0000092122-19-000006.txt : 20190220 0000092122-19-000006.hdr.sgml : 20190220 20190219183401 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000092122-19-000006 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 275 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20181231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20190220 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20190219 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOUTHERN CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000092122 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 580690070 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-03526 FILM NUMBER: 19616556 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W. CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045065000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., N.W. CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ALABAMA POWER CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000003153 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 630004250 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AL FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-03164 FILM NUMBER: 19616551 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 600 N 18TH ST STREET 2: P O BOX 2641 CITY: BIRMINGHAM STATE: AL ZIP: 35291 BUSINESS PHONE: 2052571000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 600 N 18TH ST CITY: BIRMINGHAM STATE: AL ZIP: 35291 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGIA POWER CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000041091 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 580257110 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-06468 FILM NUMBER: 19616552 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 241 RALPH MCGILL BOULEVARD CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045066526 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 241 RALPH MCGILL BOULEVARD CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MISSISSIPPI POWER CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000066904 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 640205820 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MS FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11229 FILM NUMBER: 19616553 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2992 WEST BEACH CITY: GULFPORT STATE: MS ZIP: 39501 BUSINESS PHONE: 2288641211 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2992 WEST BEACH CITY: GULFPORT STATE: MS ZIP: 39501 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOUTHERN Co GAS CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001004155 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924] IRS NUMBER: 582210952 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-14174 FILM NUMBER: 19616555 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045065000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD CITY: ATLANTA STATE: 2Q ZIP: 30308 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AGL RESOURCES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19951129 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOUTHERN POWER CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001160661 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 582598670 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-37803 FILM NUMBER: 19616554 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 BUSINESS PHONE: 4045065000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30308 10-K 1 so10-k12312018.htm 10-K Document
    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

 
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, 2018
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
001-11229
 
Mississippi Power Company
 
64-0205820
 
 
(A Mississippi Corporation)
 
 
 
 
2992 West Beach Boulevard
 
 
 
 
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501
 
 
 
 
(228) 864-1211
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
001-37803
 
Southern Power Company
 
58-2598670
 
 
(A Delaware Corporation)
 
 
 
 
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
 
 
 
 
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
 
 
 
 
(404) 506-5000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1-14174
 
Southern Company Gas
 
58-2210952
 
 
(A Georgia Corporation)
 
 
 
 
Ten Peachtree Place, N.E.
 
 
 
 
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
 
 
 
 
(404) 584-4000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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
 
 
 
 
 
Junior Subordinated Notes, $25 denominations
 
 
 
 
6.25% Series 2015A due 2075
 
 
 
 
5.25% Series 2016A due 2076
 
 
 
 
5.25% Series 2017B due 2077
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A preferred stock, cumulative, $25 stated capital
 
 
 
Alabama Power Company
5.00% Series
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Junior Subordinated Notes, $25 denominations
 
 
 
Georgia Power Company
5.00% Series 2017A due 2077
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Notes
 
 
 
Southern Power Company
1.000% Series 2016A due 2022
 
 
 
 
1.850% Series 2016B due 2026
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
At December 31, 2018.


    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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
 
Mississippi Power Company
 
X
Southern Power Company
X
 
Southern Company Gas
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 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, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Registrant
Large
Accelerated
Filer
Accelerated
Filer
Non-accelerated
Filer
Smaller
Reporting
Company
Emerging Growth Company
The Southern Company
X
 
 
 
 
Alabama Power Company
 
 
X
 
 
Georgia Power Company
 
 
X
 
 
Mississippi Power Company
 
 
X
 
 
Southern Power Company
 
 
X
 
 
Southern Company Gas
 
 
X
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
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.)


    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Aggregate market value of The Southern Company's common stock held by non-affiliates of The Southern Company at June 29, 2018: $47.0 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, 2019
The Southern Company
 
Par Value $5 Per Share
 
1,034,564,279

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

Georgia Power Company
 
Without Par Value
 
9,261,500

Mississippi Power Company
 
Without Par Value
 
1,121,000

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

Southern Company Gas
 
Par Value $0.01 Per Share
 
100

Documents incorporated by reference: specified portions of The Southern Company's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into PART III. In addition, specified portions of the Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C of Alabama Power Company relating to its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into PART III.
Each of Georgia Power Company, Mississippi Power Company, Southern Power Company, and Southern Company Gas 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, Mississippi Power Company, Southern Power Company, and Southern Company Gas. 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.


