related Events, PDP isperformance dividends are payable at the greater of target performance or actual performance. For the 2003-20062004-2007 performance measurement period, actual performance was less than target performance. The table below estimates the additional amount that would have been payable under the PDPperformance dividend program if a CICchange in control occurred as of December 31, 2006.2007.
     
  Additional PDP
Performance
Dividends
Name ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  594,977446,830 
T. A. Fanning  109,00782,899 
M. D. Garrett  91,29457,608 
C. D. McCrary  142,01778,167 
W. P. BowersG. E. Holland, Jr.   96,04072,013 
Stock Options
Stock options would be treated as described in the Termination and CIC ChartsChange-in-Control charts above. Under a Southern Termination, all stock options vest. In addition, if there is an Involuntary CICChange-in-Control Termination or Voluntary CICChange-in-Control Termination for Good Reason, stock options vest. There is no payment associated with stock options unless there is a Southern Termination and the participants’ stock options can notcannot be converted into surviving company stock options. In that event, the excess of the exercise price and the closing price of the Company’s common stockCommon Stock on December 29, 200631, 2007 would have been paid in cash for all stock options held by the named executive officers. The chart below shows the number of stock options for which vesting would be accelerated under a Southern Termination and the amount that would be payable under a Southern Termination if there were no conversion to the surviving companyentity’s stock options.
             
    Total Number of Total Payable in Cash
  Number of Options Following under a Southern
  Options with Accelerated Vesting Termination without
  Accelerated under a Southern Conversion of Stock
Name Vesting (#) Termination (#) Options ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  1,003,837   1,600,336   8,353,272 
 
T. A. Fanning  170,359   313,690   1,838,816 
 
M. D. Garrett  164,602   262,718   1,330,625 
 
C. D. McCrary  180,622   408,681   2,751,046 
 
W. P. Bowers  125,252   276,372   1,831,878 
 
             
     Total Number of
  Total Payable in Cash
 
  Number of
  Options Following
  under a Southern
 
  Options with
  Accelerated Vesting
  Termination without
 
  Accelerated
  under a Southern
  Conversion of Stock
 
Name Vesting (#)  Termination (#)  Options ($) 
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  1,066,994   2,054,391   11,728,333 
T. A. Fanning  189,924   381,146   2,232,569 
M. D. Garrett  189,395   264,863   1,181,623 
C. D. McCrary  197,269   359,389   1,912,094 
G. E. Holland, Jr.   149,423   331,094   2,058,245 
DCP and SBP-NSBP
The aggregate balances reported in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table would be payable to the named executive officers as described in the Traditional Termination and CIC-RelatedChange-in-Control-Related Events Chartscharts above. There is no enhancement or acceleration of payments under these plans associated with termination or CICchange-in-control events, other than the

47


lump-sum payment opportunity described in the above charts. The lump sumslump-sums that would be payable are those that are reported in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table.
Health Benefits
Because Messrs. Ratcliffe, Garrett, McCrary and Bowersall of the named executive officers are retirement eligible and health care benefits are provided to retirees, there is no incremental payment associated with the termination or CICchange-in-control events. At the end of 2006, Mr. Fanning was not retirement eligible and thus health care benefits would not become available until he reached age 50, except in the case of a CIC-Related Termination, as described in the CIC-Related Events Chart. The estimated cost of providing three years of group health insurance premiums for Mr. Fanning is $44,150.
Financial Planning Perquisite
Because Messrs. Ratcliffe, Garrett, McCrary and BowersAll of the named executive officers are retirement eligible,eligible; therefore, an additional year of the Financial Planning perquisite would be provided whichprovided. That amount is set at a maximum of $7,000$8,700 per year. Mr. Fanning is not retirement eligible.


52


There are no other perquisites provided to the named executive officers under any of the Traditional Termination or CIC-RelatedChange-in-Control-Related events.
Severance Benefits
The Company has entered into individual CICChange-in-Control Severance Agreements with each of the named executive officers. In addition to the treatment of Health Benefits, PPPPerformance Pay Program and PDPPerformance Dividend Program described above, the named executive officers are entitled to a severance benefit, including outplacement services, if within two years of a CICchange in control they are involuntarily terminated, not for Cause, or they voluntarily terminate for Good Reason. The severance benefits are not paid unless the named executive officer releases the Company from any claims he has against the Company.
The estimated cost of providing the six months of outplacement services is $6,000 per named executive officer. The severance payment is three times the named executive officer’s base salary and target payout under the PPP.Performance Pay Program. If any portion of the severance payment is an “excess parachute payment” as defined under Section 280G of the Code, the Company will pay the named executive officer an additional amount to cover the taxes that would be due on the excess parachute payment — a “taxgross-up.” However, that additional amount will not be paid unless the severance amount plus all other amounts that are considered parachute payments under the Code exceed 110% of the severance payment.
The table below estimates the severance payments that would be made to the named executive officers if they were terminated as of December 31, 20062007 in connection with a CIC.change in control. There is no estimated taxgross-up included for any of the named executive officers because their respective estimated severance amounts payable are below the amounts considered excess parachute payments under the Code.
     
