10-K 1 so_10-kx12312014.htm 10-K SO_10-K_12.31.2014
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014
 
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Transition Period from              to             
Commission
File Number
 
Registrant, State of Incorporation,
Address and Telephone Number
 
I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.
1-3526
 
The Southern Company
 
58-0690070
 
 
(A Delaware Corporation)
 
 
 
 
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
 
 
 
 
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
 
 
 
 
(404) 506-5000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-3164
 
Alabama Power Company
 
63-0004250
 
 
(An Alabama Corporation)
 
 
 
 
600 North 18th Street
 
 
 
 
Birmingham, Alabama 35291
 
 
 
 
(205) 257-1000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-6468
 
Georgia Power Company
 
58-0257110
 
 
(A Georgia Corporation)
 
 
 
 
241 Ralph McGill Boulevard, N.E.
 
 
 
 
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
 
 
 
 
(404) 506-6526
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
001-31737
 
Gulf Power Company
 
59-0276810
 
 
(A Florida Corporation)
 
 
 
 
One Energy Place
 
 
 
 
Pensacola, Florida 32520
 
 
 
 
(850) 444-6111
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
001-11229
 
Mississippi Power Company
 
64-0205820
 
 
(A Mississippi Corporation)
 
 
 
 
2992 West Beach Boulevard
 
 
 
 
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
 
 
 
 
(228) 864-1211
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
333-98553
 
Southern Power Company
 
58-2598670
 
 
(A Delaware Corporation)
 
 
 
 
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
 
 
 
 
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
 
 
 
 
(404) 506-5000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:1 
Each of the following classes or series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Title of each class
 
 
 
Registrant
Common Stock, $5 par value
 
 
 
The Southern Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A preferred, cumulative, $25 stated capital
 
 
 
Alabama Power Company
5.20% Series                                      5.83% Series
 
 
 
 
5.30% Series
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A Preferred Stock, non-cumulative,
Par value $25 per share
 
 
 
Georgia Power Company
6 1/8% Series
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Notes
 
 
 
Gulf Power Company
5.75% Series 2011A
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mississippi Power Company
Depositary preferred shares, each representing one-fourth of a share of preferred stock, cumulative, $100 par value
 
 
 
 
5.25% Series
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Title of each class
 
 
 
Registrant
Preferred stock, cumulative, $100 par value
 
 
 
Alabama Power Company
4.20% Series                                      4.60% Series
 
4.72% Series        
 
 
4.52% Series                                      4.64% Series
 
4.92% Series        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, cumulative, $100 par value
 
 
 
Mississippi Power Company
4.40% Series                                      4.60% Series
 
 
 
 
4.72% Series
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
As of December 31, 2014.


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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Registrant
Yes
No
The Southern Company
X
 
Alabama Power Company
X
 
Georgia Power Company
X
 
Gulf Power Company
 
X
Mississippi Power Company
 
X
Southern Power Company
 
X
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x (Response applicable to all registrants.)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants' knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Registrant
Large
Accelerated
Filer
Accelerated
Filer
Non-accelerated
Filer
Smaller
Reporting
Company
The Southern Company
X
 
 
 
Alabama Power Company
 
 
X
 
Georgia Power Company
 
 
X
 
Gulf Power Company
 
 
X
 
Mississippi Power Company
 
 
X
 
Southern Power Company
 
 
X
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x (Response applicable to all registrants.)


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Aggregate market value of The Southern Company's common stock held by non-affiliates of The Southern Company at June 30, 2014: $40.7 billion. All of the common stock of the other registrants is held by The Southern Company. A description of each registrant's common stock follows:

Registrant
 
Description of
Common Stock
 
Shares Outstanding
at January 31, 2015
The Southern Company
 
Par Value $5 Per Share
 
909,877,898

Alabama Power Company
 
Par Value $40 Per Share
 
30,537,500

Georgia Power Company
 
Without Par Value
 
9,261,500

Gulf Power Company
 
Without Par Value
 
5,642,717

Mississippi Power Company
 
Without Par Value
 
1,121,000

Southern Power Company
 
Par Value $0.01 Per Share
 
1,000

Documents incorporated by reference: specified portions of The Southern Company's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into PART III. In addition, specified portions of the Definitive Information Statements on Schedule 14C of Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, and Mississippi Power Company relating to each of their respective 2015 Annual Meetings of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into PART III.
Southern Power Company meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form 10-K with the reduced disclosure format specified in General Instructions I(2)(b), (c), and (d) of Form 10-K.
This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by The Southern Company, Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company, Mississippi Power Company, and Southern Power Company. Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf. Each company makes no representation as to information relating to the other companies.


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Table of Contents

 
 
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DEFINITIONS
When used in Items 1 through 5 and Items 9A through 15, the following terms will have the meanings indicated.
Term
Meaning
Alabama Power
Alabama Power Company
Baseload Act
State of Mississippi legislation designed to enhance the Mississippi PSC's authority to facilitate development and construction of baseload generation in the State of Mississippi
Clean Air Act
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
CCR
Coal combustion residuals
CO2
Carbon dioxide
Code
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
CPCN
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
CWIP
Construction Work in Progress
Dalton
City of Dalton, Georgia, acting by and through its Board of Water, Light, and Sinking Fund Commissioners
DOE
U.S. Department of Energy
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, Inc.
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EMC
Electric membership corporation
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FMPA
Florida Municipal Power Agency
Georgia Power
Georgia Power Company
Gulf Power
Gulf Power Company
IBEW
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
IGCC
Integrated coal gasification combined cycle
IIC
Intercompany Interchange Contract
IPP
Independent Power Producer
IRP
Integrated Resource Plan
ITC
Investment tax credit
Kemper IGCC
IGCC facility under construction in Kemper County, Mississippi
KUA
Kissimmee Utility Authority
KW
Kilowatt
KWH
Kilowatt-hour
MATS rule
Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule
MEAG Power
Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia
Mississippi Power
Mississippi Power Company
MW
Megawatt
NRC
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NYSE
New York Stock Exchange
OPC
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
OUC
Orlando Utilities Commission
Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4
Two new nuclear generating units under construction at Plant Vogtle
power pool
The operating arrangement whereby the integrated generating resources of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power Company are subject to joint commitment and dispatch in order to serve their combined load obligations
PowerSouth
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement
 

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DEFINITIONS
(continued)

Term
Meaning
PSC
Public Service Commission
registrants
Southern Company, Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, and Southern Power Company
RUS
Rural Utilities Service
SCS
Southern Company Services, Inc. (the Southern Company system service company)
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
SEGCO
Southern Electric Generating Company
SEPA
Southeastern Power Administration
SERC
Southeastern Electric Reliability Council
SMEPA
South Mississippi Electric Power Association
Southern Company
The Southern Company
Southern Company system
Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, SEGCO, Southern Nuclear, SCS, SouthernLINC Wireless, and other subsidiaries
Southern Holdings
Southern Company Holdings, Inc.
SouthernLINC Wireless
Southern Communications Services, Inc.
Southern Nuclear
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
Southern Power
Southern Power Company and its subsidiaries
TIPA
Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014
traditional operating companies
Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning retail rates, the strategic goals for the wholesale business, economic recovery, fuel and environmental cost recovery and other rate actions, current and proposed environmental regulations and related compliance plans and estimated expenditures, access to sources of capital, projections for the qualified pension plan, postretirement benefit plan, and nuclear decommissioning trust fund contributions, financing activities, completion dates of acquisitions and construction projects, filings with state and federal regulatory authorities, impact of the TIPA, estimated sales and purchases under power sale and purchase agreements, and estimated construction and other plans and expenditures. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. There are various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such indicated results will be realized. These factors include:
the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, including legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding deregulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry, environmental laws including regulation of water, coal combustion residuals, and emissions of sulfur, nitrogen, CO2, soot, particulate matter, hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, and other substances, and also changes in tax and other laws and regulations to which Southern Company and its subsidiaries are subject, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations;
current and future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries, including pending EPA civil actions against certain Southern Company subsidiaries, FERC matters, and Internal Revenue Service and state tax audits;
the effects, extent, and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets in which Southern Company's subsidiaries operate;
variations in demand for electricity, including those relating to weather, the general economy and recovery from the last recession, population and business growth (and declines), the effects of energy conservation and efficiency measures, including from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources such as self-generation and distributed generation technologies, and any potential economic impacts resulting from federal fiscal decisions;
available sources and costs of fuels;
effects of inflation;
the ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of facilities, which include the development and construction of generating facilities with designs that have not been finalized or previously constructed, including changes in labor costs and productivity, adverse weather conditions, shortages and inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor or supplier delay, non-performance under construction or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, unforeseen engineering or design problems, start-up activities (including major equipment failure and system integration), and/or operational performance (including additional costs to satisfy any operational parameters ultimately adopted by any PSC);
the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses, to satisfy any operational and environmental performance standards, including any PSC requirements and the requirements of tax credits and other incentives, and to integrate facilities into the Southern Company system upon completion of construction;
investment performance of Southern Company's employee and retiree benefit plans and the Southern Company system's nuclear decommissioning trust funds;
advances in technology;
state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms;
legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, including Georgia PSC approvals and NRC actions and related legal proceedings involving the commercial parties;
actions related to cost recovery for the Kemper IGCC, including actions relating to proposed securitization, Mississippi PSC approval of a rate recovery plan, including the ability to complete the proposed sale of an interest in the Kemper IGCC to SMEPA, the ability to utilize bonus depreciation, which currently requires that assets be placed in service in 2015, and satisfaction of requirements to utilize ITCs and grants;

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Mississippi PSC review of the prudence of Kemper IGCC costs;
the ultimate outcome and impact of the February 2015 decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court and any further legal or regulatory proceedings regarding any settlement agreement between Mississippi Power and the Mississippi PSC, the March 2013 rate order regarding retail rate increases, or the Baseload Act;
the ability to successfully operate the electric utilities' generating, transmission, and distribution facilities, and the successful performance of necessary corporate functions;
the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities, including environmental, health, regulatory, natural disaster, terrorism, or financial risks;
the performance of projects undertaken by the non-utility businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities;
internal restructuring or other restructuring options that may be pursued;
potential business strategies, including acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to Southern Company or its subsidiaries;
the ability of counterparties of Southern Company and its subsidiaries to make payments as and when due and to perform as required;
the ability to obtain new short- and long-term contracts with wholesale customers;
the direct or indirect effect on the Southern Company system's business resulting from cyber intrusion or terrorist incidents and the threat of terrorist incidents;
interest rate fluctuations and financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts;
changes in Southern Company's or any of its subsidiaries' credit ratings, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital markets, and collateral requirements;
the impacts of any sovereign financial issues, including impacts on interest rates, access to capital markets, impacts on currency exchange rates, counterparty performance, and the economy in general, as well as potential impacts on the benefits of the DOE loan guarantees;
the ability of Southern Company and its subsidiaries to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive prices;
catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences;
the direct or indirect effects on the Southern Company system's business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid or operation of generating resources;
the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies; and
other factors discussed elsewhere herein and in other reports filed by the registrants from time to time with the SEC.
The registrants expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.


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PART I
Item 1.
BUSINESS
Southern Company was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945. Southern Company is registered and qualified to do business under the laws of Georgia and is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under the laws of Alabama. Southern Company owns all of the outstanding common stock of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power, each of which is an operating public utility company. The traditional operating companies supply electric service in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. More particular information relating to each of the traditional operating companies is as follows:
Alabama Power is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Alabama on November 10, 1927, by the consolidation of a predecessor Alabama Power Company, Gulf Electric Company, and Houston Power Company. The predecessor Alabama Power Company had been in continuous existence since its incorporation in 1906.
Georgia Power was incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia on June 26, 1930 and was admitted to do business in Alabama on September 15, 1948 and in Florida on October 13, 1997.
Gulf Power is a Florida corporation that has had a continuous existence since it was originally organized under the laws of the State of Maine on November 2, 1925. Gulf Power was admitted to do business in Florida on January 15, 1926, in Mississippi on October 25, 1976, and in Georgia on November 20, 1984. Gulf Power became a Florida corporation after being domesticated under the laws of the State of Florida on November 2, 2005.
Mississippi Power was incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi on July 12, 1972, was admitted to do business in Alabama on November 28, 1972, and effective December 21, 1972, by the merger into it of the predecessor Mississippi Power Company, succeeded to the business and properties of the latter company. The predecessor Mississippi Power Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maine on November 24, 1924 and was admitted to do business in Mississippi on December 23, 1924 and in Alabama on December 7, 1962.
In addition, Southern Company owns all of the common stock of Southern Power Company, which is also an operating public utility company. Southern Power constructs, acquires, owns, and manages generation assets, including renewable energy projects, and sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market. Southern Power Company is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware on January 8, 2001 and was admitted to do business in the States of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia on January 10, 2001, in the State of Mississippi on January 30, 2001, in the State of North Carolina on February 19, 2007, and in the State of South Carolina on March 31, 2009. Certain of Southern Power Company's subsidiaries are also admitted to do business in the States of California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
Southern Company also owns all of the outstanding common stock or membership interests of SouthernLINC Wireless, Southern Nuclear, SCS, Southern Holdings, and other direct and indirect subsidiaries. SouthernLINC Wireless provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and markets these services to the public and also provides wholesale fiber optic solutions to telecommunication providers in the Southeast. Southern Nuclear operates and provides services to Alabama Power's and Georgia Power's nuclear plants and is currently developing Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which are co-owned by Georgia Power. SCS is the Southern Company system service company providing, at cost, specialized services to Southern Company and its subsidiary companies. Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding subsidiary, primarily for Southern Company's investments in leveraged leases.
Alabama Power and Georgia Power each own 50% of the outstanding common stock of SEGCO. SEGCO is an operating public utility company that owns electric generating units with an aggregate capacity of 1,019,680 KWs at Plant Gaston on the Coosa River near Wilsonville, Alabama. Alabama Power and Georgia Power are each entitled to one-half of SEGCO's capacity and energy. Alabama Power acts as SEGCO's agent in the operation of SEGCO's units and furnishes fuel to SEGCO for its units. SEGCO also owns one 230,000 volt transmission line extending from Plant Gaston to the Georgia state line at which point connection is made with the Georgia Power transmission line system.
Southern Company's segment information is included in Note 12 to the financial statements of Southern Company in Item 8 herein.
The registrants' Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports are made available on Southern Company's website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Southern Company's internet address is www.southerncompany.com.

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The Southern Company System
Traditional Operating Companies
The traditional operating companies are vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. See PROPERTIES in Item 2 herein for additional information on the traditional operating companies' generating facilities. Each company's transmission facilities are connected to the respective company's own generating plants and other sources of power (including certain generating plants owned by Southern Power) and are interconnected with the transmission facilities of the other traditional operating companies and SEGCO. For information on the State of Georgia's integrated transmission system, see "Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power" herein.
Agreements in effect with principal neighboring utility systems provide for capacity and energy transactions that may be entered into from time to time for reasons related to reliability or economics. Additionally, the traditional operating companies have entered into voluntary reliability agreements with the subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation, Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group, and Tennessee Valley Authority and with Duke Energy Progress, Inc., Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, and Virginia Electric and Power Company, each of which provides for the establishment and periodic review of principles and procedures for planning and operation of generation and transmission facilities, maintenance schedules, load retention programs, emergency operations, and other matters affecting the reliability of bulk power supply. The traditional operating companies have joined with other utilities in the Southeast (including some of those referred to above) to form the SERC to augment further the reliability and adequacy of bulk power supply. Through the SERC, the traditional operating companies are represented on the National Electric Reliability Council.
The utility assets of the traditional operating companies and certain utility assets of Southern Power Company are operated as a single integrated electric system, or power pool, pursuant to the IIC. Activities under the IIC are administered by SCS, which acts as agent for the traditional operating companies and Southern Power Company. The fundamental purpose of the power pool is to provide for the coordinated operation of the electric facilities in an effort to achieve the maximum possible economies consistent with the highest practicable reliability of service. Subject to service requirements and other operating limitations, system resources are committed and controlled through the application of centralized economic dispatch. Under the IIC, each traditional operating company and Southern Power Company retains its lowest cost energy resources for the benefit of its own customers and delivers any excess energy to the power pool for use in serving customers of other traditional operating companies or Southern Power Company or for sale by the power pool to third parties. The IIC provides for the recovery of specified costs associated with the affiliated operations thereunder, as well as the proportionate sharing of costs and revenues resulting from power pool transactions with third parties.
Southern Company, each traditional operating company, Southern Power Company, Southern Nuclear, SEGCO, and other subsidiaries have contracted with SCS to furnish, at direct or allocated cost and upon request, the following services: general and design engineering, operations, purchasing, accounting, finance and treasury, tax, information technology, marketing, auditing, insurance and pension administration, human resources, systems and procedures, digital wireless communications, and other services with respect to business and operations, construction management, and power pool transactions. Southern Power Company and SouthernLINC Wireless have also secured from the traditional operating companies certain services which are furnished at cost and, in the case of Southern Power Company, which are subject to FERC regulations.
Alabama Power and Georgia Power each have a contract with Southern Nuclear to operate the Southern Company system's existing nuclear plants, Plants Farley, Hatch, and Vogtle. In addition, Georgia Power has a contract with Southern Nuclear to develop, license, construct, and operate Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. See "Regulation – Nuclear Regulation" herein for additional information.
Southern Power
Southern Power Company is an electric wholesale generation subsidiary with market-based rate authority from the FERC. Southern Power constructs, acquires, owns, and manages generation assets, including renewable energy projects, and sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market. Southern Power continually seeks opportunities to execute its strategy to create value through various transactions, including acquisitions and sales of assets, construction of new power plants, and entry into PPAs primarily with investor owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, and electric cooperatives. Southern Power Company's business activities are not subject to traditional state regulation like the traditional operating companies but are subject to regulation by the FERC. Southern Power has attempted to insulate itself from significant fuel supply, fuel transportation, and electric transmission risks by generally making such risks the responsibility of the counterparties to its PPAs. However, Southern Power's future earnings will depend on the parameters of the wholesale market and the efficient operation of its wholesale generating assets, as well as Southern Power’s ability to execute its acquisition and value creation strategy and to construct generating facilities. The term "Southern Power" when used herein refers to Southern Power Company and its subsidiaries while the term "Southern Power Company" when used herein refers only to the registrant. For additional