    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Table of Contents

 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

i

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements
DEFINITIONS

When used in this Form 10-K, the following terms will have the meanings indicated.
Term
Meaning
2013 ARP
Alternative Rate Plan approved by the Georgia PSC in 2013 for Georgia Power for the years 2014 through 2016 and subsequently extended through 2019
AFUDC
Allowance for funds used during construction
Alabama Power
Alabama Power Company
AMEA
Alabama Municipal Electric Authority
AOCI
Accumulated other comprehensive income
ARO
Asset retirement obligation
ASC
Accounting Standards Codification
ASU
Accounting Standards Update
Atlanta Gas Light
Atlanta Gas Light Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas
Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC, a joint venture to construct and operate a natural gas pipeline in which Southern Company Gas has a 5% ownership interest
Bcf
Billion cubic feet
Bechtel
Bechtel Power Corporation, the primary contractor for the remaining construction activities for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4
Bechtel Agreement
The October 23, 2017 construction completion agreement between the Vogtle Owners and Bechtel
CCR
Coal combustion residuals
CCR Rule
Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities final rule published by the EPA in 2015
Chattanooga Gas
Chattanooga Gas Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas
Clean Air Act
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
CO2
Carbon dioxide
COD
Commercial operation date
Contractor Settlement Agreement
The December 31, 2015 agreement between Westinghouse and the Vogtle Owners resolving disputes between the Vogtle Owners and the EPC Contractor under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement
Cooperative Energy
Electric cooperative in Mississippi
CPCN
Certificate of public convenience and necessity
Customer Refunds
Refunds issued to Georgia Power customers in 2018 as ordered by the Georgia PSC related to the Guarantee Settlement Agreement
CWIP
Construction work in progress
Dalton
City of Dalton, Georgia, an incorporated municipality in the State of Georgia, acting by and through its Board of Water, Light, and Sinking Fund Commissioners
Dalton Pipeline
A pipeline facility in Georgia in which Southern Company Gas has a 50% undivided ownership interest
DOE
U.S. Department of Energy
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, LLC
EBIT
Earnings before interest and taxes
ECM
Mississippi Power's energy cost management clause
ECO Plan
Mississippi Power's environmental compliance overview plan
Eligible Project Costs
Certain costs of construction relating to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 that are eligible for financing under the loan guarantee program established under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
EMC
Electric membership corporation
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPC Contractor
Westinghouse and its affiliate, WECTEC Global Project Services Inc.; the former engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4

ii

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements
DEFINITIONS
(continued)


Term
Meaning
FASB
Financial Accounting Standards Board
FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FFB
Federal Financing Bank
Fitch
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
FMPA
Florida Municipal Power Agency
GAAP
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
Georgia Power
Georgia Power Company
Georgia Power 2019 Base Rate Case
Georgia Power's base rate case scheduled to be filed by July 1, 2019
Georgia Power Tax Reform Settlement Agreement
A settlement agreement between Georgia Power and the staff of the Georgia PSC regarding the retail rate impact of the Tax Reform Legislation, as approved by the Georgia PSC on April 3, 2018
GHG
Greenhouse gas
Guarantee Settlement Agreement
The June 9, 2017 settlement agreement between the Vogtle Owners and Toshiba related to certain payment obligations of the EPC Contractor guaranteed by Toshiba
Gulf Power
Gulf Power Company
Heating Degree Days
A measure of weather, calculated when the average daily temperatures are less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit
Heating Season
The period from November through March when Southern Company Gas' natural gas usage and operating revenues are generally higher
HLBV
Hypothetical liquidation at book value
Horizon Pipeline
Horizon Pipeline Company, LLC
IBEW
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
IGCC
Integrated coal gasification combined cycle, the technology originally approved for Mississippi Power's Kemper County energy facility (Plant Ratcliffe)
IIC
Intercompany Interchange Contract
Illinois Commission
Illinois Commerce Commission
Interim Assessment Agreement
Agreement entered into by the Vogtle Owners and the EPC Contractor to allow construction to continue after the EPC Contractor's bankruptcy filing
Internal Revenue Code
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
IPP
Independent Power Producer
IRP
Integrated Resource Plan
IRS
Internal Revenue Service
ITAAC
Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria, standards established by the NRC
ITC
Investment tax credit
JEA
Jacksonville Electric Authority
KUA
Kissimmee Utility Authority
KW
Kilowatt
KWH
Kilowatt-hour
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate
LIFO
Last-in, first-out
LNG
Liquefied natural gas
Loan Guarantee Agreement
Loan guarantee agreement entered into by Georgia Power with the DOE in 2014, under which the proceeds of borrowings may be used to reimburse Georgia Power for Eligible Project Costs incurred in connection with its construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4
LOCOM
Lower of weighted average cost or current market price
LTSA
Long-term service agreement
Marketers
Marketers selling retail natural gas in Georgia and certificated by the Georgia PSC

iii

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements
DEFINITIONS
(continued)