  Severance Amount
Name ($)
 
D. M. Ratcliffe  6,235,8366,452,100 
T. A. Fanning  3,108,0003,237,000 
M. D. Garrett  3,076,5003,260,250 
C. D. McCrary  3,228,7503,327,050 
W. P. BowersG. E. Holland, Jr.   2,328,0002,601,600 

48


Other Information
 
Other Information
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
No reporting person failed to file, on a timely basis, the reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
During 2006, Messrs. William R. Allen and2007, Mr. David M. Huddleston, asons-inson-in-law-law of Mr. Michael D. Garrett, an executive officer of the Company; and Ms. Donna D. Smith, sister of Mr. Andrew J. Dearman, III, an executive officer of the Company, were employed by subsidiaries of the Company. Mr. Allen was employed by Southern Company Services, Inc. as a Sourcing Agent and received compensation in 2006 of $134,113. Mr. Huddleston was employed by Alabama Power Company as an Engineering Supervisor and received compensation in 20062007 of $131,674.$184,467. Ms. Smith was employed by Southern Company Services, Inc. as a Human Resources Director and received compensation in 20062007 of $376,542.$314,218.
The Company does not have a written policy pertaining solely to the approval or ratification of “related party transactions.” However, the Company has a Code of Ethics as well as employment and compensation policies that govern the hiring and compensating of all employees, including those named above. The Company also has a Contract Guidance Manual and other formal written procurement policies and procedures that guide the purchase of goods and services, including requiring competitive bids for most transactions above $10,000 or approval based on documented business needs for sole sourcing arrangements.


53

49


APPENDIX A
6. Each stockholder entitled to vote in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof and in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or of any action taken pursuant thereto shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of stock entitled to vote held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted on after three years from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Except where the transfer books of the corporation shall have been closed or a date shall have been fixed as a record date for the determination of its stockholders entitled to vote, as hereinafter provided, no share of stock shall be voted on at any election for directors which shall have been transferred on the books of the Corporation within twenty days next preceding such election of directors. The vote for directors, and, upon the demand of any stockholder, the vote upon any question before the meeting, shall be by ballot. Each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, each stockholder shall be entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of his shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, and he may cast all of such votes for a single director or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or any two or more of them as he may see fit, which right when exercised, shall be termed cumulative voting. All other questions shall be decided by plurality vote except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporationand/or by the laws of the State of Delaware. For purposes of this Section 6, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director.


i


APPENDIX B
POLICY ON ENGAGEMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

FOR AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES
A.Southern Company (including its subsidiaries) will not engage the independent auditor to perform any services that are prohibited by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. It shall further be the policy of the Company not to retain the independent auditor for non-audit services unless there is a compelling reason to do so and such retention is otherwise pre-approved consistent with this policy. Non-audit services that are prohibited include:
 1.Bookkeeping and other services related to the preparation of accounting records or financial statements of the Company or its subsidiaries.
 
 2.Financial information systems design and implementation.
 
 3.Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, orcontribution-incontribution-in-kind-kind reports.
 
 4.Actuarial services.
 
 5.Internal audit outsourcing services.
 
 6.Management functions or human resources.
 
 7.Broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services.
 
 8.Legal services or expert services unrelated to financial statement audits.
 
 9.Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible.
B.Effective January 1, 2003, officers of the Company (including its subsidiaries) may not engage the independent auditor to perform any personal services, such as personal financial planning or personal income tax services.
 
C.All audit services (including providing comfort letters and consents in connection with securities issuances) and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent auditor must be pre-approved by the Southern Company Audit Committee.
 
D.Under this Policy, the Audit Committee’s approval of the independent auditor’s annual arrangements letter shall constitute pre-approval for all services covered in the letter.
 
E.By adopting this Policy, the Audit Committee hereby pre-approves the engagement of the independent auditor to provide services related to the issuance of comfort letters and consents required for securities sales by the Company and its subsidiaries and services related to consultation on routine accounting and tax matters. The actual amounts expended for such services each calendar quarter shall be reported to the Committee at a subsequent Committee meeting.
 
F.The Audit Committee also delegates to its Chairman the authority to grant pre-approvals for the engagement of the independent auditor to provide any permissible service up to a limit of $50,000 per engagement. Any engagements pre-approved by the Chairman shall be presented to the full Committee at its next scheduled regular meeting.
 
G.The Southern Company Comptroller shall establish processes and procedures to carry out this Policy.
Approved by the Southern Company Audit Committee

December 9, 2002


ii

i


(SOUTHERN COMPANY LOGO)
(SOUTHERN COMPANY LOGO)
(RECYCLE LOGO)
Recycled Paper


 

 

Admission Ticket

(Not Transferable)

 

20072008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

10 a.m. ET, May 23, 200728, 2008

 

The Lodge Conference Center at Callaway Gardens

Highway 18

Pine Mountain, GA 31822


 

Please present this Admission Ticket in order to gain admittance to the meeting.

 

Ticket admits only the stockholder(s) listed on reverse side and is not transferable.