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information on Southern Power's business activities, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – OVERVIEW – "Business Activities" of Southern Power in Item 7 herein.
In April 2013, Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy, LLC (TRE), through Southern Turner Renewable Energy, LLC (STR), a jointly-owned subsidiary owned 90% by Southern Power, acquired all of the outstanding membership interests of Campo Verde Solar, LLC (Campo Verde). Campo Verde constructed and owns an approximately 139-MW solar photovoltaic facility in Southern California. The solar facility began commercial operation in October 2013 and the entire output of the plant is contracted under a 20-year PPA with San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a subsidiary of Sempra Energy.
Southern Power and TRE, through STR, acquired all of the outstanding membership interests of Adobe Solar, LLC (Adobe) and Macho Springs Solar, LLC (Macho Springs) on April 17, 2014 and May 22, 2014, respectively. The Adobe and Macho Springs solar facilities began commercial operation in May 2014 with the approximate 20-MW Adobe solar photovoltaic facility serving a 20-year PPA with Southern California Edison Company and the approximate 50-MW Macho Springs solar photovoltaic facility serving a 20-year PPA with El Paso Electric Company.
On October 22, 2014, Southern Power, through its subsidiaries Southern Renewable Partnerships, LLC and SG2 Holdings, LLC (SG2 Holdings), acquired all of the outstanding membership interests of SG2 Imperial Valley, LLC (Imperial Valley). Southern Power owns 100% of the class A membership interests of SG2 Holdings and is entitled to 51% of all cash distributions from SG2 Holdings, and First Solar, Inc. indirectly owns 100% of the class B membership interests of SG2 Holdings and is entitled to 49% of all cash distributions from SG2 Holdings. In addition, Southern Power is entitled to substantially all of the federal tax benefits with respect to the transaction. Imperial Valley constructed and owns an approximately 150-MW solar photovoltaic facility in Southern California. The solar facility began commercial operation on November 26, 2014, and the entire output of the plant is contracted under a 25-year PPA with SDG&E.
In December 2014, Southern Power announced that it will build an approximately 131-MW solar photovoltaic facility in Taylor County, Georgia. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in September 2015. Commercial operation is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter 2016, and the entire output of the facility is contracted under separate 25-year PPAs with Cobb EMC, Flint EMC, and Sawnee EMC.
On February 19, 2015, Southern Power acquired all of the outstanding membership interests of Decatur Parkway Solar Project, LLC and Decatur County Solar Project, LLC from TradeWind Energy, Inc. as part of Southern Power’s plan to build two solar photovoltaic facilities, the Decatur Parkway Solar Project and the Decatur County Solar Project. These two projects, approximately 80 MWs and 19 MWs, respectively, will be constructed on separate sites in Decatur County, Georgia. The construction of the Decatur Parkway Solar Project commenced in February 2015 while the construction of the Decatur County Solar Project is expected to commence in June 2015. Both projects are expected to begin commercial operation in late 2015. The entire output of the Decatur Parkway Solar Project is contracted under a 25-year PPA with Georgia Power and the entire output of the Decatur Country Solar Project is contracted under a 20-year PPA with Georgia Power. The total estimated cost of the facilities is expected to be between $200 million and $220 million, which includes the acquisition price for all of the outstanding membership interests of Decatur Parkway Solar Project, LLC and Decatur County Solar Project, LLC from Tradewind Energy, Inc.
On February 24, 2015, Southern Power, through its wholly owned subsidiary SRE, entered into a purchase agreement with Kay Wind Holdings, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apex Clean Energy Holdings, LLC, the developer of the project, to acquire all of the outstanding membership interests of Kay Wind, LLC (Kay Wind) for approximately $492 million, with potential purchase price adjustments based on performance testing. Kay Wind is constructing an approximately 299 MW wind facility in Kay County, Oklahoma. The wind facility is expected to begin commercial operation in late 2015, and the entire output of the facility is contracted under separate 20-year PPAs with Westar Energy, Inc. and Grand River Dam Authority. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2015 subject to Kay Wind achieving certain financing, construction, and project milestones, and various customary conditions to closing.
See Note 2 to the financial statements of Southern Power in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding Southern Power's acquisitions.
As of December 31, 2014, Southern Power had 9,074 MWs of nameplate capacity in commercial operation, after taking into consideration its equity ownership percentage of the solar facilities. Taking into account the PPAs and capacity from the Taylor County and Decatur County solar projects, as well as the acquisition of Kay Wind, all as discussed above, Southern Power had an average of 77% of its available capacity covered for the next five years (2015 through 2019) and an average of 70% of its available capacity covered for the next 10 years (2015 through 2024).
Southern Power’s natural gas and biomass sales are primarily through long-term PPAs. Southern Power’s natural gas PPAs consist of two types of agreements. The first type, referred to as a unit or block sale, is a customer purchase from a dedicated plant unit where all or a portion of the generation from that unit is reserved for that customer. Southern Power typically has the

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ability to serve the unit or block sale customer from an alternate resource. The second type, referred to as requirements service, provides that Southern Power serve the customer’s capacity and energy requirements from a combination of the customer’s own generating units and from Southern Power resources not dedicated to serve unit or block sales. Southern Power has rights to purchase power provided by the requirements customers’ resources when economically viable.
Southern Power’s solar sales are through long-term PPAs. Each of Southern Power’s solar PPAs is a customer purchase from a dedicated solar facility where the customer purchases the entire energy output of the facility.
The following tables set forth Southern Power’s existing PPAs as of December 31, 2014:
Block Sales PPAs
Facility/Source
 
Counterparty
 
MWs

 
 
 
Contract Term
Addison Unit 1
 
MEAG Power
 
150

 
 
 
through April 2029
Addison Units 2 and 4
 
Georgia Power
 
296

 
 
 
Jan. 2015 – May 2030
Addison Unit 3
 
Georgia Energy Cooperative
 
150

 
 
 
through May 2030
Cleveland County Unit 1
 
NCEMC(1)
 
45-180

 
 
 
through December 2036
Cleveland County Unit 2
 
NCEMC(1)
 
180

 
 
 
through December 2036
Cleveland County Unit 3
 
NCMPA1(2)
 
180

 
 
 
through December 2031
Dahlberg Units 1, 3 and 5
 
Cobb EMC
 
225

 
 
 
Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2022
Dahlberg Units 2, 6, 8 and 10
 
Georgia Power
 
298

 
 
 
through May 2025
Dahlberg Unit 4
 
Georgia Power
 
75

 
 
 
Jan. 2015 – May 2030
Franklin Unit 1
 
Florida Power & Light Co.
 
190

 
 
 
through December 2015
Franklin Unit 1
 
Duke Energy Florida, Inc.
 
350

 
 
 
through May 2016
Franklin Unit 1
 
Duke Energy Florida, Inc.
 
434

 
 
 
June 2016 – May 2021
Franklin Unit 2
 
Morgan Stanley Capital Group
 
250

 
 
 
Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2025
Franklin Unit 2
 
Jackson EMC
 
60-65

 
 
 
Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2035
Franklin Unit 2
 
GreyStone Power Corporation
 
35-40

 
 
 
Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2035
Franklin Unit 2
 
Cobb EMC
 
100

 
 
 
Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2022
Franklin Unit 3
 
Constellation Energy
 
628

 
 
 
through December 2015
Harris Unit 1
 
Florida Power & Light Co.
 
600

 
 
 
through December 2015
Harris Unit 1
 
Georgia Power(3)
 
638

 
 
 
June 2015 – May 2030
Harris Unit 2
 
Georgia Power
 
636

 
 
 
through May 2019
Nacogdoches
 
City of Austin, Texas
 
100

 
 
 
through May 2032
NCEMC PPA(4)
 
EnergyUnited
 
100

 
 
 
through December 2021
Oleander Unit 1
 
Tampa Electric Company
 
155

 
 
 
through December 2015
Oleander Units 2, 3 and 4
 
Seminole Electric Cooperative
 
465

 
 
 
through May 2021
Oleander Unit 5
 
FMPA
 
160

 
 
 
through December 2027
Rowan CT Unit 1
 
NCMPA1(2)
 
100-150

 
 
 
through December 2030
Rowan CT Unit 3
 
EnergyUnited
 
113

 
 
 
Jan. 2015 – December 2023
Rowan CC Unit 4
 
NCMPA1(2)
 
50

 
 
 
through December 2015
Rowan CC Unit 4
 
EnergyUnited
 
0-274

 
 
 
through December 2025
Rowan CC Unit 4
 
Duke Energy Progress, Inc.
 
150

 
 
 
through December 2019
Rowan CC Unit 4
 
PJM Auction(5)
 
200

 
 
 
June 2016 – May 2017
Stanton Unit A
 
OUC
 
341

 
 
 
through September 2033
Stanton Unit A
 
FMPA
 
85

 
 
 
through September 2033
Wansley Unit 6
 
Georgia Power
 
568

 
 
 
through May 2017
(1)
North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC)

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(2)
North Carolina Municipal Power Agency (NCMPA)
(3)
Georgia Power will be served by Plant Franklin Unit 2 from June 2015 through December 2015.
(4)
Represents sale of power purchased from NCEMC under a PPA.
(5)
Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland Power Pool
Requirements Services PPAs
Counterparty
 
MWs
 
 
 
Contract Term
Nine Georgia EMCs
 
239-358

 
(1)
 
through December 2024
Sawnee EMC
 
117-422

 
(1)
 
through December 2027
Cobb EMC
 
26-210


 
(1)
 
through December 2015
Cobb EMC
 
26-210

 
(1)
 
Jan. 2016 - Dec. 2025
Flint EMC
 
131-210

 
(1)
 
through December 2024
City of Dalton, Georgia
 

 
(1)
 
through December 2017
EnergyUnited
 
99-236

 
(1)
 
through December 2025
City of Seneca, South Carolina
 
30

 
 
 
through June 2015
_______________________________________
(1)
Represents a range of forecasted incremental capacity needs over the contract term.
Solar PPAs
Facility
Counterparty
MWs(1)
Contract Term
Adobe(2)
Southern California Edison Company
20
through April 2034
Apex(2)
Nevada Power Company
20
through November 2037
Campo Verde(2)
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
139
through October 2033
Cimarron(2)
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
30
through November 2035
Granville(2)
Duke Energy Progress, Inc.
2.5
through November 2032
Imperial Valley(3)
SDG&E
150
through October 2039
Macho Springs(2)
El Paso Energy
50
through April 2034
Spectrum(2)
Nevada Power Company
30
through December 2038
Taylor County
Cobb EMC
101
fourth quarter 2016 - 2041
Taylor County
Flint EMC
15
fourth quarter 2016 - 2041
Taylor County
Sawnee EMC
15
fourth quarter 2016 - 2041
_______________________________________
(1)
MWs shown are for 100% of the PPA, which is based on the demonstrated capacity of the facility.
(2)
Southern Power’s equity interest in these facilities is 90%.
(3)
Southern Power's equity interest in this facility is 51%.
Purchased Power
Facility/Source
Counterparty
MWs
Contract Term
Sandersville
AL Sandersville Holdings, LLC
280
through December 2015
NCEMC
NCEMC
100
through December 2021
See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Power Sales Agreements" and "Acquisitions" of Southern Power in Item 7 herein and Note 2 to the financial statements of Southern Power in Item 8 herein for additional information.

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For the year ended December 31, 2014, Southern Power derived approximately 10.1% of its revenues from sales to Florida Power & Light Company, approximately 9.7% of its revenues from sales to Georgia Power, and approximately 9.1% of its revenues from sales to Duke Energy Corporation.
Other Businesses
Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding subsidiary, primarily for Southern Company's investments in leveraged leases.
SouthernLINC Wireless provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and also markets these services to the public. SouthernLINC Wireless delivers multiple wireless communication options including push to talk, cellular service, text messaging, wireless internet access, and wireless data. Its system covers approximately 127,000 square miles in the Southeast. SouthernLINC Wireless also provides fiber cable services within the Southeast through its subsidiary, Southern Telecom, Inc.
These efforts to invest in and develop new business opportunities offer potential returns exceeding those of rate-regulated operations. However, these activities also involve a higher degree of risk.
Construction Programs
The subsidiary companies of Southern Company are engaged in continuous construction programs to accommodate existing and estimated future loads on their respective systems. For estimated construction and environmental expenditures for the periods 2015 through 2017, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – "Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations" of Southern Company, each traditional operating company, and Southern Power in Item 7 herein. The Southern Company system's construction program consists of capital investment and capital expenditures to comply with environmental statutes and regulations. In 2015, the construction program is expected to be apportioned approximately as follows:
 
Southern
Company
system *
Alabama
Power
Georgia
Power
Gulf
Power
Mississippi
Power
 
(in millions)
New Generation
$
1,295

$

$
494

$

$
801

Environmental Compliance**
1,035

420

347

127

94

Generation Maintenance
958

395

471

46

29

Transmission
641

180

396

24

40

Distribution
786

312

384

48

41

Nuclear Fuel
277

125

152



General Plant
277

103

145

18

11

 
5,269

1,535

2,389

263

1,016

Southern Power***
1,395





Other subsidiaries
64





Total
$
6,728

$
1,535

$
2,389

$
263

$
1,016

*
These amounts include the amounts for the traditional operating companies (as detailed in the table above) as well as the amounts for Southern Power and the other subsidiaries. See "Other Businesses" herein for additional information.
**
Reflects cost estimates for environmental regulations. These estimated expenditures do not include any potential compliance costs that may arise from the EPA’s proposed rules that would limit CO2 emissions from new, existing, and modified or reconstructed fossil-fuel-fired electric generating units. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters – Environmental Statutes and Regulations" and FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – "Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations" of Southern Company and each traditional operating company in Item 7 herein for additional information.
***
Includes approximately $1.3 billion for potential acquisitions and/or construction of new generating facilities.
The construction programs are subject to periodic review and revision, and actual construction costs may vary from these estimates because of numerous factors. These factors include: changes in business conditions; changes in load projections; changes in environmental statutes and regulations; the outcome of any legal challenges to the environmental rules; changes in generating plants, including unit retirements and replacements and adding or changing fuel sources at existing units, to meet regulatory requirements; changes in FERC rules and regulations; PSC approvals; changes in the expected environmental

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compliance program; changes in legislation; the cost and efficiency of construction labor, equipment, and materials; project scope and design changes; storm impacts; and the cost of capital. In addition, there can be no assurance that costs related to capital expenditures will be fully recovered. Additionally, planned expenditures for plant acquisitions may vary due to market opportunities and Southern Power's ability to execute its growth strategy.
In addition, the construction program includes the development and construction of new generating facilities with designs that have not been finalized or previously constructed, including first-of-a-kind technology, which may result in revised estimates during construction. The ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of new facilities is subject to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, labor costs and productivity, adverse weather conditions, shortages and inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor or supplier delay, non-performance under construction or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, unforeseen engineering or design problems, start-up activities (including major equipment failure and system integration), and/or operational performance (including additional costs to satisfy any operational parameters ultimately adopted by any PSC).
See "Regulation – Environmental Statutes and Regulations" herein for additional information with respect to certain existing and proposed environmental requirements and PROPERTIES – "Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein for additional information concerning Alabama Power's, Georgia Power's, and Southern Power's joint ownership of certain generating units and related facilities with certain non-affiliated utilities. See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters – Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" and "Retail Regulatory Matters – Nuclear Construction," respectively, in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding Georgia Power’s construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Also see Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle" in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding Mississippi Power’s construction of the Kemper IGCC.
Financing Programs
See each of the registrant's MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY in Item 7 herein and Note 6 to the financial statements of each registrant in Item 8 herein for information concerning financing programs.
Fuel Supply
The traditional operating companies' and SEGCO's supply of electricity is primarily fueled by natural gas and coal. Southern Power's supply of electricity is primarily fueled by natural gas. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – RESULTS OF OPERATION – "Electricity Business – Fuel and Purchased Power Expenses" of Southern Company and MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – RESULTS OF OPERATION – "Fuel and Purchased Power Expenses" of each traditional operating company in Item 7 herein for information regarding the electricity generated and the average cost of fuel in cents per net KWH generated for the years 2012 through 2014.
The traditional operating companies have agreements in place from which they expect to receive substantially all of their coal burn requirements in 2015. These agreements have terms ranging between one and six years. In 2014, the weighted average sulfur content of all coal burned by the traditional operating companies was 0.96% sulfur. This sulfur level, along with banked and purchased sulfur dioxide allowances, allowed the traditional operating companies to remain within limits set by Phase I of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) under the Clean Air Act. In 2014, the Southern Company system did not purchase any sulfur dioxide allowances, annual nitrogen oxide emission allowances, or seasonal nitrogen oxide emission allowances from the market. As any additional environmental regulations are proposed that impact the utilization of coal, the traditional operating companies' fuel mix will be monitored to help ensure that the traditional operating companies remain in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, Southern Company and the traditional operating companies will continue to evaluate the need to purchase additional emissions allowances, the timing of capital expenditures for emissions control equipment, and potential unit retirements and replacements. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters" of Southern Company, each traditional operating company, and Southern Power in Item 7 herein for additional information on environmental matters.
SCS, acting on behalf of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power Company, has agreements in place for the natural gas burn requirements of the Southern Company system. For 2015, SCS has contracted for 446 billion cubic feet of natural gas supply under agreements with remaining terms up to 15 years. In addition to natural gas supply, SCS has contracts in place for both firm natural gas transportation and storage. Management believes these contracts provide sufficient natural gas supplies, transportation, and storage to ensure normal operations of the Southern Company system's natural gas generating units.

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Alabama Power and Georgia Power have numerous contracts covering a portion of their nuclear fuel needs for uranium, conversion services, enrichment services, and fuel fabrication. These contracts have varying expiration dates and most of them are for less than 10 years. Management believes sufficient capacity for nuclear fuel supplies and processing exists to preclude the impairment of normal operations of the Southern Company system's nuclear generating units.
Changes in fuel prices to the traditional operating companies are generally reflected in fuel adjustment clauses contained in rate schedules. See "Rate Matters – Rate Structure and Cost Recovery Plans" herein for additional information. Southern Power's PPAs (excluding solar) generally provide that the counterparty is responsible for substantially all of the cost of fuel.
Alabama Power and Georgia Power have contracts with the United States, acting through the DOE, that provide for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The DOE failed to begin disposing of spent fuel in 1998, as required by the contracts, and Alabama Power and Georgia Power have pursued and are pursuing legal remedies against the government for breach of contract. See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power under "Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power
The territory in which the traditional operating companies provide electric service comprises most of the states of Alabama and Georgia together with the northwestern portion of Florida and southeastern Mississippi. In this territory there are non-affiliated electric distribution systems that obtain some or all of their power requirements either directly or indirectly from the traditional operating companies. As of December 31, 2014, the territory had an area of approximately 120,000 square miles and an estimated population of approximately 16 million. Southern Power sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market primarily to investor-owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, and electric cooperatives.
Alabama Power is engaged, within the State of Alabama, in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity, at retail in approximately 400 cities and towns (including Anniston, Birmingham, Gadsden, Mobile, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to 14 municipally-owned electric distribution systems, 11 of which are served indirectly through sales to Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, and two rural distributing cooperative associations. Alabama Power owns coal reserves near its Plant Gorgas and uses the output of coal from the reserves in its generating plants. Alabama Power also sells, and cooperates with dealers in promoting the sale of, electric appliances.
Georgia Power is engaged in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity within the State of Georgia, at retail in over 600 communities (including Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Rome, and Savannah), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale currently to OPC, MEAG Power, Dalton, various EMCs, and non-affiliated utilities.
Gulf Power is engaged, within the northwestern portion of Florida, in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity, at retail in 71 communities (including Pensacola, Panama City, and Fort Walton Beach), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to a non-affiliated utility.
Mississippi Power is engaged in the generation and purchase of electricity and the transmission, distribution, and sale of such electricity within 23 counties in southeastern Mississippi, at retail in 123 communities (including Biloxi, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Meridian, and Pascagoula), as well as in rural areas, and at wholesale to one municipality, six rural electric distribution cooperative associations, and one generating and transmitting cooperative.
For information relating to KWH sales by customer classification for the traditional operating companies, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS of each traditional operating company in Item 7 herein. Also, for information relating to the sources of revenues for Southern Company, each traditional operating company, and Southern Power, reference is made to Item 7 herein.
The RUS has authority to make loans to cooperative associations or corporations to enable them to provide electric service to customers in rural sections of the country. As of December 31, 2014, there were 71 electric cooperative organizations operating in the territory in which the traditional operating companies provide electric service at retail or wholesale.
One of these organizations, PowerSouth, is a generating and transmitting cooperative selling power to several distributing cooperatives, municipal systems, and other customers in south Alabama and northwest Florida. As of December 31, 2014, PowerSouth owned generating units with approximately 2,094 MWs of nameplate capacity, including an undivided 8.16% ownership interest in Alabama Power's Plant Miller Units 1 and 2. PowerSouth's facilities were financed with RUS loans secured by long-term contracts requiring distributing cooperatives to take their requirements from PowerSouth to the extent such energy is available. See PROPERTIES – "Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein for details of Alabama Power's joint-ownership with PowerSouth of a portion of Plant Miller.