Term
Meaning
MEAG
Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia
Merger
The merger, effective July 1, 2016, of a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of Southern Company with and into Southern Company Gas, with Southern Company Gas continuing as the surviving corporation
MGP
Manufactured gas plant
Mississippi Power
Mississippi Power Company
mmBtu
Million British thermal units
Moody's
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
MPUS
Mississippi Public Utilities Staff
MRA
Municipal and Rural Associations
MW
Megawatt
MWH
Megawatt hour
natural gas distribution utilities
Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution utilities (Nicor Gas, Atlanta Gas Light, Virginia Natural Gas, Elizabethtown Gas, Florida City Gas, Chattanooga Gas, and Elkton Gas as of June 30, 2018) (Nicor Gas, Atlanta Gas Light, Virginia Natural Gas, and Chattanooga Gas as of July 29, 2018)
NCCR
Georgia Power's Nuclear Construction Cost Recovery
NDR
Alabama Power's Natural Disaster Reserve
NextEra Energy
NextEra Energy, Inc.
Nicor Gas
Northern Illinois Gas Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas
NOX
Nitrogen oxide
NRC
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NYMEX
New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.
NYSE
New York Stock Exchange
OCI
Other comprehensive income
OPC
Oglethorpe Power Corporation (an Electric Membership Corporation)
OTC
Over-the-counter
OUC
Orlando Utilities Commission
PATH Act
Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act
PennEast Pipeline
PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC, a joint venture to construct and operate a natural gas pipeline in which Southern Company Gas has a 20% ownership interest
PEP
Mississippi Power's Performance Evaluation Plan
Piedmont
Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
Pivotal Home Solutions
Nicor Energy Services Company, until June 4, 2018 a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, doing business as Pivotal Home Solutions
Pivotal Utility Holdings
Pivotal Utility Holdings, Inc., until July 29, 2018 a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, doing business as Elizabethtown Gas (until July 1, 2018), Elkton Gas (until July 1, 2018), and Florida City Gas
power pool
The operating arrangement whereby the integrated generating resources of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power (excluding subsidiaries) are subject to joint commitment and dispatch in order to serve their combined load obligations
PowerSecure
PowerSecure Inc.
PowerSouth
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
PPA
Power purchase agreements, as well as, for Southern Power, contracts for differences that provide the owner of a renewable facility a certain fixed price for the electricity sold to the grid
PRP
Pipeline Replacement Program, Atlanta Gas Light's 15-year infrastructure replacement program, which ended in December 2013
PSC
Public Service Commission
PTC
Production tax credit

iv

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements
DEFINITIONS
(continued)


Term
Meaning
Rate CNP
Alabama Power's Rate Certificated New Plant
Rate CNP Compliance
Alabama Power's Rate Certificated New Plant Compliance
Rate CNP PPA
Alabama Power's Rate Certificated New Plant Power Purchase Agreement
Rate ECR
Alabama Power's Rate Energy Cost Recovery
Rate NDR
Alabama Power's Rate Natural Disaster Reserve
Rate RSE
Alabama Power's Rate Stabilization and Equalization
registrants
Southern Company, Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Mississippi Power, Southern Power Company, and Southern Company Gas
revenue from contracts with customers
Revenue from contracts accounted for under the guidance of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
ROE
Return on equity
RUS
Rural Utilities Service
S&P
S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.
SCS
Southern Company Services, Inc. (the Southern Company system service company)
SEC
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SEGCO
Southern Electric Generating Company
SEPA
Southeastern Power Administration
Sequent
Sequent Energy Management, L.P.
SERC
Southeastern Electric Reliability Council
SNG
Southern Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.
SO2
Sulfur dioxide
Southern Company
The Southern Company
Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas and its subsidiaries
Southern Company Gas Capital
Southern Company Gas Capital Corporation, a 100%-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas Dispositions
Southern Company Gas' disposition of Pivotal Home Solutions, Pivotal Utility Holdings' disposition of Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas, and NUI Corporation's disposition of Pivotal Utility Holdings, which primarily consisted of Florida City Gas
Southern Company system
Southern Company, the traditional electric operating companies, Southern Power, Southern Company Gas (as of July 1, 2016), SEGCO, Southern Nuclear, SCS, Southern Linc, PowerSecure (as of May 9, 2016), and other subsidiaries
Southern Holdings
Southern Company Holdings, Inc.
Southern Linc
Southern Communications Services, Inc.
Southern Nuclear
Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
Southern Power
Southern Power Company and its subsidiaries
SouthStar
SouthStar Energy Services, LLC
SP Solar
SP Solar Holdings I, LP
SP Wind
SP Wind Holdings II, LLC
SRR
Mississippi Power's System Restoration Rider, a tariff for retail property damage reserve
STRIDE
Atlanta Gas Light's Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement program
Subsidiary Registrants
Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Mississippi Power, Southern Power, and Southern Company Gas
Tax Reform Legislation
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which became effective on January 1, 2018
Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation, parent company of Westinghouse
traditional electric operating companies
Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power through December 31, 2018; Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Mississippi Power as of January 1, 2019
Triton
Triton Container Investments, LLC

v

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements
DEFINITIONS
(continued)


