Exhibit 5.1
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. - SUITE 5200
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308-2216
www.troutmansanders.com
TELEPHONE: 404-885-3000
FACSIMILE: 404-885-3900
January 18, 2007
The Southern Company
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to The Southern Company (the "Company") in
connection with the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration Statement Nos. 333-138503, 333-138503-01 and 333-138503-02 (the
"Registration Statement"), as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), relating to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's
Series 2007A 5.30% Senior Notes due January 15, 2012 (the "Notes"). The Notes
will be issued pursuant to the Senior Note Indenture dated as of January 1, 2007
between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the
"Trustee"), as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture
dated as of January 18, 2007 (collectively, the "Indenture").
We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture, which
has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
We have also examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed
copies, of such records, agreements, instruments and other documents and have
made such other and further investigations as we have deemed relevant and
necessary in connection with the opinions expressed herein. As to questions of
fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates of public
officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to
original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified
or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter
documents. We have also assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally
binding obligation of the Trustee.
ATLANTA o HONG KONG o LONDON o NEW YORK o NORFOLK o
RALEIGH RICHMOND o TYSONS CORNER o VIRGINIA BEACH o
WASHINGTON, D.C.
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
The Southern Company
January 18, 2007
Page 2
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and
limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes are valid,
binding and legal obligations of the Company (subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity,
whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). In rendering the
foregoing opinion, with respect to matters of New York law, we have relied on
the opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP attached hereto as Annex I.
The attorneys in this firm that are rendering this opinion are members
of the State Bar of Georgia and we do not express any opinion herein concerning
any law other than the law of the State of Georgia, the federal law of the
United States, the Delaware General Corporation Law and, to the extent set forth
herein, the law of the State of New York.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the statements with respect to
our name under the heading "Legal Matters" in the prospectus forming part of the
Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit
that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
This opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other
person for any purpose, without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Troutman Sanders LLP
January 18, 2007
Annex A
DEWEY BALLANTINE LLP
1301 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019-6092
TEL 212 259-8000 FAX 212 259-6333
January 18, 2007
Troutman Sanders LLP
600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Suite 5200
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
RE: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to the underwriters in connection with the
Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (Registration Statement Nos.
333-138503, 333-138503-01 and 333-138503-02) (the "Registration Statement"),
relating to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of The Southern Company's
(the "Company") Series 2007A 5.30% Senior Notes due January 15, 2012 (the
"Notes"). The Notes will be issued pursuant to the Senior Note Indenture dated
as of January 1, 2007 between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented and amended by a First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 18, 2007 (collectively, the
"Indenture").
We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture, which
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We have also examined the originals,
or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements,
instruments and other documents and have made such other and further
investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the
opinions expressed herein. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we
have relied upon certificates of public officials and of officers and
representatives of the Company.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to
original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified
or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter
documents. We have also assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally
binding obligation of the Trustee.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and
limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes are valid,
binding and legal obligations of the Company (subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity,
whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
We are members of the State Bar of New York and we do not express any
opinion concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York.
This opinion is furnished solely for your benefit in connection with
your rendering an opinion to the Company to be filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and we hereby consent to your attaching this opinion as
an annex to such opinion. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any
other purpose, or quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or entity
for any purpose, without our prior written consent. In giving our consent to
your attaching this opinion to the opinion being rendered by you, we do not
thereby admit that we came within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Dewey Ballantine LLP
DEWEY BALLANTINE LLP