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Alabama Power and Gulf Power have entered into separate agreements with PowerSouth involving interconnection between their respective systems. The delivery of capacity and energy from PowerSouth to certain distributing cooperatives in the service territories of Alabama Power and Gulf Power is governed by the Southern Company/PowerSouth Network Transmission Service Agreement. The rates for this service to PowerSouth are on file with the FERC.
Four electric cooperative associations, financed by the RUS, operate within Gulf Power's service territory. These cooperatives purchase their full requirements from PowerSouth and SEPA (a federal power marketing agency). A non-affiliated utility also operates within Gulf Power's service territory and purchases its full requirements from Gulf Power.
Mississippi Power has an interchange agreement with SMEPA, a generating and transmitting cooperative, pursuant to which various services are provided. In 2010, Mississippi Power and SMEPA entered into an asset purchase agreement whereby SMEPA agreed to purchase a 17.5% undivided interest in the Kemper IGCC. In 2012, the Mississippi PSC approved the sale and transfer of the 17.5% undivided interest in the Kemper IGCC to SMEPA. Later in 2012, Mississippi Power and SMEPA signed an amendment to the asset purchase agreement whereby SMEPA reduced its purchase commitment percentage from a 17.5% to a 15% undivided interest in the Kemper IGCC. In March 2013, Mississippi Power and SMEPA signed an amendment to the asset purchase agreement whereby Mississippi Power and SMEPA agreed to amend the power supply agreement entered into by the parties in 2011 to reduce the capacity amounts to be received by SMEPA by half (approximately 75 MWs) at the sale and transfer of the undivided interest in the Kemper IGCC to SMEPA. In December 2013, Mississippi Power and SMEPA agreed to extend SMEPA's option to purchase through December 31, 2014.
By letter agreement dated October 6, 2014, Mississippi Power and SMEPA reached an agreement in principle on certain issues related to SMEPA's proposed purchase of a 15% undivided interest in the Kemper IGCC. The letter agreement contemplated certain amendments to the asset purchase agreement, which the parties anticipated to be incorporated into the asset purchase agreement on or before December 31, 2014. The parties agreed to further amend the asset purchase agreement as follows: (1) Mississippi Power agreed to cap at $2.88 billion the portion of the purchase price payable for development and construction costs, net of exceptions to the $2.88 billion cost cap, including the cost of the lignite mine and equipment, the cost of the CO2 pipeline facilities, allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC), and certain general exceptions, including change of law, force majeure, and beneficial capital (which exists when Mississippi Power demonstrates that the purpose and effect of the construction cost increase is to produce efficiencies that will result in a neutral or favorable effect on customers relative to the original proposal for the CPCN) (Cost Cap Exceptions); title insurance reimbursement; and AFUDC and/or carrying costs through the Closing Commitment Date (defined below); (2) SMEPA agreed to close the purchase within 180 days after the date of the execution of the amended asset purchase agreement or before the Kemper IGCC's in-service date, whichever occurs first (Closing Commitment Date), subject only to satisfaction of certain conditions; and (3) AFUDC and/or carrying costs will continue to be accrued on the capped development and construction costs, the Cost Cap Exceptions, and any operating costs, net of revenues until the amended asset purchase agreement is executed by both parties, and thereafter AFUDC and/or carrying costs and payment of interest on SMEPA's deposited money will be suspended and waived, provided closing occurs by the Closing Commitment Date. The letter agreement also provided for certain post-closing adjustments to address any differences between the actual and the estimated amounts of post-in-service date costs (both expenses and capital) and revenue credits for those portions of the Kemper IGCC previously placed in service.
By letter dated December 18, 2014, SMEPA notified Mississippi Power that SMEPA decided not to extend the estimated closing date in the asset purchase agreement or revise the asset purchase agreement to include the contemplated amendments; however, both parties agree that the asset purchase agreement will remain in effect until closing or until either party gives notice of termination.
The closing of this transaction is also conditioned upon execution of a joint ownership and operating agreement, the absence of material adverse effects, receipt of all construction permits, and appropriate regulatory approvals, as well as SMEPA's receipt of RUS funding. In 2012, SMEPA received a conditional loan commitment from RUS for the purchase.
As of December 31, 2014, there were 65 municipally-owned electric distribution systems operating in the territory in which the traditional operating companies provide electric service at retail or wholesale.
As of December 31, 2014, 48 municipally-owned electric distribution systems and one county-owned system received their requirements through MEAG Power, which was established by a Georgia state statute in 1975. MEAG Power serves these requirements from self-owned generation facilities, some of which are jointly-owned with Georgia Power, and purchases from other resources. MEAG Power also has a pseudo scheduling and services agreement with Georgia Power. Dalton serves its requirements from self-owned generation facilities, some of which are jointly-owned with Georgia Power, and through purchases from Georgia Power and Southern Power through a service agreement. See PROPERTIES – "Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein for additional information.
Georgia Power has entered into substantially similar agreements with Georgia Transmission Corporation, MEAG Power, and Dalton providing for the establishment of an integrated transmission system to carry the power and energy of all parties. The

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agreements require an investment by each party in the integrated transmission system in proportion to its respective share of the aggregate system load. See PROPERTIES – "Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein for additional information.
Southern Power has PPAs with some of the traditional operating companies and with other investor-owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, electric cooperatives, and an energy marketing firm. See "The Southern Company System - Southern Power" above and MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Power Sales Agreements" of Southern Power in Item 7 herein for additional information concerning Southern Power's PPAs.
SCS, acting on behalf of the traditional operating companies, also has a contract with SEPA providing for the use of the traditional operating companies' facilities at government expense to deliver to certain cooperatives and municipalities, entitled by federal statute to preference in the purchase of power from SEPA, quantities of power equivalent to the amounts of power allocated to them by SEPA from certain United States government hydroelectric projects.
Competition
The electric utility industry in the United States is continuing to evolve as a result of regulatory and competitive factors. Among the early primary agents of change was the Energy Policy Act of 1992 which allowed IPPs to access a utility's transmission network in order to sell electricity to other utilities.
The competition for retail energy sales among competing suppliers of energy is influenced by various factors, including price, availability, technological advancements, service, and reliability. These factors are, in turn, affected by, among other influences, regulatory, political, and environmental considerations, taxation, and supply.
The retail service rights of all electric suppliers in the State of Georgia are regulated by the Territorial Electric Service Act of 1973. Pursuant to the provisions of this Act, all areas within existing municipal limits were assigned to the primary electric supplier therein. Areas outside of such municipal limits were either to be assigned or to be declared open for customer choice of supplier by action of the Georgia PSC pursuant to standards set forth in this Act. Consistent with such standards, the Georgia PSC has assigned substantially all of the land area in the state to a supplier. Notwithstanding such assignments, this Act provides that any new customer locating outside of 1973 municipal limits and having a connected load of at least 900 KWs may exercise a one-time choice for the life of the premises to receive electric service from the supplier of its choice.
Pursuant to the 1956 Utility Act, the Mississippi PSC issued "Grandfather Certificates" of public convenience and necessity to Mississippi Power and to six distribution rural cooperatives operating in southeastern Mississippi, then served in whole or in part by Mississippi Power, authorizing them to distribute electricity in certain specified geographically described areas of the state. The six cooperatives serve approximately 325,000 retail customers in a certificated area of approximately 10,300 square miles. In areas included in a "Grandfather Certificate," the utility holding such certificate may, without further certification, extend its lines up to five miles; other extensions within that area by such utility, or by other utilities, may not be made except upon a showing of, and a grant of a certificate of, public convenience and necessity. Areas included in such a certificate which are subsequently annexed to municipalities may continue to be served by the holder of the certificate, irrespective of whether it has a franchise in the annexing municipality. On the other hand, the holder of the municipal franchise may not extend service into such newly annexed area without authorization by the Mississippi PSC.
Generally, the traditional operating companies have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, competition in their respective retail service territories in varying degrees from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources such as self-generation (as described below) and distributed generation technologies, as well as other factors.
Southern Power competes with investor owned utilities, IPPs, and others for wholesale energy sales primarily in the Southeastern U.S. wholesale market. The needs of this market are driven by the demands of end users in the Southeast and the generation available. Southern Power's success in wholesale energy sales is influenced by various factors including reliability and availability of Southern Power's plants, availability of transmission to serve the demand, price, and Southern Power's ability to contain costs.
As of December 31, 2014, Alabama Power had cogeneration contracts in effect with 10 industrial customers. Under the terms of these contracts, Alabama Power purchases excess energy generated by such companies. During 2014, Alabama Power purchased approximately 172 million KWHs from such companies at a cost of $4.6 million.
As of December 31, 2014, Georgia Power had contracts in effect with 25 small power producers whereby Georgia Power purchases their excess generation. During 2014, Georgia Power purchased 598 million KWHs from such companies at a cost of $37 million. Georgia Power also has a PPA for electricity with one cogeneration facility. Payments are subject to reductions for failure to meet minimum capacity output. During 2014, Georgia Power purchased 197 million KWHs at a cost of $23 million from this facility.

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Also during 2014, Georgia Power purchased energy from four customer-owned generating facilities. These customers provide only energy to Georgia Power and make no capacity commitment and are not dispatched by Georgia Power. During 2014, Georgia Power purchased a total of 30 million KWHs from the four customers at a cost of approximately $1 million.
As of December 31, 2014, Gulf Power had agreements in effect with various industrial, commercial, and qualifying facilities pursuant to which Gulf Power purchases "as available" energy from customer-owned generation. During 2014, Gulf Power purchased 185 million KWHs from such companies for approximately $8.1 million.
As of December 31, 2014, Mississippi Power had one cogeneration agreement in effect with one of its industrial customers. Under the terms of this contract, Mississippi Power purchases any excess generation. During 2014, Mississippi Power did not purchase any excess generation from this customer.
Seasonality
The demand for electric power generation is affected by seasonal differences in the weather. At the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, the demand for power peaks during the summer months, with market prices reflecting the demand of power and available generating resources at that time. Power demand peaks can also be recorded during the winter. As a result, the overall operating results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power have historically sold less power when weather conditions are milder.
Regulation
State Commissions
The traditional operating companies are subject to the jurisdiction of their respective state PSCs. The PSCs have broad powers of supervision and regulation over public utilities operating in the respective states, including their rates, service regulations, sales of securities (except for the Mississippi PSC), and, in the cases of the Georgia PSC and the Mississippi PSC, in part, retail service territories. See "Territory Served by the Traditional Operating Companies and Southern Power" and "Rate Matters" herein for additional information.
Federal Power Act
The traditional operating companies, Southern Power Company and certain of its generation subsidiaries, and SEGCO are all public utilities engaged in wholesale sales of energy in interstate commerce and therefore are subject to the rate, financial, and accounting jurisdiction of the FERC under the Federal Power Act. The FERC must approve certain financings and allows an "at cost standard" for services rendered by system service companies such as SCS and Southern Nuclear. The FERC is also authorized to establish regional reliability organizations which enforce reliability standards, address impediments to the construction of transmission, and prohibit manipulative energy trading practices.
Alabama Power and Georgia Power are also subject to the provisions of the Federal Power Act or the earlier Federal Water Power Act applicable to licensees with respect to their hydroelectric developments. As of December 31, 2014, among the hydroelectric projects subject to licensing by the FERC are 14 existing Alabama Power generating stations having an aggregate installed capacity of 1,662,400 KWs and 18 existing Georgia Power generating stations having an aggregate installed capacity of 1,087,296 KWs.
In 2005, Alabama Power filed two applications with the FERC for new 50-year licenses for its seven hydroelectric developments on the Coosa River (Weiss, Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell, Jordan, and Bouldin) and for the Lewis Smith and Bankhead developments on the Warrior River. The FERC licenses for all of these nine projects expired in 2007. Since the FERC did not act on Alabama Power's new license applications prior to the expiration of the existing licenses, the FERC is required by law to issue annual licenses to Alabama Power, under the terms and conditions of the existing licenses, until action is taken on the new license applications.
The FERC issued annual licenses for the Coosa developments and the Warrior River developments in 2007. These annual licenses are automatically renewed each year without further action by the FERC to allow Alabama Power to continue operation of the projects under the terms of the previous license while the FERC completes review of the applications for new licenses. In 2010, the FERC issued a new 30-year license to Alabama Power for the Lewis Smith and Bankhead developments. Following the FERC's denials of their requests for rehearing and an unsuccessful appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, on January 30, 2015, the court dismissed the Smith Lake Improvement and Stakeholders' Association en banc rehearing request.
In June 2013, the FERC entered an order granting Alabama Power's application for relicensing of Alabama Power's seven hydroelectric developments on the Coosa River for 30 years. In July 2013, Alabama Power filed a petition requesting rehearing

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of the FERC order granting the relicense seeking revisions to several conditions of the license. The Alabama Rivers Alliance, American Rivers, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and the Atlanta Regional Commission have also filed petitions for rehearing of the FERC order.
In 2011, Alabama Power filed an application with the FERC to relicense the Martin Dam project located on the Tallapoosa River. The Martin license expired in June 2013. Since the FERC did not act on Alabama Power's license application prior to the expiration of the existing license, the FERC issued an annual license to Alabama Power for the Martin Dam project in June 2013.
In August 2013, Alabama Power filed an application with the FERC to relicense the Holt hydroelectric project located on the Warrior River. The current Holt license will expire on August 31, 2015.
In 2012, Georgia Power filed an application with the FERC to relicense the Bartlett's Ferry project located on the Chattahoochee River near Columbus, Georgia. The FERC issued a new license on December 22, 2014.
Georgia Power and OPC also have a license, expiring in 2027, for the Rocky Mountain Plant, a pure pumped storage facility of 847,800 KW capacity. See PROPERTIES – "Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein for additional information.
Licenses for all projects, excluding those discussed above, expire in the period 2023-2034 in the case of Alabama Power's projects and in the period 2020-2044 in the case of Georgia Power's projects.
Upon or after the expiration of each license, the U.S. Government, by act of Congress, may take over the project or the FERC may relicense the project either to the original licensee or to a new licensee. In the event of takeover or relicensing to another, the original licensee is to be compensated in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Power Act, such compensation to reflect the net investment of the licensee in the project, not in excess of the fair value of the property, plus reasonable damages to other property of the licensee resulting from the severance therefrom of the property. The FERC may grant relicenses subject to certain requirements that could result in additional costs.
The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Nuclear Regulation
Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern Nuclear are subject to regulation by the NRC. The NRC is responsible for licensing and regulating nuclear facilities and materials and for conducting research in support of the licensing and regulatory process, as mandated by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended; and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 1978; and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and other applicable statutes. These responsibilities also include protecting public health and safety, protecting the environment, protecting and safeguarding nuclear materials and nuclear power plants in the interest of national security, and assuring conformity with antitrust laws.
The NRC licenses for Georgia Power's Plant Hatch Units 1 and 2 expire in 2034 and 2038, respectively. The NRC licenses for Alabama Power's Plant Farley Units 1 and 2 expire in 2037 and 2041, respectively. The NRC licenses for Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 expire in 2047 and 2049, respectively.
In 2012, the NRC issued combined construction and operating licenses (COLs) for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Receipt of the COLs allowed full construction to begin. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Retail Regulatory Matters – Nuclear Construction" of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under "Retail Regulatory Matters – Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" and Georgia Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters – Nuclear Construction" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
See Notes 1 and 9 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power in Item 8 herein for information on nuclear decommissioning costs and nuclear insurance.
Environmental Statutes and Regulations
The electric utilities' operations are subject to extensive regulation by state and federal environmental agencies under a variety of statutes and regulations governing environmental media, including air, water, and land resources. Compliance with these existing environmental requirements involves significant capital and operating costs, a major portion of which is expected to be recovered through existing ratemaking provisions or through market-based contracts. There is no assurance, however, that all such costs will be recovered.
Compliance with the federal Clean Air Act and resulting regulations has been, and will continue to be, a significant focus for Southern Company, each traditional operating company, Southern Power, and SEGCO. In addition, existing environmental laws and regulations may be changed or new laws and regulations may be adopted or otherwise become applicable to the Southern Company system, including laws and regulations designed to address air quality, water, CCRs, global climate change,

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or other environmental and health concerns. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters" of Southern Company and each of the traditional operating companies in Item 7 herein for additional information about the Clean Air Act and other environmental issues, including, but not limited to, the litigation brought by the EPA under the New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act and proposed and final regulations related to air quality, water, greenhouse gases, and CCRs. Also see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters" of Southern Power in Item 7 herein for additional information about environmental issues and climate change regulation.
The Southern Company system's ultimate environmental compliance strategy, including potential unit retirement and replacement decisions, and future environmental capital expenditures will be affected by the final requirements of new or revised environmental regulations; the time periods over which compliance with regulations is required; individual state implementation of regulations, as applicable; the outcome of any legal challenges to the environmental rules and any additional rulemaking activities in response to legal challenges and court decisions; the cost, availability, and existing inventory of emissions allowances; the impact of future changes in generation and emissions-related technology and costs; and the fuel mix of the electric utilities. Compliance costs may arise from existing unit retirements, installation of additional environmental controls, upgrades to the transmission system, closure and monitoring of CCR facilities, and adding or changing fuel sources for certain existing units. Environmental compliance spending over the next several years may differ materially from the amounts estimated. Such expenditures could affect unit retirement and replacement decisions and results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if such costs are not recovered on a timely basis through regulated rates or long-term wholesale agreements for the traditional operating companies or market-based rates for Southern Power. Further, higher costs that are recovered through regulated rates could contribute to reduced demand for electricity, which could negatively affect results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. Also see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters" of Southern Company, each of the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power in Item 7 herein for additional information. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Compliance with any new federal or state legislation or regulations relating to air quality, water, CCRs, global climate change, or other environmental and health concerns could significantly affect the Southern Company system. Although new or revised environmental legislation or regulations could affect many areas of the electric utilities' operations, the full impact of any such changes cannot be determined at this time. Additionally, many of the electric utilities' commercial and industrial customers may also be affected by existing and future environmental requirements, which for some may have the potential to ultimately affect their demand for electricity. See "Construction Program" herein for additional information.
Rate Matters
Rate Structure and Cost Recovery Plans
The rates and service regulations of the traditional operating companies are uniform for each class of service throughout their respective retail service territories. Rates for residential electric service are generally of the block type based upon KWHs used and include minimum charges. Residential and other rates contain separate customer charges. Rates for commercial service are presently of the block type and, for large customers, the billing demand is generally used to determine capacity and minimum bill charges. These large customers' rates are generally based upon usage by the customer and include rates with special features to encourage off-peak usage. Additionally, Alabama Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power are generally allowed by their respective state PSCs to negotiate the terms and cost of service to large customers. Such terms and cost of service, however, are subject to final state PSC approval.
The traditional operating companies recover their respective costs through a variety of forward-looking, cost-based rate mechanisms. Fuel and net purchased energy costs are recovered through specific fuel cost recovery provisions. These fuel cost recovery provisions are adjusted to reflect increases or decreases in such costs as needed or on schedules as required by the respective PSCs. Approved environmental compliance, storm damage, and certain other costs are recovered at Alabama Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power through specific cost recovery mechanisms approved by their respective PSCs. Certain similar costs at Georgia Power are recovered through various base rate tariffs as approved by the Georgia PSC. Costs not recovered through specific cost recovery mechanisms are recovered at Alabama Power and Mississippi Power through annual, formulaic cost recovery proceedings and at Georgia Power and Gulf Power through base rate proceedings.
See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Retail Regulatory Matters" of Southern Company and each of the traditional operating companies in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and each of the traditional operating companies under "Retail Regulatory Matters" in Item 8 herein for a discussion of rate matters and certain cost recovery mechanisms. Also, see Note 1 to the financial statements of Southern Company and each of the traditional operating companies in Item 8 herein for a discussion of recovery of fuel costs, storm damage costs, and environmental compliance costs through rate mechanisms.