Term
Meaning
VCM
Vogtle Construction Monitoring
VIE
Variable interest entity
Virginia Commission
Virginia State Corporation Commission
Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas
Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement
Agreement entered into with the EPC Contractor in 2008 by Georgia Power, acting for itself and as agent for the Vogtle Owners, and rejected in bankruptcy in July 2017, pursuant to which the EPC Contractor agreed to design, engineer, procure, construct, and test Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4
Vogtle Owners
Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, MEAG, and Dalton
Vogtle Services Agreement
The June 9, 2017 services agreement between the Vogtle Owners and the EPC Contractor, as amended and restated on July 20, 2017, for the EPC Contractor to transition construction management of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to Southern Nuclear and to provide ongoing design, engineering, and procurement services to Southern Nuclear
WACOG
Weighted average cost of gas
Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

vi

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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 regulated rates, the strategic goals for the business, customer and sales growth, economic conditions, fuel and environmental cost recovery and other rate actions, projected equity ratios, current and proposed environmental regulations and related compliance plans and estimated expenditures, pending or potential litigation matters, access to sources of capital, projections for the qualified pension plans, postretirement benefit plans, and nuclear decommissioning trust fund contributions, financing activities, completion dates of construction projects, completion of announced dispositions, filings with state and federal regulatory authorities, federal and state income tax benefits, estimated sales and purchases under power sale and purchase agreements, and estimated construction plans and expenditures. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "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 environmental laws and regulations, and also changes in tax (including the Tax Reform Legislation) 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;
the extent and timing of costs and liabilities to comply with federal and state laws, regulations, and legal requirements related to CCR, including amounts for required closure of ash ponds and ground water monitoring;
current and future litigation or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries, including litigation and other disputes related to the Kemper County energy facility;
the effects, extent, and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets in which Southern Company's subsidiaries operate, including from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources;
variations in demand for electricity and natural gas;
available sources and costs of natural gas and other fuels;
the ability to complete necessary or desirable pipeline expansion or infrastructure projects, limits on pipeline capacity, and operational interruptions to natural gas distribution and transmission activities;
transmission constraints;
effects of inflation;
the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction, and operation of facilities, including Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 which includes components based on new technology that only recently began initial operation in the global nuclear industry at this scale, including changes in labor costs, availability, and productivity; challenges with management of contractors, subcontractors, or vendors; adverse weather conditions; shortages, increased costs, or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor; contractor or supplier delay; non-performance under construction, operating, or other agreements; operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs; engineering or design problems; design and other licensing-based compliance matters, including the timely resolution of ITAAC and the related approvals by the NRC; challenges with start-up activities, including major equipment failure and system integration; and/or operational performance;
the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses (including satisfaction of NRC requirements), to satisfy any environmental performance standards 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 the employee and retiree benefit plans and nuclear decommissioning trust funds;
advances in technology;
the ability to control operating and maintenance costs;
ongoing renewable energy partnerships and development agreements;
state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to ROE, equity ratios, and fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms;

vii

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
(continued)
the ability to successfully operate the electric utilities' generating, transmission, and distribution facilities and Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution and storage facilities and the successful performance of necessary corporate functions;
legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, including Georgia PSC approvals and NRC actions;
under certain specified circumstances, a decision by holders of more than 10% of the ownership interests of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 not to proceed with construction and the ability of other Vogtle Owners to tender a portion of their ownership interests to Georgia Power following certain construction cost increases;
in the event Georgia Power becomes obligated to provide funding to MEAG with respect to the portion of MEAG's ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 involving JEA, any inability of Georgia Power to receive repayment of such funding;
the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities;
the inherent risks involved in transporting and storing natural gas;
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, including the proposed disposition of Plant Mankato, 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 physical attack and the threat of physical attacks;
interest rate fluctuations and financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts;
access to capital markets and other financing sources;
changes in Southern Company's and any of its subsidiaries' credit ratings;
the ability of Southern Company's electric utilities to obtain additional generating capacity (or sell excess generating capacity) at competitive prices;
catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events, 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, natural gas pipeline infrastructure, or operation of generating or storage resources;
impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets;
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 disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