 

 

Directions to Meeting Site:

 

From Atlanta, GA - Take I-85 south to I-185 (exit 21), then Exit 34, Georgia Highway 18. Take Georgia Highway 18 east to Callaway.

 

From Birmingham, AL - Take U.S. Highway 280 east to Opelika, AL, then I-85 north to Georgia Highway 18 (Exit 2). Take Georgia Highway 18 east to Callaway.

 

 

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

 

 

FORM OF PROXY AND

TRUSTEE VOTING

INSTRUCTION FORM

 

 


 

 

FORM OF PROXY AND

TRUSTEE VOTING

INSTRUCTION FORM

 

 

PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ESP TRUSTEES

 

 

If a stockholder of record, the undersigned hereby appoints D. M. Ratcliffe, T. A. FanningW. P. Bowers and G. E. Holland, Jr. or any of them, Proxies with full power of substitution in each,

to vote all shares the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Southern Company, to be held at theThe Lodge Conference Center at Callaway Gardens

in Pine Mountain, Georgia, on May 23, 2007,28, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., ET, and any adjournments thereof, on all matters properly coming before the meeting, including, without limitation,

the items listed on the reverse side of this form.

 

If a beneficial owner holding shares through the Employee Savings Plan (“ESP”), the undersigned directs the Trustee of the Plan to vote all shares the undersigned is entitled to

vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and any adjournments thereof, on all matters properly coming before the meeting, including, without limitation, the items listed

on the reverse side of this form.

 

This Form of Proxy/Trustee Voting Instruction Form is solicited jointly by the Board of Directors of The Southern Company and the Trustee of the Employee Savings Plan

pursuant to a separate Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. If not voted electronically, this form should be mailed in the enclosed envelope to the Company’s

proxy tabulator at 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. The deadline for receipt of Trustee Voting Instruction Forms for ESP is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2007.

26, 2008. The deadline for receipt of shares of record voted through the Form of Proxy is 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2007.28, 2008. The deadline for receipt of instructions provided

electronically is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2007.27, 2008.

 

The proxy tabulator will report separately to the Proxies named above and to the Trustee as to proxies received and voting instructions provided, respectively.

 

THIS FORM OF PROXY/TRUSTEE VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM WILL BE VOTED AS

SPECIFIED BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO CHOICE IS INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED

AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS.

 

Continued and to be voted and signed on reverse side.


 


 


 

C/O PROXY

SERVICES

P. O. BOX 9112

FARMINGDALE, NY 11735

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please consider furnishing your voting instructions

electronically by Internet or phone. Processing paper forms

is more than twice as expensive as electronic instructions.

 

If you vote by Internet or phone, please do not mail this form.

 

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m. ETEastern Time the day

before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you

access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create

an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by The Southern Company in mailing

proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy

cards and annual reports electronically via the Internet. To sign up for

electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet

and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive materials electronically in

future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m.

ET Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand

when you call and then follow the instructions.

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date this form and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have

provided or return it to The Southern Company, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way,

Edgewood, NY, 11717.

 

THANK YOU

 

VIEW ANNUAL REPORT AND PROXY STATEMENT ON THE INTERNET

www.southerncompany.com

 

 

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

 

 

SOUTH1STHCO1     KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

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

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS FORM OF PROXY/TRUSTEE VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Items 1, 2, 3 and 4 and AGAINST Item 5.

SOUTHERN COMPANY

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Items 1 and 2 and AGAINST Item 3.

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

 

 

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

01) J. P. Baranco

04) T. F. Chapman

07) J. N. Purcell

10) G. J. St. Pé

02) D. J. Bern

05) H. W. Habermeyer, Jr.

08) D. M. Ratcliffe

03) F. S. Blake

06) D. M. James

09) W. G. Smith, Jr.

For

All

( )

Withhold

All

( )

For All

Except

( )

To withhold authority to vote, mark “For All Except” and write the nominee’s number on the line below.below

04) J. A. Boscia

05) T. F. Chapman

06) H. W. Habermeyer, Jr.

( )

( )

( )

 

_____________________________07) W. A. Hood, Jr

08) D. M. James

09) J. N. Purcell

10) D. M. Ratcliffe

11) W. G. Smith, Jr.

12) G. J. St Pé

 

 

For

Against

Abstain

 

2. RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE COMPANY’S

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2007

2008

( )

( )

( )

3. AMENDMENT OF COMPANY’S BY-LAWS REGARDING MAJORITY VOTING AND CUMULATIVE VOTING

( )

( )

( )

4. AMENDMENT OF COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION REGARDING CUMULATIVE VOTING

( )

( )

( )

5. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL ON ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

( )

( )

( )

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED ABOVE, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ITEMS 1 and 2 and “AGAINST” ITEM 3.

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED ABOVE, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ITEMS 1, 2, 3 and 4 and “AGAINST” ITEM 5.

 

NOTE:

The last instruction received either paper or electronic, prior to the deadline will be the instruction included in the final tabulation.

 

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

Date

Signature (Joint Owners)

Date