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See "Integrated Resource Planning" herein for a discussion of Georgia PSC certification of new demand-side or supply-side resources and decertification of existing supply-side resources for Georgia Power. In addition, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Retail Regulatory Matters – Nuclear Construction" of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under "Retail Regulatory Matters – Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" and Georgia Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters – Nuclear Construction" in Item 8 herein for a discussion of the Georgia Nuclear Energy Financing Act and the Georgia PSC certification of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which have allowed Georgia Power to recover financing costs for construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 during the construction period beginning in 2011.
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle" in Item 8 herein and MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle – Rate Recovery of Kemper IGCC Costs" of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein for information on cost recovery plans and a settlement agreement between Mississippi Power and the Mississippi PSC with respect to the Kemper IGCC.
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power Company and certain of its generation subsidiaries are authorized by the FERC to sell power to non-affiliates, including short-term opportunity sales, at market-based prices. Specific FERC approval must be obtained with respect to a market-based contract with an affiliate.
Gulf Power serves long-term contracts associated with Gulf Power's co-ownership of a unit with Georgia Power at Plant Scherer, covering 100% of Gulf Power's ownership of that unit in 2015, and 41% for the next five years. These capacity revenues represented 82% of Gulf Power's total wholesale capacity revenues for 2014. Gulf Power is actively pursuing replacement wholesale contracts but the expiration of current contracts could have a material negative impact on Gulf Power's earnings.
Mississippi Power serves long-term contracts with rural electric cooperative associations and municipalities located in southeastern Mississippi under cost-based electric tariffs which are subject to regulation by the FERC. The contracts with these wholesale customers represented 21.9% of Mississippi Power's operating revenues in 2014 and are largely subject to rolling 10-year cancellation notices.
Integrated Resource Planning
Each of the traditional operating companies continually evaluates its electric generating resources in order to ensure that it maintains a cost-effective and reliable mix of resources to meet the existing and future demand requirements of its customers. See "Environmental Statutes and Regulations" above for a discussion of existing and potential environmental regulations that may impact the future generating resource needs of the traditional operating companies.
Certain of the traditional operating companies periodically file IRPs with their respective state PSC as discussed below.
Georgia Power
Triennially, Georgia Power must file an IRP with the Georgia PSC that specifies how it intends to meet the future electrical needs of its customers through a combination of demand-side and supply-side resources. The Georgia PSC, under state law, must certify any new demand-side or supply-side resources for Georgia Power to receive cost recovery. Once certified, the lesser of actual or certified construction costs and purchased power costs is recoverable through rates. Certified costs may be excluded from recovery only on the basis of fraud, concealment, failure to disclose a material fact, imprudence, or criminal misconduct.
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under "Retail Regulatory Matters - Georgia Power - Rate Plans" and "– Nuclear Construction" and Note 3 to the financial statements of Georgia Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters – Integrated Resource Plans," "– Renewables Development," and "– Nuclear Construction" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Gulf Power
Annually by April 1, Gulf Power must file a 10-year site plan with the Florida PSC containing Gulf Power's estimate of its power-generating needs in the period and the general location of its proposed power plant sites. The 10-year site plans submitted by the state's electric utilities are reviewed by the Florida PSC and subsequently classified as either "suitable" or "unsuitable." The Florida PSC then reports its findings along with any suggested revisions to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for its consideration at any subsequent electrical power plant site certification proceedings. Under Florida law, any 10-year site plans submitted by an electric utility are considered tentative information for planning purposes only and may be amended at any time at the discretion of the utility with written notification to the Florida PSC.

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Gulf Power's most recent 10-year site plan was classified by the Florida PSC as "suitable" in November 2014. Gulf Power's most recent 10-year site plan and environmental compliance plan identify environmental regulations and potential legislation or regulation that would impose mandatory restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters – Environmental Statutes and Regulations – Air Quality," "Environmental Matters – Environmental Statutes and Regulations – Coal Combustion Residuals," and "Environmental Matters – Global Climate Issues" of Gulf Power in Item 7 herein. Gulf Power continues to evaluate the economics of various potential planning scenarios for units at certain Gulf Power coal-fired generating plants as EPA and other regulations develop.
Subsequent to December 31, 2014, Gulf Power announced plans to retire its coal-fired generation at Plant Smith Units 1 and 2 (357 MWs) by March 31, 2016. The plant will continue to operate and produce electricity with its other generating units on site. The retirement of these units is not expected to have a material impact on the Gulf Power's financial statements. Gulf Power expects to recover through its rates the remaining book value of the retired units and certain costs associated with the retirements; however, recovery will be considered by the Florida PSC in future rate proceedings. The net book value of these units at December 31, 2014 was approximately $80 million.
Gulf Power also has determined it is not economical to add the environmental controls at Plant Scholz necessary to comply with the MATS rule and that coal-fired generation at Plant Scholz will cease by April 2015. The plant is scheduled to be fully depreciated by April 2015.
The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Mississippi Power
Mississippi Power's 2010 IRP indicated that Mississippi Power plans to construct the Kemper IGCC to meet its identified needs, to add environmental controls at Plant Daniel Units 1 and 2, to defer environmental controls at Plant Watson Units 4 and 5, and to continue operation of the combined cycle Plant Daniel Units 3 and 4. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters – Environmental Statutes and Regulations – Air Quality" and "Environmental Matters – Global Climate Issues" of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein. On August 1, 2014, Mississippi Power entered into a settlement agreement with the Sierra Club (Sierra Club Settlement Agreement) that, among other things, required the Sierra Club to dismiss or withdraw all pending legal and regulatory challenges to the Kemper IGCC and the flue gas desulfurization system project at Plant Daniel Units 1 and 2. Under the Sierra Club Settlement Agreement, and consistent with Mississippi Power’s ongoing evaluation of recent environmental rules and regulations, Mississippi Power agreed to retire, repower with natural gas, or convert to an alternative non-fossil fuel source Plant Sweatt Units 1 and 2 (80 MWs) no later than December 2018. Mississippi Power also agreed that it would cease burning coal or other solid fuel at Plant Watson Units 4 and 5 (750 MWs) and begin operating those units solely on natural gas no later than April 2015, and cease burning coal and other solid fuel at Plant Greene County Units 1 and 2 (200 MWs) and begin operating those units solely on natural gas no later than April 2016.
Mississippi Baseload Act
In 2008, the Baseload Act was signed by the Governor of Mississippi. The Baseload Act authorizes, but does not require, the Mississippi PSC to adopt a cost recovery mechanism that includes in retail base rates, prior to and during construction, all or a portion of the prudently-incurred pre-construction and construction costs incurred by a utility in constructing a base load electric generating plant. Prior to the passage of the Baseload Act, such costs would traditionally be recovered only after the plant was placed in service. The Baseload Act also provides for periodic prudence reviews by the Mississippi PSC and prohibits the cancellation of any such generating plant without the approval of the Mississippi PSC. In the event of cancellation of the construction of the plant without approval of the Mississippi PSC, the Baseload Act authorizes the Mississippi PSC to make a public interest determination as to whether and to what extent the utility will be afforded rate recovery for costs incurred in connection with such cancelled generating plant. In February 2015, the Mississippi Supreme Court declined to rule on the constitutionality of the Baseload Act.
For information regarding Mississippi Power's construction of the Kemper IGCC, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle" of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle" in Item 8 herein.
For information regarding the February 2015 decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court related to the Baseload Act and the rates implemented in March 2013, see Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company under "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle – 2015 Mississippi Supreme Court Decision" and Note 3 to the financial statements of Mississippi Power under "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle - 2015 Mississippi Supreme Court Decision" in Item 8 herein.

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The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Employee Relations
The Southern Company system had a total of 26,369 employees on its payroll at December 31, 2014.
 
Employees at December 31, 2014
Alabama Power
6,935

Georgia Power
7,909

Gulf Power
1,384

Mississippi Power
1,478

SCS
4,395

Southern Nuclear
4,036

Southern Power*
0

Other
232

Total
26,369

*
Southern Power has no employees. Southern Power has agreements with SCS and the traditional operating companies whereby employee services are rendered at amounts in compliance with FERC regulations.
The traditional operating companies have separate agreements with local unions of the IBEW generally covering wages, working conditions, and procedures for handling grievances and arbitration. These agreements apply with certain exceptions to operating, maintenance, and construction employees.
Alabama Power has agreements with the IBEW in effect through August 15, 2019. Upon notice given at least 60 days prior to that date, negotiations may be initiated with respect to agreement terms to be effective after such date.
Georgia Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect through June 30, 2016.
Gulf Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect through April 15, 2019. Upon notice given at least 60 days prior to that date, negotiations may be initiated with respect to agreement terms to be effective after such date.
Mississippi Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect through May 1, 2019. In 2013, Mississippi Power signed a separate agreement with the IBEW related solely to the Kemper IGCC, which is in effect through March 15, 2016.
Southern Nuclear has an agreement with the IBEW covering certain employees at Plants Hatch and Vogtle which is in effect through June 30, 2016. A five-year agreement between Southern Nuclear and the IBEW representing certain employees at Plant Farley is in effect through August 15, 2019. Upon notice given at least 60 days prior to that date, negotiations may be initiated with respect to agreement terms to be effective after such date.
The agreements also make the terms of the pension plans for the companies discussed above subject to collective bargaining with the unions at either a five-year or a 10-year cycle, depending upon union and company actions.

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Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K, including MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL in Item 7 of each registrant, and other documents filed by Southern Company and/or its subsidiaries with the SEC from time to time, the following factors should be carefully considered in evaluating Southern Company and its subsidiaries. Such factors could affect actual results and cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Southern Company and/or its subsidiaries.
UTILITY REGULATORY, LEGISLATIVE, AND LITIGATION RISKS
Southern Company and its subsidiaries are subject to substantial governmental regulation. Compliance with current and future regulatory requirements and procurement of necessary approvals, permits, and certificates may result in substantial costs to Southern Company and its subsidiaries.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, are subject to substantial regulation from federal, state, and local regulatory agencies. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are required to comply with numerous laws and regulations and to obtain numerous permits, approvals, and certificates from the governmental agencies that regulate various aspects of their businesses, including rates and charges, service regulations, retail service territories, sales of securities, asset acquisitions and sales, accounting policies and practices, physical security and cyber-security policies and practices, and the construction and operation of fossil-fuel, nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and biomass generating facilities, as well as transmission and distribution facilities. For example, the respective state PSCs must approve the traditional operating companies' requested rates for retail customers. The traditional operating companies seek to recover their costs (including a reasonable return on invested capital) through their retail rates, and there can be no assurance that a state PSC, in a future rate proceeding, will not alter the timing or amount of certain costs for which recovery is allowed or modify the current authorized rate of return. Additionally, the rates charged to wholesale customers by the traditional operating companies and by Southern Power must be approved by the FERC. These wholesale rates could be affected by changes to Southern Power's ability to conduct business pursuant to FERC market-based rate authority. The FERC rules related to retaining the authority to sell electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale markets are important for the traditional operating companies and Southern Power if they are to remain competitive in the wholesale markets in which they operate.
The impact of any future revision or changes in interpretations of existing regulations or the adoption of new laws and regulations applicable to Southern Company or any of its subsidiaries cannot now be predicted. Changes in regulation or the imposition of additional regulations could influence the operating environment of Southern Company and its subsidiaries and may result in substantial costs.
The Southern Company system's costs of compliance with environmental laws are significant. The costs of compliance with current and future environmental laws, including laws and regulations designed to address air quality, water, CCR, global climate change, renewable energy standards, and other matters and the incurrence of environmental liabilities could negatively impact the net income, cash flows, and financial condition of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and/or Southern Power.
The Southern Company system is subject to extensive federal, state, and local environmental requirements which, among other things, regulate air emissions, water usage and discharges, and the management and disposal of waste in order to adequately protect the environment. Compliance with these environmental requirements requires the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to commit significant expenditures for installation of pollution control equipment, environmental monitoring, emissions fees, and permits at substantially all of their respective facilities. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power expect that these expenditures will continue to be significant in the future. Through December 31, 2014, the traditional operating companies had invested approximately $10.6 billion in environmental capital retrofit projects to comply with these requirements. The EPA has adopted and is in the process of implementing regulations governing the emission of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, fine particulate matter, mercury, and other air pollutants under the Clean Air Act through the national ambient air quality standards, CSAPR, the MATS rule, and other air quality regulations and is in the process of considering additional revisions. In addition, the EPA has recently finalized regulations governing cooling water intake structures and has proposed revisions to the effluent guidelines for steam electric generating plants and the definition of waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act. The EPA has also recently finalized regulations governing the disposal of CCR, including coal ash and gypsum, in landfills and surface impoundments at active generating power plants.
Existing environmental laws and regulations may be revised or new laws and regulations related to air quality, water, CCR, global climate change, endangered species, or other environmental and health concerns may be adopted or become applicable to the traditional operating companies and/or Southern Power.
In addition, the EPA has published three sets of proposed standards that would limit CO2 emissions from new, existing, and

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modified or reconstructed fossil-fuel-fired electric generating units. On January 8, 2014, the EPA published proposed standards for new units, and, on June 18, 2014, the EPA published proposed standards governing existing units, known as the Clean Power Plan, and separate standards governing CO2 emissions from modified and reconstructed units. The EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan establishes guidelines for states to develop plans to address CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units. The EPA's proposed guidelines establish state-specific interim and final CO2 emission rate goals to be achieved between 2020 and 2029 and in 2030 and thereafter. The proposed guidelines and standards could result in operational restrictions and material compliance costs, including capital expenditures, which could affect future unit retirement and replacement decisions.
The Southern Company system filed comments on the EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan on December 1, 2014. These comments addressed legal and technical issues in addition to providing a preliminary estimated cost of complying with the proposed guidelines utilizing one of the EPA's compliance scenarios. Costs associated with this proposal could be significant to the utility industry and the Southern Company system. However, the ultimate financial and operational impact of the proposed Clean Power Plan on the Southern Company system cannot be determined at this time and will depend upon numerous known and unknown factors.
The Southern Company system's ultimate environmental compliance strategy, including potential unit retirement and replacement decisions, and future environmental capital expenditures will be affected by the final requirements of new or revised environmental regulations; the time periods over which compliance with regulations is required; individual state implementation of regulations, as applicable; the outcome of any legal challenges to the environmental rules and any additional rulemaking activities in response to legal challenges and court decisions; the cost, availability, and existing inventory of emissions allowances; the impact of future changes in generation and emissions-related technology and costs; and the fuel mix of the electric utilities. Compliance costs may arise from existing unit retirements, installation of additional environmental controls, upgrades to the transmission system, closure and monitoring of CCR facilities, and adding or changing fuel sources for certain existing units. Environmental compliance spending over the next several years may differ materially from the amounts estimated. Such expenditures could affect unit retirement and replacement decisions and results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if such costs are not recovered on a timely basis through regulated rates or long-term wholesale agreements for the traditional operating companies or market-based rates for Southern Power. Further, higher costs that are recovered through regulated rates could contribute to reduced demand for electricity, which could negatively affect results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. Additionally, if Southern Company, any traditional operating company, or Southern Power fails to comply with environmental laws and regulations, even if caused by factors beyond its control, that failure may result in the assessment of civil or criminal penalties and fines and/or remediation costs. The EPA has filed civil actions against Alabama Power and Georgia Power and issued notices of violation to Gulf Power and Mississippi Power alleging violations of the new source review provisions of the Clean Air Act. An adverse outcome in any of these matters could require substantial capital expenditures that cannot be determined at this time and could possibly require payment of substantial penalties.
Litigation over environmental issues and claims of various types, including property damage, personal injury, common law nuisance, and citizen enforcement of environmental requirements such as air quality and water standards, has occurred throughout the United States. This litigation has included claims for damages alleged to have been caused by CO2 and other emissions, CCR, and alleged exposure to hazardous materials, and/or requests for injunctive relief in connection with such matters.
The ultimate cost impact of proposed and final legislation and regulations and litigation are likely to result in significant and additional costs and could result in additional operating restrictions.
The net income of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power could be negatively impacted by changes in regulations related to transmission planning processes and competition in the wholesale electric markets.
The traditional operating companies currently own and operate transmission facilities as part of a vertically integrated utility. A small percentage of transmission revenues are collected through the wholesale electric tariff but the majority of transmission revenues are collected through retail rates. FERC rules pertaining to regional transmission planning and cost allocation present challenges to transmission planning and the wholesale market structure in the Southeast. The key impacts of these rules include:
possible disruption of the integrated resource planning processes within the states in the Southern Company system's service territory;
delays and additional processes for developing transmission plans; and
possible impacts on state jurisdiction of approving, certifying, and pricing of new transmission facilities.
The FERC rules related to transmission are intended to spur the development of new transmission infrastructure to promote and

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encourage the integration of renewable sources of supply as well as facilitate competition in the wholesale market by providing more choices to wholesale power customers. In addition to the impacts on transactions contemplating physical delivery of energy, financial laws and regulations also impact power hedging and trading based on futures contracts and derivatives that are traded on various commodities exchanges as well as over-the-counter. Finally, technology changes in the power and fuel industries continue to create significant impacts to wholesale transaction cost structures. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power cannot predict the impact of these and other such developments, nor can they predict the effect of changes in levels of wholesale supply and demand, which are typically driven by factors beyond their control. The financial condition, net income, and cash flows of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power could be adversely affected by these and other changes.
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power could be subject to higher costs as a result of implementing and maintaining compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation mandatory reliability standards along with possible associated penalties for non-compliance.
Owners and operators of bulk power systems, including the traditional operating companies, are subject to mandatory reliability standards enacted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and enforced by the FERC. Compliance with or changes in the mandatory reliability standards may subject the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and Southern Company to higher operating costs and/or increased capital expenditures. If any traditional operating company or Southern Power is found to be in noncompliance with the mandatory reliability standards, such traditional operating company or Southern Power could be subject to sanctions, including substantial monetary penalties.
OPERATIONAL RISKS
The financial performance of Southern Company and its subsidiaries may be adversely affected if the subsidiaries are unable to successfully operate their facilities or perform certain corporate functions.
The financial performance of Southern Company and its subsidiaries depends on the successful operation of its subsidiaries' electric generating, transmission, and distribution facilities and the successful performance of necessary corporate functions. There are many risks that could affect these operations and performance of corporate functions, including:
operator error or failure of equipment or processes, particularly with older generating facilities;
operating limitations that may be imposed by environmental or other regulatory requirements;
labor disputes;
terrorist attacks;
fuel or material supply interruptions;
transmission disruption or capacity constraints, including with respect to the Southern Company system’s transmission facilities and third party transmission facilities;
compliance with mandatory reliability standards, including mandatory cyber security standards;
implementation of technologies with which the Southern Company system is developing experience;
information technology system failure;
cyber intrusion;
an environmental event, such as a spill or release; and
catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, droughts, hurricanes, pandemic health events such as influenzas, or other similar occurrences.
A decrease or elimination of revenues from the electric generation, transmission, or distribution facilities or an increase in the cost of operating the facilities would reduce the net income and cash flows and could adversely impact the financial condition of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company. In addition, an investment in a subsidiary with such generation, transmission, or distribution facilities could be adversely impacted.