viii

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

PART I
Item 1.
BUSINESS
Southern Company was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945. Southern Company owns all of the outstanding common stock of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Mississippi Power, each of which is an operating public utility company. The traditional electric operating companies supply electric service in the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. More particular information relating to each of the traditional electric 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.
Mississippi Power was incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi on July 12, 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.
On January 1, 2019, Southern Company completed its sale of Gulf Power to NextEra Energy for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $5.8 billion (less $1.3 billion of indebtedness assumed), subject to customary working capital adjustments. Gulf Power is an electric utility serving retail customers in the northwestern portion of Florida. See Note 15 to the financial statements under "Southern Company's Sale of Gulf Power" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
In addition, Southern Company owns all of the common stock of Southern Power Company, which is also an operating public utility company. 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 Southern Power parent company. Southern Power develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power 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. On May 22, 2018, Southern Power sold a noncontrolling 33% equity interest in SP Solar, a limited partnership indirectly owning substantially all of Southern Power's solar facilities, for approximately $1.2 billion and, on December 11, 2018, Southern Power sold a noncontrolling tax equity interest in SP Wind, a holding company owning a portfolio of eight operating wind facilities, for approximately $1.2 billion. Southern Power also sold all of its equity interests in Plant Oleander and Plant Stanton Unit A (together, the Florida Plants) to NextEra Energy on December 4, 2018 for $203 million. On November 5, 2018, Southern Power entered into an agreement to sell all of its equity interests in Plant Mankato (including the 385-MW expansion currently under construction) for approximately $650 million. The transaction is subject to FERC and state commission approvals and is expected to close mid-2019. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time. See "The Southern Company System – Southern Power" herein and Note 15 to the financial statements in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Southern Company acquired all of the common stock of Southern Company Gas in July 2016. Southern Company Gas is an energy services holding company whose primary business is the distribution of natural gas in four states - Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee - through the natural gas distribution utilities. Southern Company Gas is also involved in several other businesses that are complementary to the distribution of natural gas. Southern Company Gas was incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia on November 27, 1995 for the primary purpose of becoming the holding company for Atlanta Gas Light, which was founded in 1856. In July 2018, Southern Company Gas completed sales of three of its natural gas distribution utilities (Elizabethtown Gas, Florida City Gas, and Elkton Gas). In June 2018, Southern Company Gas also completed the sale of Pivotal Home Solutions, which provided home equipment protection products and services. See "The Southern Company System – Southern Company Gas" herein and Note 15 to the financial statements in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Southern Company also owns all of the outstanding common stock or membership interests of SCS, Southern Linc, Southern Holdings, Southern Nuclear, PowerSecure, and other direct and indirect subsidiaries. SCS, the system service company, has contracted with Southern Company, each traditional electric operating company, Southern Power, Southern Company Gas, Southern Nuclear, SEGCO, and other subsidiaries to furnish, at direct or allocated cost and upon request, the following services: general executive and advisory, general and design engineering, operations, purchasing, accounting, finance, treasury, legal, tax, information technology, marketing, auditing, insurance and pension administration, human resources, systems and procedures, digital wireless communications, cellular tower space, and other services with respect to business and operations, construction management, and power pool transactions. Southern Linc provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and also markets these services to the public and provides fiber optics services within the Southeast. Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding company subsidiary, primarily for Southern Company's investments in leveraged leases and energy-related funds and companies, and for other electric and natural gas products and

I-1

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

services. Southern Nuclear operates and provides services to the Southern Company system's nuclear power plants and is currently managing construction of and developing Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which are co-owned by Georgia Power. PowerSecure is a provider of energy solutions, including distributed energy infrastructure, energy efficiency products and services, and utility infrastructure services, to customers.
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 1,020 MWs 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. See Note 7 to the financial statements in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Segment information for Southern Company and Southern Company Gas is included in Note 16 to the financial statements 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 any 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.
The Southern Company System
Traditional Electric Operating Companies
The traditional electric 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 electric 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 electric operating companies and SEGCO. For information on the State of Georgia's integrated transmission system, see "Territory Served by the Southern Company System – Traditional Electric 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 electric operating companies have entered into various reliability agreements with certain neighboring utilities, 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 electric operating companies have joined with other utilities in the Southeast to form the SERC to augment further the reliability and adequacy of bulk power supply. Through the SERC, the traditional electric operating companies are represented on the North American Electric Reliability Council.
The utility assets of the traditional electric 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 electric 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 electric 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 electric 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. In connection with the sale of Gulf Power, an appendix was added to the IIC setting forth terms and conditions governing Gulf Power's continued participation in the IIC for a defined transition period that, subject to certain potential adjustments, is scheduled to end on January 1, 2024.
Southern Power and Southern Linc have secured from the traditional electric operating companies certain services which are furnished in compliance with FERC regulations.
Alabama Power and Georgia Power each have agreements with Southern Nuclear to operate the Southern Company system's existing nuclear plants, Plants Farley, Hatch, and Vogtle. In addition, Georgia Power has an agreement with Southern Nuclear to develop, license, construct, and operate Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. See "Regulation – Nuclear Regulation" herein for additional information.

I-2

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Southern Power
Southern Power develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy facilities, and sells electricity at market-based rates (under authority from the FERC) in the wholesale market. Southern Power continually seeks opportunities to execute its strategy to create value through various transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, and sales of partnership interests, development and construction of new generating facilities, and entry into PPAs primarily with investor-owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, electric cooperatives, and other load-serving entities, as well as commercial and industrial customers. Southern Power's business activities are not subject to traditional state regulation like the traditional electric operating companies, but the majority of its business activities 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 growth strategy and to develop and construct generating facilities. For additional information on Southern Power's business activities, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – OVERVIEW – "Business Activities" of Southern Power in Item 7 herein.
Southern Power Company directly owns and manages generation assets primarily in the Southeast, which are included in the power pool, and has various subsidiaries, which were created to own and operate natural gas and renewable generation facilities either wholly or in partnership with various third parties. At December 31, 2018, Southern Power's generation fleet, which is owned in part with its various partners, totaled 11,888 MWs of nameplate capacity in commercial operation (including 4,508 MWs of nameplate capacity owned by its subsidiaries and including Plant Mankato, which is classified as held for sale in the financial statements). In addition, Southern Power Company has other subsidiaries that are pursuing additional natural gas generation and other renewable generation development opportunities. The generation assets of Southern Power Company's subsidiaries are not included in the power pool.
On May 22, 2018, Southern Power sold a noncontrolling 33% equity interest in SP Solar, a limited partnership indirectly owning substantially all of Southern Power's solar facilities. On December 11, 2018, Southern Power sold a noncontrolling tax equity interest in SP Wind, a holding company which owns a portfolio of eight operating wind farms.
In addition, on December 4, 2018, Southern Power sold all of its equity interests in the Florida Plants and, in November 2018, entered into an agreement to sell Plant Mankato. The completion of the disposition of Plant Mankato is subject to the expansion unit reaching commercial operation as well as various other customary conditions to closing, including FERC and state commission approvals, and is expected to close mid-2019. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time.
A majority of Southern Power's partnerships in renewable facilities allow for the sharing of cash distributions and tax benefits at differing percentages, with Southern Power being the controlling member and thus consolidating the assets and operations of the partnerships. At December 31, 2018, Southern Power has three tax-equity partnership arrangements where the tax-equity investors receive substantially all of the tax benefits, including ITCs and PTCs. In addition, Southern Power holds controlling interests in eight partnerships in solar facilities through SP Solar. For seven of these solar partnerships, Southern Power and its new 33% partner, Global Atlantic, are entitled to 51% of all cash distributions and the respective partner that holds the Class B membership interests is entitled to 49% of all cash distributions. For the Desert Stateline partnership, Southern Power and Global Atlantic are entitled to 66% of all cash distributions and the Class B member is entitled to 34% of all cash distributions. In addition, Southern Power and Global Atlantic are entitled to substantially all of the federal tax benefits with respect to these eight partnership entities. Finally, for the Roserock partnership, Southern Power is entitled to 51% of all cash distributions and substantially all of the federal tax benefits, with the Class B member entitled to 49% of all cash distributions.
See PROPERTIES in Item 2 herein and Note 15 to the financial statements under "Southern Power" in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding Southern Power's acquisitions, dispositions, construction, and development projects.
Southern Power calculates an investment coverage ratio for its generating assets based on the ratio of investment under contract to total investment using the respective generation facilities' net book value (or expected in-service value for facilities under construction or being acquired) as the investment amount. With the inclusion of investments associated with the wind and natural gas facilities currently under construction, as well as other capacity and energy contracts, Southern Power has an average investment coverage ratio, at December 31, 2018, of 93% through 2023 and 91% through 2028, with an average remaining contract duration of approximately 14 years (including Plant Mankato, which is classified as held for sale in the financial statements).
Southern Power's natural gas and biomass sales are primarily through long-term PPAs that 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 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 serves