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Operation of nuclear facilities involves inherent risks, including environmental, safety, health, regulatory, natural disasters, terrorism, and financial risks, that could result in fines or the closure of the nuclear units owned by Alabama Power or Georgia Power and which may present potential exposures in excess of insurance coverage.
Alabama Power owns, and contracts for the operation of, two nuclear units and Georgia Power holds undivided interests in, and contracts for the operation of, four existing nuclear units. The six existing units are operated by Southern Nuclear and represent approximately 3,680 MWs, or 7.9%, of the Southern Company system's generation capacity as of December 31, 2014. In addition, these units generated approximately 23% and 22% of the total KWHs generated by Alabama Power and Georgia Power, respectively, in the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, Southern Nuclear, on behalf of Georgia Power and the other co-owners, is overseeing the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Due solely to the increase in nuclear generating capacity, the below risks are expected to increase incrementally once Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are operational. Nuclear facilities are subject to environmental, safety, health, operational, and financial risks such as:
the potential harmful effects on the environment and human health and safety resulting from a release of radioactive materials in connection with the operation of nuclear facilities and the storage, handling, and disposal of radioactive material, including spent nuclear fuel;
uncertainties with respect to the ability to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and the need for longer term on-site storage;
uncertainties with respect to the technological and financial aspects of decommissioning nuclear plants at the end of licensed lives and the ability to maintain and anticipate adequate capital reserves for decommissioning;
limitations on the amounts and types of insurance commercially available to cover losses that might arise in connection with the nuclear operations of Alabama Power and Georgia Power or those of other commercial nuclear facility owners in the United States;
potential liabilities arising out of the operation of these facilities;
significant capital expenditures relating to maintenance, operation, security, and repair of these facilities, including repairs and upgrades required by the NRC;
the threat of a possible terrorist attack, including a potential cyber security attack; and
the potential impact of an accident or natural disaster.
It is possible that damages, decommissioning, or other costs could exceed the amount of decommissioning trusts or external insurance coverage, including statutorily required nuclear incident insurance.
The NRC has broad authority under federal law to impose licensing and safety-related requirements for the operation of nuclear generation facilities. In the event of non-compliance with NRC licensing and safety-related requirements, the NRC has the authority to impose fines and/or shut down any unit, depending upon its assessment of the severity of the situation, until compliance is achieved. NRC orders or regulations related to increased security measures and any future safety requirements promulgated by the NRC could require Alabama Power and Georgia Power to make substantial operating and capital expenditures at their nuclear plants. In addition, if a serious nuclear incident were to occur, it could result in substantial costs to Alabama Power or Georgia Power and Southern Company. A major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the NRC to limit, prohibit, or require significant changes to the operation or licensing of any domestic nuclear unit that could result in substantial costs. Moreover, a major incident at any nuclear facility in the United States, including facilities owned and operated by third parties, could require Alabama Power and Georgia Power to make material contributory payments.
In addition, potential terrorist threats and increased public scrutiny of utilities could result in increased nuclear licensing or compliance costs that are difficult to predict.
Physical or cyber attacks, both threatened and actual, could impact the ability of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to operate and could adversely affect financial results and liquidity.
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power face the risk of physical and cyber attacks, both threatened and actual, against their respective generation facilities, the transmission and distribution infrastructure used to transport power, and their information technology systems and network infrastructure, which could negatively impact the ability of the traditional operating companies or Southern Power to generate, transport, and deliver power, or otherwise operate their respective facilities in the most efficient manner or at all. In addition, physical or cyber attacks against key suppliers or service providers could have a similar effect on Southern Company and its subsidiaries.

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The traditional operating companies and Southern Power operate in a highly regulated industry that requires the continued operation of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure, which are part of an interconnected regional grid. In addition, in the ordinary course of business, the traditional operating companies and Southern Power collect and retain sensitive information including personal identification information about customers and employees and other confidential information. The traditional operating companies and Southern Power face on-going threats to their assets. Despite the implementation of robust security measures, all assets are potentially vulnerable to disability, failures, or unauthorized access due to human error, natural disasters, technological failure, or internal or external physical or cyber attacks. If the traditional operating companies' or Southern Power's assets were to fail, be physically damaged, or be breached and were not recovered in a timely way, the traditional operating companies or Southern Power may be unable to fulfill critical business functions, and sensitive and other data could be compromised. Any physical security breach, cyber breach or theft, damage, or improper disclosure of sensitive electronic data may also subject the applicable traditional operating company or Southern Power to penalties and claims from regulators or other third parties.
These events could harm the reputation of and negatively affect the financial results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power through lost revenues, costs to recover and repair damage, and costs associated with governmental actions in response to such attacks.
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power may not be able to obtain adequate fuel supplies, which could limit their ability to operate their facilities.
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power purchase fuel, including coal, natural gas, uranium, fuel oil, and biomass, from a number of suppliers. Disruption in the delivery of fuel, including disruptions as a result of, among other things, transportation delays, weather, labor relations, force majeure events, or environmental regulations affecting any of these fuel suppliers, could limit the ability of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to operate their respective facilities, and thus reduce the net income of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and Southern Company.
The traditional operating companies are dependent on coal for a portion of their electric generating capacity. The traditional operating companies depend on coal supply contracts, and there can be no assurance that the counterparties to these agreements will fulfill their obligations to supply coal to the traditional operating companies. The suppliers under these agreements may experience financial or technical problems which inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations to the traditional operating companies. In addition, the suppliers under these agreements may not be required to supply coal to the traditional operating companies under certain circumstances, such as in the event of a natural disaster. If the traditional operating companies are unable to obtain their coal requirements under these contracts, the traditional operating companies may be required to purchase their coal requirements at higher prices, which may not be recoverable through rates.
In addition, the traditional operating companies and Southern Power to a greater extent have become more dependent on natural gas for a portion of their electric generating capacity. In many instances, the cost of purchased power for the traditional operating companies and Southern Power is influenced by natural gas prices. Historically, natural gas prices have been more volatile than prices of other fuels. In recent years, domestic natural gas prices have been depressed by robust supplies, including production from shale gas. These market conditions, together with additional regulation of coal-fired generating units, have increased the traditional operating companies' reliance on natural gas-fired generating units.
Natural gas supplies can be subject to disruption in the event production or distribution is curtailed, such as in the event of a hurricane or a pipeline failure. The availability of shale gas and potential regulations affecting its accessibility may have a material impact on the supply and cost of natural gas.
In addition, world market conditions for fuels can impact the cost and availability of natural gas, coal, and uranium.
The revenues of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power depend in part on sales under PPAs. The failure of a counterparty to one of these PPAs to perform its obligations, or the failure to renew the PPAs or successfully remarket the related generating capacity, could have a negative impact on the net income and cash flows of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company.
Most of Southern Power's generating capacity has been sold to purchasers under PPAs. In addition, the traditional operating companies enter into PPAs with non-affiliated parties. Revenues are dependent on the continued performance by the purchasers of their obligations under these PPAs. The failure of one of the purchasers to perform its obligations could have a negative impact on the net income and cash flows of the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company. Although the credit evaluations undertaken and contractual protections implemented by Southern Power and the traditional operating companies take into account the possibility of default by a purchaser, actual exposure to a default by a purchaser may be greater than predicted or specified in the applicable contract. Additionally, neither Southern Power nor any traditional operating company can predict whether the PPAs will be renewed at the end of their respective terms or on what terms any renewals may be made.

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Changes in technology may make Southern Company's electric generating facilities owned by the traditional operating companies and Southern Power less competitive.
A key element of the business models of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power is that generating power at central station power plants achieves economies of scale and produces power at a competitive cost. There are distributed generation technologies that produce power, including fuel cells, microturbines, wind turbines, and solar cells. Advances in technology or changes in laws or regulations could reduce the cost of these or other alternative methods of producing power to a level that is competitive with that of most central station power electric production or result in smaller-scale, more fuel efficient, and/or more cost effective distributed generation. Broader use of distributed generation by retail electric customers may also result from customers’ changing perceptions of the merits of utilizing existing generation technology or tax or other economic incentives. Additionally, there can be no assurance that a state PSC or legislature will not attempt to modify certain aspects of the traditional operating companies’ business as a result of these advances in technology. If these technologies became cost competitive and achieved sufficient scale, the market share of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power could be eroded, and the value of their respective electric generating facilities could be reduced. It is also possible that rapid advances in central station power generation technology could reduce the value of the current electric generating facilities owned by the traditional operating companies and Southern Power. Changes in technology could also alter the channels through which electric customers buy or utilize power, which could reduce the revenues or increase the expenses of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power. If state PSCs fail to adjust rates to reflect the impact of any changes in loads, increasing self-generation, and the growth of distributed generation, the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of Southern Company and the traditional operating companies could be materially adversely affected.
Failure to attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce could negatively impact Southern Company's and its subsidiaries' results of operations.
Events such as an aging workforce without appropriate replacements, mismatch of skill sets to future needs, or unavailability of contract resources may lead to operating challenges such as lack of resources, loss of knowledge, and a lengthy time period associated with skill development, especially with the workforce needs associated with the Kemper IGCC and Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 construction. The Southern Company system's costs, including costs for contractors to replace employees, productivity costs, and safety costs, may rise. Failure to hire and adequately obtain replacement employees, including the ability to transfer significant internal historical knowledge and expertise to the new employees, or the future availability and cost of contract labor may adversely affect Southern Company and its subsidiaries' ability to manage and operate their businesses. If Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including the traditional operating companies, are unable to successfully attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, results of operations could be negatively impacted.
CONSTRUCTION RISKS
Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and/or Southern Power may incur additional costs or delays in the construction of new plants or other facilities and may not be able to recover their investments. Also, existing facilities of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power require ongoing capital expenditures, including those to meet environmental standards.
General
The businesses of the registrants require substantial capital expenditures for investments in new facilities and capital improvements to transmission, distribution, and generation facilities, including those to meet environmental standards. Certain of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power are in the process of constructing new generating facilities and adding environmental controls equipment at existing generating facilities. The Southern Company system intends to continue its strategy of developing and constructing other new facilities, expanding existing facilities, and adding environmental control equipment. These types of projects are long-term in nature and in some cases include the development and construction of facilities with designs that have not been finalized or previously constructed. The completion of these types of projects without delays or significant cost overruns is subject to substantial risks, including:
shortages and inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor;
labor costs and productivity;
work stoppages;
contractor or supplier delay or non-performance under construction or other agreements or non-performance by other major participants in construction projects;

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delays in or failure to receive necessary permits, approvals, tax credits, and other regulatory authorizations;
delays associated with start-up activities, including major equipment failure, system integration, and operations, and/or unforeseen engineering problems;
impacts of new and existing laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations;
the outcome of legal challenges to projects, including legal challenges to regulatory approvals;
failure to construct in accordance with licensing requirements;
continued public and policymaker support for such projects;
adverse weather conditions or natural disasters;
other unforeseen engineering problems;
changes in project design or scope;
environmental and geological conditions;
delays or increased costs to interconnect facilities to transmission grids; and
unanticipated cost increases, including materials and labor, and increased financing costs as a result of changes in market interest rates or as a result of construction schedule delays.
In addition, with respect to the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and the operation of existing nuclear units, a major incident at a nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the NRC to delay or prohibit construction of new nuclear units or require additional safety measures at new and existing units.
If a traditional operating company or Southern Power is unable to complete the development or construction of a facility or decides to delay or cancel construction of a facility, it may not be able to recover its investment in that facility and may incur substantial cancellation payments under equipment purchase orders or construction contracts. Even if a construction project is completed, the total costs may be higher than estimated and there is no assurance that the traditional operating company will be able to recover such expenditures through regulated rates. In addition, construction delays and contractor performance shortfalls can result in the loss of revenues and may, in turn, adversely affect the net income and financial position of a traditional operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company.
Construction delays could result in the loss of otherwise available investment tax credits, production tax credits, and other tax incentives. Furthermore, if construction projects are not completed according to specification, a traditional operating company or Southern Power and Southern Company may incur liabilities and suffer reduced plant efficiency, higher operating costs, and reduced net income.
Once facilities come into commercial operation, ongoing capital expenditures are required to maintain reliable levels of operation. Significant portions of the traditional operating companies' existing facilities were constructed many years ago. Older generation equipment, even if maintained in accordance with good engineering practices, may require significant capital expenditures to maintain efficiency, to comply with changing environmental requirements, or to provide reliable operations.
The two largest construction projects currently underway in the Southern Company system are the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and the Kemper IGCC.
Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 construction
Southern Nuclear, on behalf of Georgia Power and the other co-owners, is overseeing the construction of and will operate Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 (each, an approximately 1,100 MW AP1000 nuclear generating unit). Georgia Power owns 45.7% of the new units. The NRC certified the Westinghouse Electric Company LLC's Design Control Document, as amended (DCD), for the AP1000 nuclear reactor design, in late 2011, and issued combined COLs in early 2012. Receipt of the COLs allowed full construction to begin. There have been technical and procedural challenges to the construction and licensing of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, at the federal and state level, and additional challenges are expected as construction proceeds.
Georgia Power, OPC, MEAG Power, and Dalton (collectively, Vogtle Owners) and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Westinghouse) and Stone & Webster, Inc., a subsidiary of the Shaw Group Inc., which was acquired by Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. (collectively, Contractor) are involved in litigation regarding the costs associated with design changes to the DCD and the delays in the timing of approval of the DCD and issuance of the COLs, including the assertion by the Contractor

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that the Vogtle Owners are responsible for these costs under the terms of the agreement with the Contractor (Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement). Also in 2012, Georgia Power and the other Vogtle Owners filed suit against the Contractor in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia seeking a declaratory judgment that the Vogtle Owners are not responsible for these costs. In 2012, the Contractor also filed suit against Georgia Power and the other Vogtle Owners in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging the Vogtle Owners are responsible for these costs. In August 2013, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the Contractor's suit, ruling that the proper venue is the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The Contractor appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in September 2013. The portion of additional costs claimed by the Contractor in its initial complaint that would be attributable to Georgia Power (based on Georgia Power's ownership interest) is approximately $425 million (in 2008 dollars). The Contractor also asserted it is entitled to extensions of the guaranteed substantial completion dates of April 2016 and April 2017 for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, respectively. On May 22, 2014, the Contractor filed an amended counterclaim to the suit pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia alleging that (i) the design changes to the DCD imposed by the NRC delayed module production and the impacts to the Contractor are recoverable by the Contractor under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement and (ii) the changes to the basemat rebar design required by the NRC caused additional costs and delays recoverable by the Contractor under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement. The Contractor did not specify in its amended counterclaim the amounts relating to these new allegations; however, the Contractor has subsequently asserted related minimum damages (based on Georgia Power's ownership interest) of $113 million. The Contractor may from time to time continue to assert that it is entitled to additional payments with respect to these allegations, any of which could be substantial. Georgia Power has not agreed to the proposed cost or to any changes to the guaranteed substantial completion dates or that the Vogtle Owners have any responsibility for costs related to these issues. Litigation is ongoing and Georgia Power intends to vigorously defend the positions of the Vogtle Owners. Georgia Power also expects negotiations with the Contractor to continue with respect to cost and schedule during which negotiations the parties may reach a mutually acceptable compromise of their positions.
Georgia Power is required to file semi-annual Vogtle Construction Monitoring (VCM) reports with the Georgia PSC by February 28 and August 31 each year. If the projected certified construction capital costs to be borne by Georgia Power increase by 5% or the projected in-service dates are significantly extended, Georgia Power is required to seek an amendment to the Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 certificate from the Georgia PSC. Georgia Power's eighth VCM report filed in February 2013 requested an amendment to the certificate to increase the estimated in-service capital cost of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 from $4.4 billion to $4.8 billion and to extend the estimated in-service dates to the fourth quarter 2017 and the fourth quarter 2018 for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, respectively.
In September 2013, the Georgia PSC approved a stipulation (2013 Stipulation) entered into by Georgia Power and the Georgia PSC staff to waive the requirement to amend the Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 certificate, until the completion of Plant Vogtle Unit 3, or earlier if deemed appropriate by the Georgia PSC and Georgia Power. In accordance with the Georgia Integrated Resource Planning Act, any costs incurred by Georgia Power in excess of the certified amount will be included in rate base, provided Georgia Power shows the costs to be reasonable and prudent. In addition, financing costs on any construction-related costs in excess of the certified amount likely would be subject to recovery through AFUDC instead of the Nuclear Construction Cost Recovery tariff.
The Georgia PSC has approved eleven VCM reports covering the periods through June 30, 2014, including construction capital costs incurred, which through that date totaled $2.8 billion.
On January 29, 2015, Georgia Power announced that it was notified by the Contractor of the Contractor’s revised forecast for completion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which would incrementally delay the previously disclosed estimated in-service dates by 18 months (from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the second quarter of 2019 for Unit 3 and from the fourth quarter of 2018 to the second quarter of 2020 for Unit 4). Georgia Power has not agreed to any changes to the guaranteed substantial completion dates of April 2016 and April 2017 for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, respectively. Georgia Power does not believe that the Contractor’s revised forecast reflects all efforts that may be possible to mitigate the Contractor’s delay.
In addition, Georgia Power believes that, pursuant to the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement, the Contractor is responsible for the Contractor’s costs related to the Contractor’s delay (including any related construction and mitigation costs, which could be material) and that the Vogtle Owners are entitled to recover liquidated damages for the Contractor’s delay beyond the guaranteed substantial completion dates of April 2016 and April 2017 for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, respectively. Consistent with the Contractor’s position in the pending litigation described above, Georgia Power expects the Contractor to contest any claims for liquidated damages and to assert that the Vogtle Owners are responsible for additional costs related to the Contractor’s delay. The Contractor's liability to the Vogtle Owners for schedule and performance liquidated damages and warranty claims is subject to a cap. In addition, the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement provides for limited cost sharing by the Vogtle Owners for Contractor costs under certain conditions (which have not occurred), with maximum additional capital costs under this provision attributable to Georgia Power (based on Georgia Power's ownership interest) of approximately $114 million.