I-3

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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. Capacity charges that form part of the PPA payments are designed to recover fixed and variable operations and maintenance costs based on dollars-per-kilowatt year and to provide a return on investment.
Southern Power's electricity sales from solar and wind generating facilities are predominantly through long-term PPAs; however, these solar and wind PPAs do not have a capacity charge and customers either purchase the energy output of a dedicated renewable facility through an energy charge or provide Southern Power a certain fixed price for the electricity sold to the grid. As a result, Southern Power's ability to recover fixed and variable operations and maintenance expenses is dependent upon the level of energy generated from these facilities, which can be impacted by weather conditions, equipment performance, transmission constraints, and other factors.
The following tables set forth Southern Power's PPAs as of December 31, 2018:
Block Sales PPAs
Facility/Source
 
Counterparty
 
MWs(1)

 
 
 
Contract Term
Addison Units 1 and 3
 
Georgia Power
 
297

 
 
 
through May 2030
Addison Unit 2
 
MEAG Power
 
149

 
 
 
through April 2029
Addison Unit 4
 
Georgia Energy Cooperative
 
146

 
 
 
through May 2030
Cleveland County Unit 1
 
North Carolina EMC (NCEMC)
 
90-180

 
 
 
through Dec. 2036
Cleveland County Unit 2
 
NCEMC
 
183

 
 
 
through Dec. 2036
Cleveland County Unit 3
 
North Carolina Municipal Power Agency 1
 
183

 
 
 
through Dec. 2031
Dahlberg Units 1, 3, and 5
 
Cobb EMC
 
224

 
 
 
through Dec. 2027
Dahlberg Units 2, 6, 8, and 10
 
Georgia Power
 
298

 
 
 
through May 2025
Dahlberg Unit 4
 
Georgia Power
 
74

 
 
 
through May 2030
Franklin Unit 1
 
Duke Energy Florida
 
434

 
 
 
through May 2021
Franklin Unit 2
 
Morgan Stanley Capital Group
 
250

 
 
 
through Dec. 2025
Franklin Unit 2
 
Jackson EMC
 
60-65

 
 
 
through Dec. 2035
Franklin Unit 2
 
GreyStone Power Corporation
 
35

 
 
 
through Dec. 2035
Franklin Unit 2
 
Cobb EMC
 
100

 
 
 
through Dec. 2027
Franklin Unit 3
 
Morgan Stanley Capital Group
 
200-300

 
 
 
through Dec. 2033
Franklin Unit 3
 
Dalton
 
70

 
 
 
through Dec. 2027
Franklin Unit 3
 
Dalton
 
16

 
 
 
through Dec. 2019
Harris Unit 1
 
Georgia Power
 
640

 
 
 
through May 2030
Harris Unit 2
 
Georgia Power
 
657

 
 
 
through May 2019
Harris Unit 2
 
AMEA(2)
 
25

 
 
 
through Dec. 2025
Mankato(3)
 
Northern States Power Company
 
375

 
 
 
through July 2026
Mankato(3)
 
Northern States Power Company
 
345

 
 
 
June 2019 – May 2039(4)
Nacogdoches
 
City of Austin, Texas
 
100

 
 
 
through May 2032
NCEMC PPA(5)
 
EnergyUnited
 
100

 
 
 
through Dec. 2021
Rowan CT Unit 1
 
North Carolina Municipal Power Agency 1
 
150

 
 
 
through Dec. 2030
Rowan CT Units 2 and 3
 
EnergyUnited
 
100-175

 
 
 
Jan. 2022 – Dec. 2025
Rowan CT Unit 3
 
EnergyUnited
 
113

 
 
 
through Dec. 2023
Rowan CC Unit 4
 
EnergyUnited
 
23-328

 
 
 
through Dec. 2025

I-4

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Block Sales PPAs (continued)
Facility/Source
 
Counterparty
 
MWs(1)

 
 
 
Contract Term
Rowan CC Unit 4
 
Duke Energy Progress, LLC
 
150

 
 
 
through Dec. 2019
Rowan CC Unit 4
 
Macquarie
 
150-250

 
 
 
Jan. 2019 – Nov. 2020
Wansley Unit 6
 
Century Aluminum
 
158

 
 
 
Jan. 2019 – Dec. 2020
Wansley Unit 7
 
JEA(6)
 