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On February 27, 2015, Georgia Power filed its twelfth VCM report with the Georgia PSC covering the period from July 1 through December 31, 2014, which requests approval for an additional $0.2 billion of construction capital costs incurred during that period and reflects the Contractor’s revised forecast for completion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 as well as additional estimated owner-related costs of approximately $10 million per month expected to result from the Contractor’s proposed 18-month delay, including property taxes, oversight costs, compliance costs, and other operational readiness costs. No Contractor costs related to the Contractor’s proposed 18-month delay are included in the twelfth VCM report. Additionally, while Georgia Power has not agreed to any change to the guaranteed substantial completion dates, the twelfth VCM report includes a requested amendment to the Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 certificate to reflect the Contractor’s revised forecast, to include the estimated owner's costs associated with the proposed 18-month Contractor delay, and to increase the estimated total in-service capital cost of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to $5.0 billion.
Georgia Power will continue to incur financing costs of approximately $30 million per month until Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are placed in service. The twelfth VCM report estimates total associated financing costs during the construction period to be approximately $2.5 billion.
Processes are in place that are designed to assure compliance with the requirements specified in the DCD and the COLs, including inspections by Southern Nuclear and the NRC that occur throughout construction. As a result of such compliance processes, certain license amendment requests have been filed and approved or are pending before the NRC. Various design and other licensing-based compliance issues are expected to arise as construction proceeds, which may result in additional license amendments or require other resolution. If any license amendment requests or other licensing-based compliance issues are not resolved in a timely manner, there may be delays in the project schedule that could result in increased costs either to the Vogtle Owners or the Contractor or to both.
As construction continues, the risk remains that ongoing challenges with Contractor performance including additional challenges in its fabrication, assembly, delivery, and installation of the shield building and structural modules, delays in the receipt of the remaining permits necessary for the operation of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, or other issues could arise and may further impact project schedule and cost. In addition, the IRS allocated production tax credits to each of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which require the applicable unit to be placed in service before 2021. Additional claims by the Contractor or Georgia Power (on behalf of the Vogtle Owners) are also likely to arise throughout construction. These claims may be resolved through formal and informal dispute resolution procedures under the engineering, procurement, and construction agreement for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, but also may be resolved through litigation.
Kemper IGCC construction
In 2012, the Mississippi PSC issued a detailed order confirming the CPCN originally approved by the Mississippi PSC in 2010 authorizing the acquisition, construction, and operation of the Kemper IGCC (2012 MPSC CPCN Order). The 2012 MPSC CPCN Order included a certificated cost estimate of $2.4 billion, net of the DOE Grants and excluding the Cost Cap Exceptions described below, and approved a construction cost cap of up to $2.88 billion, with recovery of prudently-incurred costs subject to approval by the Mississippi PSC. As discussed below, the 2013 Settlement Agreement, among other things, established processes for resolving matters regarding cost recovery (both during construction and startup and following commercial operation of the Kemper IGCC), including the treatment of costs in excess of the $2.88 billion cost cap.
The Kemper IGCC was originally projected to be placed in service in May 2014. Mississippi Power placed the combined cycle and the associated common facilities portion of the Kemper IGCC in service on natural gas on August 9, 2014 and continues to focus on completing the remainder of the Kemper IGCC, including the gasifier and the gas clean-up facilities, for which the in-service date is currently expected to occur in the first half of 2016.
Mississippi Power does not intend to seek any rate recovery or joint owner contributions for any costs related to the construction of the Kemper IGCC that exceed the $2.88 billion cost cap, net of the DOE Grants and excluding the cost of the lignite mine and equipment, the cost of the CO2 pipeline facilities, AFUDC, and certain general exceptions, including change of law, force majeure, and beneficial capital (which exists when Mississippi Power demonstrates that the purpose and effect of the construction cost increase is to produce efficiencies that will result in a neutral or favorable effect on customers relative to the original proposal for the CPCN) (Cost Cap Exceptions). Through December 31, 2014, Southern Company and Mississippi Power recorded pre-tax charges to income as a result of increases to the cost estimate of $2.05 billion ($1.26 billion after tax). Primarily as a result of these charges, Mississippi Power incurred net losses after dividends on preferred stock of $328.7 million and $476.6 million in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The current estimate includes costs through March 31, 2016. Any further extension of the in-service date is currently estimated to result in additional base costs of approximately $25 million to $30 million per month, which includes maintaining necessary levels of start-up labor, materials, and fuel, as well as operational resources required to execute start-up and commissioning activities. Any further extension of the in-service date with respect to the Kemper IGCC would also increase costs for the Cost Cap Exceptions, which are not

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subject to the $2.88 billion cost cap established by the Mississippi PSC. These costs include AFUDC, which is currently estimated to total approximately $13 million per month, as well as carrying costs and operating expenses on Kemper IGCC assets placed in service and consulting and legal fees, which are being deferred as regulatory assets and are estimated to total approximately $7 million per month.
Any further cost increases and/or extensions of the in-service date with respect to the Kemper IGCC may result from factors including, but not limited to, labor costs and productivity, adverse weather conditions, shortages and inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor or supplier delay, non-performance under construction or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, unforeseen engineering or design problems, start-up activities for this first-of-a-kind technology (including major equipment failure and system integration), and/or operational performance (including additional costs to satisfy any operational parameters ultimately adopted by the Mississippi PSC). In subsequent periods, any further changes in the estimated costs to complete construction and start-up of the Kemper IGCC subject to the $2.88 billion cost cap, net of the DOE Grants and excluding the Cost Cap Exceptions, will be reflected in Southern Company's and Mississippi Power’s statements of income and these changes could be material.
Under the 2013 Settlement Agreement, Mississippi Power agreed to limit the portion of prudently-incurred Kemper IGCC costs to be included in retail rate base to the $2.4 billion certificated cost estimate, plus the Cost Cap Exceptions, but excluding AFUDC, and any other costs permitted or determined to be excluded from the $2.88 billion cost cap by the Mississippi PSC. The 2013 Settlement Agreement also allowed Mississippi Power to secure alternate financing for costs not otherwise recovered in any Mississippi PSC rate proceedings contemplated by the 2013 Settlement Agreement.
Legislation to authorize a multi-year rate plan and legislation to provide for alternate financing through securitization of up to $1.0 billion of prudently-incurred costs was enacted into law in February 2013. Mississippi Power's intent under the 2013 Settlement Agreement was to securitize (1) prudently-incurred costs in excess of the certificated cost estimate and up to the $2.88 billion cost cap, net of the DOE Grants and excluding the Cost Cap Exceptions, (2) accrued AFUDC, and (3) other prudently-incurred costs, which include carrying costs from the estimated in-service date until securitization is finalized and other costs not included in the Rate Mitigation Plan (described below) as approved by the Mississippi PSC.
Consistent with the terms of the 2013 Settlement Agreement, in March 2013, the Mississippi PSC issued a rate order (2013 MPSC Rate Order), approving retail rate increases of 15% effective March 19, 2013 and 3% effective January 1, 2014, which collectively were designed to collect $156 million annually beginning in 2014. For the period from March 2013 through December 31, 2014, $257.2 million had been collected primarily to be used to mitigate customer rate impacts after the Kemper IGCC is placed in service.
On August 18, 2014, Mississippi Power provided the Mississippi PSC with an analysis of the costs and benefits of placing the combined cycle and the associated common facilities portion of the Kemper IGCC in service, including the expected accounting treatment. Mississippi Power’s analysis requested, among other things, confirmation by the Mississippi PSC of the continued collection of rates as prescribed by the 2013 MPSC Rate Order, with the current recognition as revenue of the related equity return on all assets placed in service and the deferral of all remaining rate collections under the 2013 MPSC Rate Order to a regulatory liability account. As discussed further below, a February 2015 decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court would discontinue the collection of, and require the refund of, all amounts previously collected under the 2013 MPSC Rate Order.
In addition, Mississippi Power’s August 18, 2014 filing with the Mississippi PSC requested confirmation of Mississippi Power's accounting treatment by the Mississippi PSC of the continued accrual of AFUDC through the in-service date of the remainder of the Kemper IGCC and the deferral of operating costs as regulatory assets. Any action by the Mississippi PSC that is inconsistent with the treatment requested by Mississippi Power could have a material impact on the results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity of Mississippi Power and Southern Company.
Also consistent with the 2013 Settlement Agreement, Mississippi Power has filed with the Mississippi PSC a rate recovery plan for the Kemper IGCC for cost recovery through 2020 (Rate Mitigation Plan), which is still under review by the Mississippi PSC. The revenue requirements set forth in the Rate Mitigation Plan assume the sale of a 15% undivided interest in the Kemper IGCC to SMEPA and utilization of bonus depreciation, which currently requires that the related long-term asset be placed in service in 2015.
On February 12, 2015, the Mississippi Supreme Court (Court) issued its decision in the legal challenge to the 2013 MPSC Rate Order filed by Thomas A. Blanton. The Court reversed the 2013 MPSC Rate Order based on, among other things, its findings that (1) the collection of $156 million annually to be set aside in a regulatory liability account for use in mitigating future rate impacts for customers (Mirror CWIP) was not provided for under the Baseload Act and (2) the Mississippi PSC should have determined the prudence of Kemper IGCC costs before approving rate recovery through the 2013 MPSC Rate Order. The Court also found the 2013 Settlement Agreement unenforceable due to a lack of public notice for the related proceedings. The Court’s ruling remands the matter to the Mississippi PSC to (1) fix by order the rates that were in existence prior to the 2013 MPSC

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Rate Order, (2) fix no rate increases until the Mississippi PSC is in compliance with the Court’s ruling, and (3) enter an order refunding amounts collected under the 2013 MPSC Rate Order. Through December 31, 2014, Mississippi Power had collected $257.2 million through rates under the 2013 MPSC Rate Order. Any required refunds would also include carrying costs. The Court’s decision will become legally effective upon the issuance of a mandate to the Mississippi PSC. Absent specific instruction from the Court, the Mississippi PSC will determine the method and timing of the refund. Mississippi Power is reviewing the Court’s decision and expects to file a motion for rehearing which would stay the Court's mandate until either the case is reheard and decided or seven days after the Court issues its order denying Mississippi Power's request for rehearing. Mississippi Power is also evaluating its regulatory options.
To the extent that refunds of amounts collected under the 2013 MPSC Rate Order are required on a schedule different from the amortization schedule proposed in the Rate Mitigation Plan, the customer billing impacts proposed under the Rate Mitigation Plan would no longer be viable.
In the event that the Mirror CWIP regulatory liability is refunded to customers prior to the in-service date of the Kemper IGCC and is, therefore, not available to mitigate rate impacts under the Rate Mitigation Plan, the Mississippi PSC does not approve a refund schedule that facilitates rate mitigation, or Mississippi Power withdraws the Rate Mitigation Plan, Mississippi Power would seek rate recovery through alternate means, which could include a traditional rate case.
In addition to current estimated costs at December 31, 2014 of $6.20 billion, Mississippi Power anticipates that it will incur additional costs after the Kemper IGCC in-service date until the Kemper IGCC cost recovery approach is finalized. These costs include, but are not limited to, regulatory costs and additional carrying costs which could be material. Recovery of these costs would be subject to approval by the Mississippi PSC.
The Mississippi PSC’s review of Kemper IGCC costs is ongoing. On August 5, 2014, the Mississippi PSC ordered that a consolidated prudence determination of all Kemper IGCC costs be completed after the entire project has been placed in service and has demonstrated availability for a reasonable period of time as determined by the Mississippi PSC and the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff. The Mississippi PSC has encouraged the parties to work in good faith to settle contested issues and Mississippi Power is working to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. As a result of the Court’s decision, Mississippi Power intends to request that the Mississippi PSC reconsider its prudence review schedule.
Mississippi Power expects the Mississippi PSC to include operational parameters in its evaluation of the Rate Mitigation Plan and other related proceedings during the operation of the Kemper IGCC. To the extent the Kemper IGCC does not satisfy the operational parameters ultimately adopted by the Mississippi PSC or Mississippi Power incurs additional costs in order to satisfy such parameters, there could be a material adverse effect on Southern Company's and Mississippi Power’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
In addition, any failure to place the Kemper IGCC in-service by April 15, 2016 or to capture and sequester (via enhanced oil recovery) at least 65% of the carbon dioxide produced by the Kemper IGCC during operations in accordance with IRS requirements would result in the loss of Phase II tax credits that have been allocated to the Kemper IGCC. Through December 31, 2014, Southern Company and Mississippi Power have recorded tax benefits totaling $276 million, of which approximately $210 million have been utilized through that date.
The ultimate outcome of these matters, including the resolution of legal challenges, determinations of prudency, and the specific manner of recovery of prudently-incurred costs, is subject to further regulatory actions and cannot be determined at this time.
FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND MARKET RISKS
The generation operations and energy marketing operations of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are subject to risks, many of which are beyond their control, including changes in power prices and fuel costs, that may reduce Southern Company's, the traditional operating companies', and/or Southern Power's revenues and increase costs.
The generation operations and energy marketing operations of the Southern Company system are subject to changes in power prices and fuel costs, which could increase the cost of producing power or decrease the amount received from the sale of power. The market prices for these commodities may fluctuate significantly over relatively short periods of time. Among the factors that could influence power prices and fuel costs are:
prevailing market prices for coal, natural gas, uranium, fuel oil, biomass, and other fuels used in the generation facilities of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, including associated transportation costs, and supplies of such commodities;
demand for energy and the extent of additional supplies of energy available from current or new competitors;

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liquidity in the general wholesale electricity market;
weather conditions impacting demand for electricity;
seasonality;
transmission or transportation constraints, disruptions, or inefficiencies;
availability of competitively priced alternative energy sources;
forced or unscheduled plant outages for the Southern Company system, its competitors, or third party providers;
the financial condition of market participants;
the economy in the service territory, the nation, and worldwide, including the impact of economic conditions on demand for electricity and the demand for fuels;
natural disasters, wars, embargos, acts of terrorism, and other catastrophic events; and
federal, state, and foreign energy and environmental regulation and legislation.
Certain of these factors could increase the expenses of the traditional operating companies or Southern Power and Southern Company. For the traditional operating companies, such increases may not be fully recoverable through rates. Other of these factors could reduce the revenues of the traditional operating companies or Southern Power and Southern Company.
Historically, the traditional operating companies from time to time have experienced underrecovered fuel cost balances and may experience such balances in the future. While the traditional operating companies are generally authorized to recover underrecovered fuel costs through fuel cost recovery clauses, recovery may be denied if costs are deemed to be imprudently incurred, and delays in the authorization of such recovery could negatively impact the cash flows of the affected traditional operating company and Southern Company.
Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are subject to risks associated with a changing economic environment, customer behaviors, and adoption patterns of technologies by the customers of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power.
The consumption and use of energy are fundamentally linked to economic activity. This relationship is affected over time by changes in the economy, customer behaviors, and technologies. Any economic downturn could negatively impact customer growth and usage per customer, thus reducing the sales of electricity and revenues. Additionally, any economic downturn or disruption of financial markets, both nationally and internationally, could negatively affect the financial stability of customers and counterparties of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power.
Outside of economic disruptions, changes in customer behaviors in response to changing conditions and preferences or changes in the adoption of technologies could affect the relationship of economic activity to the consumption of electricity. On the customer behavior side, federal and state programs exist to influence how customers use energy, and several of the traditional operating companies have PSC mandates to promote energy efficiency. The adoption of technology by customers can have both positive and negative impacts on sales. Many new technologies utilize less energy than in the past. However, new electric technologies such as electric vehicles can create additional demand. There can be no assurance that the Southern Company system's planning processes will appropriately estimate and incorporate the impacts of changes in customer behavior, state and federal programs, PSC mandates, and technology.
All of the factors discussed above could adversely affect Southern Company's, the traditional operating companies', and/or Southern Power's results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
The operating results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are affected by weather conditions and may fluctuate on a seasonal and quarterly basis. In addition, significant weather events, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and winter storms, could result in substantial damage to or limit the operation of the properties of the traditional operating companies and/or Southern Power and could negatively impact results of operation, financial condition, and liquidity.
Electric power supply is generally a seasonal business. In many parts of the country, demand for power peaks during the summer months, with market prices also peaking at that time. In other areas, power demand peaks during the winter. As a result, the overall operating results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, the traditional operating companies and Southern Power have historically sold less power when weather conditions are milder. Unusually mild weather in the future could reduce the

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revenues, net income, and available cash of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and/or Southern Power.
In addition, volatile or significant weather events could result in substantial damage to the transmission and distribution lines of the traditional operating companies and the generating facilities of the traditional operating companies and Southern Power. The traditional operating companies and Southern Power have significant investments in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions which could be subject to major storm activity. Further, severe drought conditions can reduce the availability of water and restrict or prevent the operation of certain generating facilities.
In the event a traditional operating company experiences any of these weather events or any natural disaster or other catastrophic event, recovery of costs in excess of reserves and insurance coverage is subject to the approval of its state PSC. Historically, the traditional operating companies from time to time have experienced deficits in their storm cost recovery reserve balances and may experience such deficits in the future. Any denial by the applicable state PSC or delay in recovery of any portion of such costs could have a material negative impact on a traditional operating company's and Southern Company's results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
In addition, damages resulting from significant weather events within the service territory of any traditional operating company or affecting Southern Power's customers may result in the loss of customers and reduced demand for electricity for extended periods. Any significant loss of customers or reduction in demand for electricity could have a material negative impact on a traditional operating company's or Southern Power's and Southern Company's results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
Acquisitions and dispositions may not result in anticipated benefits and may present risks not originally contemplated, which may have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition of Southern Company and its subsidiaries.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries have made significant acquisitions and dispositions in the past and may in the future make additional acquisitions and dispositions. Southern Power, in particular, continually seeks opportunities to create value through various transactions, including acquisitions or sales of assets.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries may face significant competition for acquisition opportunities and there can be no assurance that anticipated acquisitions will be completed on acceptable terms or at all. In addition, these transactions are intended to, but may not, result in the generation of cash or income, the realization of savings, the creation of efficiencies, or the reduction of risk. These transactions may also affect the liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition of Southern Company and its subsidiaries.
These transactions also involve risks, including:
any acquisitions may not result in an increase in income or provide an adequate return of capital or other anticipated benefits;
any acquisitions may not be successfully integrated into the acquiring company’s operations and internal controls;
the due diligence conducted prior to an acquisition may not uncover situations that could result in financial or legal exposure or the acquiring company may not appropriately evaluate the likelihood or quantify the exposure from identified risks;
any disposition may result in decreased earnings, revenue, or cash flow;
use of cash for acquisitions may adversely affect cash available for capital expenditures and other uses; or
any dispositions, investments, or acquisitions could have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of Southern Company or its subsidiaries.
Southern Company may be unable to meet its ongoing and future financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock if its subsidiaries are unable to pay upstream dividends or repay funds to Southern Company.
Southern Company is a holding company and, as such, Southern Company has no operations of its own. Substantially all of Southern Company's consolidated assets are held by subsidiaries. Southern Company's ability to meet its financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock is primarily dependent on the net income and cash flows of its subsidiaries and their ability to pay upstream dividends or to repay funds to Southern Company. Prior to funding Southern Company, Southern Company's subsidiaries have regulatory restrictions and financial obligations that must be satisfied, including among others, debt service and preferred and preference stock dividends. Southern Company's subsidiaries are separate legal entities and have no obligation to provide Southern Company with funds.

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A downgrade in the credit ratings of Southern Company, any of the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power Company could negatively affect their ability to access capital at reasonable costs and/or could require Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power Company to post collateral or replace certain indebtedness.
There are a number of factors that rating agencies evaluate to arrive at credit ratings for Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power Company, including capital structure, regulatory environment, the ability to cover liquidity requirements, and other commitments for capital. Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power Company could experience a downgrade in their ratings if any rating agency concludes that the level of business or financial risk of the industry or Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power Company has deteriorated. Changes in ratings methodologies by the agencies could also have a negative impact on credit ratings. If one or more rating agencies downgrade Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power Company, borrowing costs would increase, the pool of investors and funding sources would likely decrease, and, particularly for any downgrade to below investment grade, significant collateral requirements may be triggered in a number of contracts. Any credit rating downgrades could require a traditional operating company or Southern Power Company to alter the mix of debt financing currently used, and could require the issuance of secured indebtedness and/or indebtedness with additional restrictive covenants.
Demand for power could decrease or fail to grow at expected rates, resulting in stagnant or reduced revenues, limited growth opportunities, and potentially stranded generation assets.
Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power each engage in a long-term planning process to estimate the optimal mix and timing of new generation assets required to serve future load obligations. This planning process must look many years into the future in order to accommodate the long lead times associated with the permitting and construction of new generation facilities. Inherent risk exists in predicting demand this far into the future as these future loads are dependent on many uncertain factors, including regional economic conditions, customer usage patterns, efficiency programs, and customer technology adoption. Because regulators may not permit the traditional operating companies to adjust rates to recover the costs of new generation assets while such assets are being constructed, the traditional operating companies may not be able to fully recover these costs or may have exposure to regulatory lag associated with the time between the incurrence of costs of additional capacity and the traditional operating companies' recovery in customers' rates. In addition, under Southern Power's model of selling capacity and energy at negotiated market-based rates under long-term PPAs, Southern Power might not be able to fully execute its business plan if market prices drop below original forecasts. Southern Power and/or the traditional operating companies may not be able to extend existing PPAs or to find new buyers for existing generation assets as existing PPAs expire, or they may be forced to market these assets at prices lower than originally intended. These situations could have negative impacts on net income and cash flows for the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and for Southern Company.
Demand for power could exceed supply capacity, resulting in increased costs for purchasing capacity in the open market or building additional generation and transmission facilities.
The traditional operating companies and Southern Power are currently obligated to supply power to retail customers and wholesale customers under long-term PPAs. At peak times, the demand for power required to meet this obligation could exceed the Southern Company system's available generation capacity. Market or competitive forces may require that the traditional operating companies or Southern Power purchase capacity on the open market or build additional generation and transmission facilities. Because regulators may not permit the traditional operating companies to pass all of these purchase or construction costs on to their customers, the traditional operating companies may not be able to recover some or all of these costs or may have exposure to regulatory lag associated with the time between the incurrence of costs of purchased or constructed capacity and the traditional operating companies' recovery in customers' rates. Under Southern Power's long-term fixed price PPAs, Southern Power would not have the ability to recover any of these costs. These situations could have negative impacts on net income and cash flows for the affected traditional operating company or Southern Power and for Southern Company.
Energy conservation and energy price increases could negatively impact financial results.
Customers could voluntarily reduce their consumption of electricity in response to decreases in their disposable income, increases in energy prices, or individual conservation efforts, which could negatively impact the results of operations of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power. In addition, a number of regulatory and legislative bodies have proposed or introduced requirements and/or incentives to reduce energy consumption by certain dates. Conservation programs could impact the financial results of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power in different ways. For example, if any traditional operating company is required to invest in conservation measures that result in reduced sales from effective conservation, regulatory lag in adjusting rates for the impact of these measures could have a negative financial impact on such traditional operating company and Southern Company.

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Certain of the traditional operating companies actively promote energy conservation programs, which have been approved by their respective state PSCs. For certain of such traditional operating companies, regulatory mechanisms have been established that provide for the recovery of costs related to such programs and lost revenues as a result of such programs. However, to the extent conservation results in reduced energy demand or significantly slows the growth in demand beyond what is anticipated, the value of generation assets of the traditional operating companies and/or Southern Power and other unregulated business activities could be adversely impacted and the traditional operating companies could be negatively impacted depending on the regulatory treatment of the associated impacts. In addition, the failure of those traditional operating companies that actively promote energy conservation programs to achieve the energy conservation targets established by their respective state PSCs could negatively impact such traditional operating companies' ability to recover costs and lost revenues as a result of such progress and ability to receive certain benefits related to such programs.
Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are unable to determine what impact, if any, conservation and increases in energy prices will have on their respective financial condition or results of operations.
The businesses of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are dependent on their ability to successfully access funds through capital markets and financial institutions. The inability of Southern Company, any traditional operating company, or Southern Power to access funds may limit its ability to execute its business plan by impacting its ability to fund capital investments or acquisitions that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power may otherwise rely on to achieve future earnings and cash flows.
Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power rely on access to both short-term money markets and longer-term capital markets as a significant source of liquidity for capital requirements not satisfied by the cash flow from their respective operations. If Southern Company, any traditional operating company, or Southern Power is not able to access capital at competitive rates or on favorable terms, its ability to implement its business plan will be limited by impacting its ability to fund capital investments or acquisitions that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power may otherwise rely on to achieve future earnings and cash flows. In addition, Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power rely on committed bank lending agreements as back-up liquidity which allows them to access low cost money markets. Each of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power believes that it will maintain sufficient access to these financial markets based upon current credit ratings. However, certain events or market disruptions may increase the cost of borrowing or adversely affect the ability to raise capital through the issuance of securities or other borrowing arrangements or the ability to secure committed bank lending agreements used as back-up sources of capital. Such disruptions could include:
an economic downturn or uncertainty;
bankruptcy or financial distress at an unrelated energy company, financial institution, or sovereign entity;
capital markets volatility and disruption, either nationally or internationally;
changes in tax policy such as dividend tax rates;
market prices for electricity and gas;
terrorist attacks or threatened attacks on Southern Company's facilities or unrelated energy companies' facilities;
war or threat of war; or
the overall health of the utility and financial institution industries.
In addition, Georgia Power’s ability to make future borrowings through its term loan credit facility with the Federal Financing Bank is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, as well as certification of compliance with the requirements of the loan guarantee program under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, including accuracy of project-related representations and warranties, delivery of updated project-related information and evidence of compliance with the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, as amended, compliance with the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, and certification from the DOE’s consulting engineer that proceeds of the advances are used to reimburse certain costs of construction relating to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 that are eligible for financing under the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program.
Market performance and other changes may decrease the value of benefit plans and nuclear decommissioning trust assets or may increase plan costs, which then could require significant additional funding.
The performance of the capital markets affects the values of the assets held in trust under Southern Company's pension and postretirement benefit plans and the assets held in trust to satisfy obligations to decommission Alabama Power's and Georgia Power's nuclear plants. The Southern Company system has significant obligations related to pension and postretirement benefit

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plans. Alabama Power and Georgia Power each hold significant assets in the nuclear decommissioning trusts. These assets are subject to market fluctuations and will yield uncertain returns, which may fall below projected return rates. A decline in the market value of these assets may increase the funding requirements relating to benefit plan liabilities of the Southern Company system and Alabama Power's and Georgia Power's nuclear decommissioning obligations. Additionally, changes in interest rates affect the liabilities under pension and postretirement benefit plans of the Southern Company system; as interest rates decrease, the liabilities increase, potentially requiring additional funding. Further, changes in demographics, including an increased number of retirements or changes in life expectancy assumptions, may also increase the funding requirements of the obligations related to the pension benefit plans. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are also facing rising medical benefit costs, including the current costs for active and retired employees. It is possible that these costs may increase at a rate that is significantly higher than anticipated. If the Southern Company system is unable to successfully manage benefit plan assets and medical benefit costs and Alabama Power and Georgia Power are unable to successfully manage the nuclear decommissioning trust funds, results of operations and financial position could be negatively affected.
Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are subject to risks associated with their ability to obtain adequate insurance at acceptable costs.
The financial condition of some insurance companies, the threat of terrorism, and natural disasters, among other things, could have disruptive effects on insurance markets. The availability of insurance covering risks that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and their respective competitors typically insure against may decrease, and the insurance that Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power are able to obtain may have higher deductibles, higher premiums, and more restrictive policy terms. Further, there is no guarantee that the insurance policies maintained by the Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, and Southern Power will cover all of the potential exposures or the actual amount of loss incurred.
Any losses not covered by insurance, or any increases in the cost of applicable insurance, could adversely affect the results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition of Southern Company, the traditional operating companies, or Southern Power.
The use of derivative contracts by Southern Company and its subsidiaries in the normal course of business could result in financial losses that negatively impact the net income of Southern Company and its subsidiaries.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including the traditional operating companies and Southern Power, use derivative instruments, such as swaps, options, futures, and forwards, to manage their commodity and interest rate exposures and, to a lesser extent, engage in limited trading activities. Southern Company and its subsidiaries could recognize financial losses as a result of volatility in the market values of these contracts or if a counterparty fails to perform. These risks are managed through risk management policies, limits, and procedures. These risk management policies, limits, and procedures might not work as planned and cannot entirely eliminate the risks associated with these activities. In addition, derivative contracts entered for hedging purposes might not off-set the underlying exposure being hedged as expected, resulting in financial losses. In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the valuation of these financial instruments can involve management's judgment or use of estimates. The factors used in the valuation of these instruments become more difficult to predict and the calculations become less reliable the further into the future these estimates are made. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the value of the reported fair value of these contracts.
Item 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.

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Item 2. PROPERTIES
Electric Properties
The traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO, at December 31, 2014, owned and/or operated 33 hydroelectric generating stations, 33 fossil fuel generating stations, three nuclear generating stations, and 13 combined cycle/cogeneration stations, nine solar facilities, one biomass facility, and one landfill gas facility. The amounts of capacity for each company, as of December 31, 2014, are shown in the table below.
Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
 
 
(KWs)

 
FOSSIL STEAM
 
 
 
Gadsden
Gadsden, AL
120,000

 
Gorgas
Jasper, AL
1,221,250

(2
)
Barry
Mobile, AL
1,525,000

(2
)
Greene County
Demopolis, AL
300,000

(3
)
Gaston Unit 5
Wilsonville, AL
880,000

 
Miller
Birmingham, AL
2,532,288

(4
)
Alabama Power Total
 
6,578,538

 
Bowen
Cartersville, GA
3,160,000

 
Branch
Milledgeville, GA
1,220,700

(5
)
Hammond
Rome, GA
800,000

 
Kraft
Port Wentworth, GA
281,136

(5
)
McIntosh
Effingham County, GA
163,117

 
McManus
Brunswick, GA
115,000

(5
)
Mitchell
Albany, GA
125,000

(6
)
Scherer
Macon, GA
750,924

(7
)
Wansley
Carrollton, GA
925,550

(8
)
Yates
Newnan, GA
1,250,000

(5
)
Georgia Power Total
 
8,791,427

 
Crist
Pensacola, FL
970,000

 
Daniel
Pascagoula, MS
500,000

(9
)
Lansing Smith
Panama City, FL
305,000

(10
)
Scholz
Chattahoochee, FL
80,000

(10
)
Scherer Unit 3
Macon, GA
204,500

(7
)
Gulf Power Total
 
2,059,500

 
Daniel
Pascagoula, MS
500,000

(9
)
Greene County
Demopolis, AL
200,000

(3
)
Sweatt
Meridian, MS
80,000

(11
)
Watson
Gulfport, MS
1,012,000

(11
)
Mississippi Power Total
 
1,792,000

 
Gaston Units 1-4
Wilsonville, AL
 
 
SEGCO Total
 
1,000,000

(12
)
Total Fossil Steam
 
20,221,465

 

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Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
IGCC
 
 
 
Kemper County/Ratcliffe
Kemper County, MS
778,772

(13
)
Total IGCC
 
778,772

 
NUCLEAR STEAM
 
 
 
Farley
Dothan, AL
 
 
Alabama Power Total
 
1,720,000

 
Hatch
Baxley, GA
899,612

(14
)
Vogtle Units 1 and 2
Augusta, GA
1,060,240

(15
)
Georgia Power Total
 
1,959,852

 
Total Nuclear Steam
 
3,679,852

 
COMBUSTION TURBINES
 
 
 
Greene County
Demopolis, AL
 
 
Alabama Power Total
 
720,000

 
Boulevard
Savannah, GA
19,700

(5
)
Intercession City
Intercession City, FL
47,667

(16
)
Kraft
Port Wentworth, GA
22,000

 
McDonough Unit 3
Atlanta, GA
78,800

 
McIntosh Units 1 through 8
Effingham County, GA
640,000

 
McManus
Brunswick, GA
481,700

 
Mitchell
Albany, GA
78,800

 
Robins
Warner Robins, GA
158,400

 
Wansley
Carrollton, GA
26,322

(8
)
Wilson
Augusta, GA
354,100

 
Georgia Power Total
 
1,907,489

 
Lansing Smith Unit A
Panama City, FL
39,400

 
Pea Ridge Units 1 through 3
Pea Ridge, FL
15,000

 
Gulf Power Total
 
54,400

 
Chevron Cogenerating Station
Pascagoula, MS
147,292

(17
)
Sweatt
Meridian, MS
39,400

 
Watson
Gulfport, MS
39,360

 
Mississippi Power Total
 
226,052

 
Addison (formally West Georgia)
Thomaston, GA
668,800

 
Cleveland County
Cleveland County, NC
720,000

 
Dahlberg
Jackson County, GA
756,000

 
Oleander
Cocoa, FL
791,301

 
Rowan
Salisbury, NC
455,250

 
Southern Power Total
 
3,391,351

 
Gaston (SEGCO)
Wilsonville, AL
19,680

(12
)
Total Combustion Turbines
 
6,318,972

 
COGENERATION
 
 
 
Washington County
Washington County, AL
123,428

 
GE Plastics Project
Burkeville, AL
104,800

 
Theodore
Theodore, AL
236,418

 
Total Cogeneration
 
464,646

 
COMBINED CYCLE
 
 
 
Barry
Mobile, AL
 
 

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Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
Alabama Power Total
 
1,070,424

 
McIntosh Units 10&11
Effingham County, GA
1,318,920

 
McDonough-Atkinson Units 4 through 6
Atlanta, GA
2,520,000

 
Georgia Power Total
 
3,838,920

 
Smith
Lynn Haven, FL
 
 
Gulf Power Total
 
545,500

 
Daniel
Pascagoula, MS
 
 
Mississippi Power Total
 
1,070,424

 
Franklin
Smiths, AL
1,857,820

 
Harris
Autaugaville, AL
1,318,920

 
Rowan
Salisbury, NC
530,550

 
Stanton Unit A
Orlando, FL
428,649

(18
)
Wansley
Carrollton, GA
1,073,000

 
Southern Power Total
 
5,208,939

 
Total Combined Cycle
 
11,734,207

 
HYDROELECTRIC FACILITIES
 
 
 
Bankhead
Holt, AL
53,985

 
Bouldin
Wetumpka, AL
225,000

 
Harris
Wedowee, AL
132,000

 
Henry
Ohatchee, AL
72,900

 
Holt
Holt, AL
46,944

 
Jordan
Wetumpka, AL
100,000

 
Lay
Clanton, AL
177,000

 
Lewis Smith
Jasper, AL
157,500

 
Logan Martin
Vincent, AL
135,000

 
Martin
Dadeville, AL
182,000

 
Mitchell
Verbena, AL
170,000

 
Thurlow
Tallassee, AL
81,000

 
Weiss
Leesburg, AL
87,750

 
Yates
Tallassee, AL
47,000

 
Alabama Power Total
 
1,668,079

 
Bartletts Ferry
Columbus, GA
173,000

 
Goat Rock
Columbus, GA
38,600

 
Lloyd Shoals
Jackson, GA
14,400

 
Morgan Falls
Atlanta, GA
16,800

 
North Highlands
Columbus, GA
29,600

 
Oliver Dam
Columbus, GA
60,000

 
Rocky Mountain
Rome, GA
215,256

(19
)
Sinclair Dam
Milledgeville, GA
45,000

 
Tallulah Falls
Clayton, GA
72,000

 
Terrora
Clayton, GA
16,000

 
Tugalo
Clayton, GA
45,000

 
Wallace Dam
Eatonton, GA
321,300

 
Yonah
Toccoa, GA
22,500

 
6 Other Plants
Various Georgia Cities
18,080

 
Georgia Power Total
 
1,087,536

 
Total Hydroelectric Facilities
 
2,755,615

 

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Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
RENEWABLE SOURCES:
 
 
 
SOLAR FACILITIES
 
 
 
Dalton
Dalton, GA
7,769

 
Georgia Power Total
 
7,769

 
Adobe
Kern County, CA
20,000

 
Apex
North Las Vegas, NV
20,000

 
Campo Verde
Imperial County, CA
147,420

 
Cimarron
Springer, NM
30,640

 
Granville
Oxford, NC
2,500

 
Imperial Valley
Imperial County, CA
163,200

 
Macho Springs
Luna County, NM
55,000

 
Spectrum
Clark County, NV
30,240

 
Southern Power Total
 
469,000

(20
)
Total Solar
 
476,769

 
LANDFILL GAS FACILITY
 
 
 
Perdido
Escambia County, FL
 
 
Gulf Power Total
 
3,200

 
BIOMASS FACILITY
 
 
 
Nacogdoches
Sacul, TX
 
 
Southern Power Total
 
115,500

 
Total Generating Capacity
 
46,548,998

 

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Notes:
(1)
See "Jointly-Owned Facilities" herein for additional information.
(2)
As part of its environmental compliance strategy, Alabama Power plans to retire Plant Gorgas Units 6 and 7 (200MWs). Alabama Power also plans to cease using coal at Plant Barry Units 1 and 2 (250 MWs), but such units will remain available on a limited basis with natural gas as the fuel source. Additionally, Alabama Power expects to cease using coal at Plant Barry Unit 3 (225 MWs) and begin operating that unit solely on natural gas. These plans are expected to be effective no later than April 2016. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - "Retail Regulatory Matters - Alabama Power - Environmental Accounting Order" of Southern Company and MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - "Retail Regulatory Matters - Environmental Accounting Order" of Alabama Power in Item 7 herein. See also Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Alabama Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters - Alabama Power - Environmental Accounting Order" and "Retail Regulatory Matters - Environmental Accounting Order," respectively, in Item 8 herein.
(3)
Owned by Alabama Power and Mississippi Power as tenants in common in the proportions of 60% and 40%, respectively. Alabama Power and Mississippi Power plan to cease using coal and to operate these units solely on natural gas no later than April 2016. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - "Retail Regulatory Matters - Alabama Power - Environmental Accounting Order" of Southern Company, MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - "Retail Regulatory Matters - Environmental Accounting Order" of Alabama Power, and MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - "Retail Regulatory Matters - Environmental Compliance Overview Plan" of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein. See also Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Mississippi Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters - Alabama Power - Environmental Accounting Order," "Retail Regulatory Matters - Environmental Accounting Order," and "Retail Regulatory Matters - Environmental Compliance Overview Plan," respectively, in Item 8 herein.
(4)
Capacity shown is Alabama Power's portion (91.84%) of total plant capacity.
(5)
See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - "Retail Regulatory Matters - Georgia Power - Integrated Resource Plans" of Southern Company and MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - "Retail Regulatory Matters - Integrated Resource Plans" of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein. See also Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters - Georgia Power - Integrated Resource Plans" and "Retail Regulatory Matters - Integrated Resource Plans," respectively, in Item 8 herein for information on plant retirements, fuel switching, and conversions.
(6)
Georgia Power expects to request decertification of Plant Mitchell Unit 3 in connection with the triennial IRP to be filed in 2016. Georgia Power plans to continue to operate the unit as needed until the MATS rule becomes effective in April 2015.
(7)
Capacity shown for Georgia Power is 8.4% of Units 1 and 2 and 75% of Unit 3. Capacity shown for Gulf Power is 25% of Unit 3.
(8)
Capacity shown is Georgia Power's portion (53.5%) of total plant capacity.
(9)
Represents 50% of Plant Daniel Units 1 and 2, which are owned as tenants in common by Gulf Power and Mississippi Power.
(10)
Gulf Power intends to retire Plant Scholz by April 2015 and Unit 1 and 2 at Plant Smith by March 31, 2016.
(11)
Mississippi Power has agreed to retire, repower with natural gas, or convert to an alternative non-fossil fuel source the units at Plant Sweatt no later than December 2018. Mississippi Power also agreed that it would cease burning coal and other solid fuel at the units at Plant Watson and begin operating those units solely on natural gas no later than April 2015. See MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL - “Other Matters - Sierra Club Settlement” of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein for additional information. See also Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under "Other Matters - Sierra Club Settlement Agreement" in Item 8 herein.
(12)
SEGCO is jointly-owned by Alabama Power and Georgia Power. See BUSINESS in Item 1 herein for additional information. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Retail Regulatory Matters – Georgia Power – Integrated Resource Plans" of Southern Company and MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Retail Regulatory Matters – Integrated Resource Plans" of Georgia Power in Item 7 herein. See also Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters – Georgia Power – Integrated Resource Plans" and "Retail Regulatory Matters – Integrated Resource Plans," respectively, in Item 8 herein for information on fuel switching at Plant Gaston.
(13)
Mississippi Power placed the combined cycle and the associated common facilities portion of the Kemper IGCC in service using natural gas on August 9, 2014 and continues to focus on completing the remainder of the Kemper IGCC, including the gasifier and the gas clean-up facilities. The Kemper IGCC is expected to have an output capacity of 582 MW.
(14)
Capacity shown is Georgia Power's portion (50.1%) of total plant capacity.

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(15)
Capacity shown is Georgia Power's portion (45.7%) of total plant capacity.
(16)
Capacity shown represents 33 1/3% of total plant capacity. Georgia Power owns a 1/3 interest in the unit with 100% use of the unit from June through September. Progress Energy Florida operates the unit.
(17)
Generation is dedicated to a single industrial customer.
(18)
Capacity shown is Southern Power's portion (65%) of total plant capacity.
(19)
Capacity shown is Georgia Power's portion (25.4%) of total plant capacity. OPC operates the plant.
(20)
Southern Power total solar capacity shown is 100% of the nameplate capacity for each facility. When taking into consideration Southern Power's 90% equity interest in STR (which includes Adobe, Apex, Campo Verde, Cimarron, Granville, Macho Springs, and Spectrum) and 51% equity interest in SG2 Holdings (which includes Imperial Valley), Southern Power's equity portion of the total nameplate capacity is 358,452 KWs.
Except as discussed below under "Titles to Property," the principal plants and other important units of the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO are owned in fee by the respective companies. It is the opinion of management of each such company that its operating properties are adequately maintained and are substantially in good operating condition.
Mississippi Power owns a 79-mile length of 500-kilovolt transmission line which is leased to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, LLC. The line, completed in 1984, extends from Plant Daniel to the Louisiana state line. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, LLC is paying a use fee over a 40-year period covering all expenses and the amortization of the original $57 million cost of the line. At December 31, 2014, the unamortized portion of this cost was approximately $13.7 million.
In conjunction with the Kemper IGCC, Mississippi Power owns a lignite mine and equipment and has acquired and will continue to acquire mineral reserves located around the Kemper IGCC site in Kemper County. The mine, operated by North American Coal Corporation, started commercial operation in June 2013. The estimated capital cost of the mine and equipment is approximately $232.3 million, all of which has been incurred as of December 31, 2014. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle – Lignite Mine and CO2 Pipeline Facilities" of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein and Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle – Lignite Mine and CO2 Pipeline Facilities" in Item 8 herein for additional information on the lignite mine.
In 2014, the maximum demand on the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO was 37,119,000 KWs and occurred on January 7, 2014. The all-time maximum demand of 38,777,000 KWs on the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO occurred on August 22, 2007. These amounts exclude demand served by capacity retained by MEAG Power, OPC, and SEPA. The reserve margin for the traditional operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO in 2014 was 20.2%. See SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA in Item 6 herein for additional information.
Jointly-Owned Facilities
Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern Power at December 31, 2014 had undivided interests in certain generating plants and other related facilities with non-affiliated parties. The percentages of ownership of the total plant or facility are as follows:
 
 
 
 
Percentage Ownership
 
 
Total
Capacity
 
Alabama
Power
 
Power
South
 
Georgia
Power
 
OPC
 
MEAG
Power
 
Dalton
 
Duke
Energy
Florida
 
Southern
Power
 
OUC
 
FMPA
 
KUA
 
 
(MWs)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plant Miller Units 1 and 2
 
1,320

 
91.8
%
 
8.2
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
Plant Hatch
 
1,796

 

 

 
50.1

 
30.0

 
17.7

 
2.2

 

 

 

 

 

Plant Vogtle
Units 1 and 2
 
2,320

 

 

 
45.7

 
30.0

 
22.7

 
1.6

 

 

 

 

 

Plant Scherer Units 1 and 2
 
1,636

 

 

 
8.4

 
60.0

 
30.2

 
1.4

 

 

 

 

 

Plant Wansley
 
1,779

 

 

 
53.5

 
30.0

 
15.1

 
1.4

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain
 
848

 

 

 
25.4

 
74.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intercession City, FL
 
143

 

 

 
33.3

 

 

 

 
66.7

 

 

 

 

Plant Stanton A
 
660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
65.0

 
28.0

 
3.5

 
3.5

Alabama Power and Georgia Power have contracted to operate and maintain the respective units in which each has an interest (other than Rocky Mountain and Intercession City) as agent for the joint owners. SCS provides operation and maintenance services for Plant Stanton A. Southern Nuclear operates and provides services to Alabama Power’s and Georgia Power’s nuclear plants.

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In addition, Georgia Power has commitments regarding a portion of a 5% interest in Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 owned by MEAG Power that are in effect until the later of retirement of the plant or the latest stated maturity date of MEAG Power's bonds issued to finance such ownership interest. The payments for capacity are required whether any capacity is available. The energy cost is a function of each unit's variable operating costs. Except for the portion of the capacity payments related to the Georgia PSC's disallowances of Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 costs, the cost of such capacity and energy is included in purchased power from non-affiliates in Georgia Power's statements of income in Item 8 herein. Also see Note 7 to the financial statements of Georgia Power under "Commitments — Purchased Power Commitments" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Georgia Power is currently constructing Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 which will be jointly owned by Georgia Power, Dalton, OPC, and MEAG Power (with each owner holding the same undivided ownership interest as shown in the table above with respect to Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2). In addition, Mississippi Power is constructing the Kemper IGCC and expects to sell a 15% ownership interest in the Kemper IGCC to SMEPA. See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under "Retail Regulatory Matters - Georgia Power - Nuclear Construction" and "Retail Regulatory Matters - Nuclear Construction," respectively, in Item 8 herein. Also see Note 3 to the financial statements of each of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under "Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Titles to Property
The traditional operating companies', Southern Power's, and SEGCO's interests in the principal plants (other than certain pollution control facilities and the land on which five combustion turbine generators of Mississippi Power are located, which is held by easement) and other important units of the respective companies are owned in fee by such companies, subject only to the (1) liens pursuant to pollution control revenue bonds of Gulf Power on specific pollution control facilities, (2) liens pursuant to the assumption of debt obligations by Mississippi Power in connection with the acquisition of Plant Daniel Units 3 and 4, and (3) liens associated with Georgia Power’s reimbursement obligations to the DOE under its loan guarantee, which are secured by a first priority lien on (a) Georgia Power’s 45.7% undivided ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and (b) Georgia Power’s rights and obligations under the principal contracts relating to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. See Note 6 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power under "Assets Subject to Lien", Note 6 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under “DOE Loan Guarantee Borrowings” and Note 6 of the financial statements of Southern Company and Mississippi Power under "Plant Daniel Revenue Bonds" in Item 8 herein for additional information. The traditional operating companies own the fee interests in certain of their principal plants as tenants in common. See "Jointly-Owned Facilities" herein for additional information. Properties such as electric transmission and distribution lines, steam heating mains, and gas pipelines are constructed principally on rights-of-way which are maintained under franchise or are held by easement only. A substantial portion of lands submerged by reservoirs is held under flood right easements.


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Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
(1) United States of America v. Alabama Power (United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama)
United States of America v. Georgia Power (United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia)
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and each traditional operating company under "Environmental Matters – New Source Review Actions" in Item 8 herein for information.
(2) Georgia Power et al. v. Westinghouse and Stone & Webster (United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia Augusta Division)
Stone & Webster and Westinghouse v. Georgia Power et al. (United States District Court for the District of Columbia)
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company and Georgia Power under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" and "Retail Regulatory Matters – Nuclear Construction," respectively, in Item 8 herein for information.
(3) Environmental Remediation
See Note 3 to the financial statements of Southern Company, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power under "Environmental Matters – Environmental Remediation" in Item 8 herein for information related to environmental remediation.
See Note 3 to the financial statements of each registrant in Item 8 herein for descriptions of additional legal and administrative proceedings discussed therein.
Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF SOUTHERN COMPANY
(Identification of executive officers of Southern Company is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2014.
Thomas A. Fanning
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 57
Elected in 2003. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since December 2010 and President since August 2010. Previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2008 through July 2010.
Art P. Beattie
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Age 60
Elected in 2010. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2010. Previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Alabama Power from February 2005 through August 2010.
W. Paul Bowers
Executive Vice President
Age 58
Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President since February 2008 and Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Georgia Power since January 2011 and Chief Operating Officer of Georgia Power from August 2010 to December 2010. Chairman of Georgia Power's Board of Directors since May 2014. Previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Southern Company from February 2008 to August 2010.
S. W. Connally, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Power
Age 45
Elected in 2012. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Gulf Power since July 2012. Previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Production Officer of Georgia Power from August 2010 through June 2012 and Manager of Alabama Power's Plant Barry from August 2007 through July 2010.
Mark A. Crosswhite
Executive Vice President
Age 52
Elected in 2010. Executive Vice President since December 2010 and President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Alabama Power since March 2014. Chairman of Alabama Power's Board of Directors since May 1, 2014. Previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Southern Company from July 2012 to March 2014, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Gulf Power from January 2011 through June 2012, and Executive Vice President of External Affairs of Alabama Power from February 2008 through December 2010.
Kimberly S. Greene
Executive Vice President
Age 48
Elected in 2013. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since March 2014. Previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of SCS from April 2013 to February 2014. Before rejoining Southern Company, Ms. Greene previously served at Tennessee Valley Authority in a number of positions, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Generation Officer from 2011 through April 2013, and Group President of Strategy and External Relations from 2010 through 2011.
G. Edison Holland, Jr.
Executive Vice President
Age 62
Elected in 2001. Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Mississippi Power since May 2013 and Executive Vice President of Southern Company since April 2001. Previously served as Corporate Secretary of Southern Company from April 2005 until May 2013 and General Counsel of Southern Company from April 2001 until May 2013.
James Y. Kerr II
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Age 50
Elected in 2014. Before joining Southern Company, Mr. Kerr was a partner with McGuireWoods LLP and a senior advisor at McGuireWoods Consulting LLC from 2008 through February 2014.

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Stephen E. Kuczynski
President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Nuclear
Age 52
Elected in 2011. President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Nuclear since July 2011. Before joining Southern Company, Mr. Kuczynski served at Exelon Corporation as the Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services for Exelon Nuclear from February 2006 to June 2011.
Mark S. Lantrip
Executive Vice President
Age 60
Elected in 2014. President and Chief Executive Officer of SCS since March 2014. Previously served as Treasurer of Southern Company from October 2007 to February 2014, Executive Vice President of SCS from November 2010 to March 2014, and Senior Vice President of SCS from January 2010 to November 2010.
Christopher C. Womack
Executive Vice President
Age 56
Elected in 2008. Executive Vice President and President of External Affairs since January 2009.
The officers of Southern Company were elected for a term running from the first meeting of the directors following the last annual meeting (May 28, 2014) for one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified.


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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ALABAMA POWER
(Identification of executive officers of Alabama Power is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2014.
Mark A. Crosswhite
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 52
Elected in 2014. President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director since March 1, 2014. Chairman since May 1, 2014. Previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Southern Company from July 2012 to March 2014, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Gulf Power from January 2011 through June 2012, and Executive Vice President of External Affairs of Alabama Power from February 2008 through December 2010.
Philip C. Raymond
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Age 55
Elected in 2010. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer since August 2010. Previously served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gulf Power from May 2008 to August 2010.
Zeke W. Smith
Executive Vice President
Age 55
Elected in 2010. Executive Vice President of External Affairs since November 2010. Previously served as Vice President of Regulatory Services and Financial Planning from February 2005 to November 2010.
Steven R. Spencer
Executive Vice President
Age 59
Elected in 2001. Executive Vice President of the Customer Service Organization since February 2008.
James P. Heilbron
Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer
Age 43
Elected in 2013. Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer since March 2013. Previously served as Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer of Southern Power Company from July 2010 to February 2013 and Plant Manager of Georgia Power's Plant Wansley from March 2006 to July 2010.
The officers of Alabama Power were elected for a term running from the meeting of the directors held on April 25, 2014 for one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified.


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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF GEORGIA POWER
(Identification of executive officers of Georgia Power is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2014.
W. Paul Bowers
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 58
Elected in 2010. Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director since December 2010 and Chief Operating Officer of Georgia Power from August 2010 to December 2010. Chairman of Georgia Power's Board of Directors since May 2014. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Southern Company from February 2008 to August 2010.
W. Craig Barrs
Executive Vice President
Age 57
Elected in 2008. Executive Vice President of External Affairs since January 2010. Previously served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs from January 2009 to January 2010.
W. Ron Hinson
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Age 58
Elected in 2013. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer since March 2013. Also, served as Comptroller from March 2013 until January 2014. Previously served as Comptroller and Chief Accounting Officer of Southern Company, as well as Senior Vice President and Comptroller of SCS from March 2006 to March 2013.
Joseph A. Miller
Executive Vice President
Age 53
Elected in 2009. Executive Vice President of Nuclear Development since May 2009. He also has served as Executive Vice President of Nuclear Development at Southern Nuclear from February 2006 to January 2013. He was elected as President of Nuclear Development at Southern Nuclear in January 2013.
Anthony L. Wilson
Executive Vice President
Age 50
Elected in 2007. Executive Vice President of Customer Service and Operations since January 2012. Previously served as Vice President of Transmission from November 2009 to January 2012 and Vice President of Distribution from February 2007 to November 2009.
Thomas P. Bishop
Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary
Age 54
Elected in 2008. Corporate Secretary since April 2011 and Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, and General Counsel since September 2008.
John L. Pemberton
Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer
Age 46
Elected in 2012. Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer since July 2012. Previously served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for SCS and Southern Nuclear from June 2010 to July 2012 and Vice President of Governmental Affairs for SCS from August 2006 to June 2010.
The officers of Georgia Power were elected for a term running from the meeting of the directors held on May 21, 2014 for one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF MISSISSIPPI POWER
(Identification of executive officers of Mississippi Power is inserted in Part I in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 401(b), Instruction 3.) The ages of the officers set forth below are as of December 31, 2014.
G. Edison Holland, Jr.
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Age 62
Elected in 2013. Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer since May 2013 and Executive Vice President of Southern Company since April 2001. Previously served as Corporate Secretary of Southern Company from April 2005 until May 2013 and General Counsel of Southern Company from April 2001 until May 2013.
John W. Atherton
Vice President
Age 54
Elected in 2004. Vice President of Corporate Services and Community Relations since October 2012. Previously served as Vice President of External Affairs from January 2005 until October 2012.
Moses H. Feagin
Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer
Age 50
Elected in 2010. Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer since August 2010. Previously served as Vice President and Comptroller of Alabama Power from May 2008 to August 2010.
Jeff G. Franklin (1)
Vice President
Age 47
Elected in 2011. Vice President of Customer Services Organization since August 2011. Previously served as Georgia Power's Vice President of Governmental and Legislative Affairs from January 2011 to July 2011, and Vice President of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs from March 2009 to January 2011.
Mike A. Hazelton (2)
Vice President
Age 46
Elected in 2015. Vice President of Customer Services Organization effective April 2015. Previously served as Georgia Power's Senior Vice President of Marketing from January 2014 through March 2015, Vice President of Marketing from December 2011 to January 2014, Northeast Region Vice President from January 2011 to December 2011, and Land Acquisition Manger from June 2009 to January 2011.
R. Allen Reaves
Vice President
Age 55
Elected in 2010. Vice President and Senior Production Officer since August 2010. Previously served as Manager of Mississippi Power's Plant Daniel from September 2007 through July 2010.
Billy F. Thornton
Vice President
Age 54
Elected in 2012. Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs since October 2012. Previously served as Director of External Affairs from October 2011 until October 2012, Director of Marketing from March 2011 through October 2011, and Major Account Sales Manager from June 2006 to March 2011.
Emile J. Troxclair, III
Vice President
Age 57
Elected in 2014. Vice President of Kemper Development since January 2015. Previously served as Vice President of Gasification for Lummus Technology Inc. from May 2013 through April 2014, Manager of E-Gas Technology for Phillips 66 from 2012 to May 2013, and Manager of E-Gas Technology for ConocoPhillips from 2003 to 2012.
The officers of Mississippi Power were elected for a term running from the meeting of the directors held on April 22, 2014 for one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified, except for Mr. Troxclair, whose election was effective on January 3, 2015.

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(1) On February 16, 2015, Mr. Franklin was elected by the SCS Board of Directors as Vice President of Supply Chain effective March 28, 2015.
(2) On February 18, 2015, Mr. Hazelton was elected by the Mississippi Power Board of Directors as Vice President of Customer Services Organization effective April 1, 2015.


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PART II

Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS' COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
(a)(1) The common stock of Southern Company is listed and traded on the NYSE. The common stock is also traded on regional exchanges across the United States. The high and low stock prices as reported on the NYSE for each quarter of the past two years were as follows:
 
 
High
 
Low
2014
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
44.00

 
$
40.27

Second Quarter
 
46.81

 
42.55

Third Quarter
 
45.47

 
41.87

Fourth Quarter
 
51.28

 
43.55

2013
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
46.95

 
$
42.82

Second Quarter
 
48.74

 
42.32

Third Quarter
 
45.75

 
40.63

Fourth Quarter
 
42.94

 
40.03

There is no market for the other registrants' common stock, all of which is owned by Southern Company.
(a)(2) Number of Southern Company's common stockholders of record at January 31, 2015: 136,875
Each of the other registrants have one common stockholder, Southern Company.
(a)(3) Dividends on each registrant's common stock are payable at the discretion of their respective board of directors. The dividends on common stock declared by Southern Company and the traditional operating companies to their stockholder(s) for the past two years were as follows:
Registrant
 
Quarter
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Southern Company
 
First
 
$
450,991

 
$
426,110

 
 
Second