200

 
 
 
through Dec. 2019
(1)
The MWs and related facility units may change due to unit rating changes or assignment of units to contracts.
(2)
AMEA will also be served by Plant Franklin Unit 1 through December 2019.
(3)
On November 5, 2018, Southern Power entered into an agreement with Northern States Power to sell all of its equity interests in Plant Mankato (including the 385-MW expansion currently under construction). The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time. See Note 15 to the financial statements under "Southern Power – Sales of Natural Gas Plants" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
(4)
Subject to commercial operation of the 385-MW expansion project.
(5)
Represents sale of power purchased from NCEMC under a PPA.
(6)
JEA will also be served by Plant Wansley Unit 6 during 2019.
Requirements Services PPAs
Counterparty
 
MWs(1)
 
Contract Term
Nine Georgia EMCs
 
294-376
 
through Dec. 2024
Sawnee EMC
 
267-639
 
through Dec. 2027
Cobb EMC
 
0-145
 
through Dec. 2027
Flint EMC
 
135-194
 
through Dec. 2024
Dalton
 
53-92
 
through Dec. 2027
EnergyUnited
 
78-159
 
through Dec. 2025
City of Blountstown, Florida
 
10
 
through April 2022
(1)
Represents forecasted incremental capacity needs over the contract term.
Solar/Wind PPAs
Facility
Counterparty
MWs(1)

Contract Term
Solar(2)
 
 
 
Adobe
Southern California Edison Company
20

through June 2034
Apex
Nevada Power Company
20

through Dec. 2037
Boulder 1
Nevada Power Company
100

through Dec. 2036
Butler
Georgia Power
100

through Dec. 2046
Butler Solar Farm
Georgia Power
20

through Feb. 2036
Calipatria
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
20

through Feb. 2036
Campo Verde
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
139

through Oct. 2033
Cimarron
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
30

through Dec. 2035
Decatur County
Georgia Power
19

through Dec. 2035
Decatur Parkway
Georgia Power
80

through Dec. 2040
Desert Stateline
Southern California Edison Company
300

through Sept. 2036
East Pecos
Austin Energy
119

through April 2032
Garland A
Southern California Edison Company
20

through Sept. 2036
Garland
Southern California Edison Company
180

through Oct. 2031
Gaskell West 1
Southern California Edison Company
20

through March 2038
Granville
Duke Energy Progress, LLC
3

through Oct. 2032
Henrietta
Pacific Gas & Electric Company(3)
100

through Sept. 2036
Imperial Valley
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
150

through Nov. 2039

I-5

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Solar/Wind PPAs (continued)
Facility
Counterparty
MWs(1)

Contract Term
Lamesa
City of Garland, Texas
102

through April 2032
Lost Hills Blackwell
99% to Pacific Gas & Electric Company(3) and 1% to City of Roseville, California
32

through Dec. 2043
Macho Springs
El Paso Electric Company
50

through May 2034
Morelos
Pacific Gas & Electric Company(3)
15

through Feb. 2036
North Star
Pacific Gas & Electric Company(3)
60

through June 2035
Pawpaw
Georgia Power
30

through March 2046
Roserock
Austin Energy
157

through Nov. 2036
Rutherford
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
75

through Dec. 2031
Sandhills
Cobb EMC
111

through Oct. 2041
Sandhills
Flint EMC
15

through Oct. 2041
Sandhills
Sawnee EMC
15

through Oct. 2041
Sandhills
Middle Georgia and Irwin EMC
2

through Oct. 2041
Spectrum
Nevada Power Company
30

through Dec. 2038
Tranquillity
Shell Energy North America (US), LP
204

through Nov. 2019
Tranquillity
Southern California Edison Company
204

Dec. 2019 – Nov. 2034
Wind(4)
 
 
 
Bethel
Google Inc.
225

through Jan. 2029
Cactus Flats
General Mills, Inc.
98

through July 2033
Cactus Flats
General Motors Company
50

through July 2030
Grant Plains
Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority
41

Jan. 2020 – Dec. 2039
Grant Plains
Steelcase Inc.
25

through Dec. 2028
Grant Plains
Allianz Risk Transfer (Bermuda) Ltd.
81-122

through March 2027
Grant Wind
East Texas Electric Cooperative
50

through April 2036
Grant Wind
Northeast Texas Electric Cooperative
50

through April 2036
Grant Wind
Western Farmers Electric Cooperative
50

through April 2036
Kay Wind
Westar Energy Inc.
200

through Dec. 2035
Kay Wind
Grand River Dam Authority
99

through Dec. 2035
Passadumkeag
Western Massachusetts Electric Company
40

through June 2031
Reading(5)
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
200

April 2020 – March 2032
Salt Fork Wind
City of Garland, Texas
150

through Nov. 2030
Salt Fork Wind
Salesforce.com, Inc.
24

through Nov. 2028
Tyler Bluff Wind
The Proctor & Gamble Company
96

through Dec. 2028
Wake Wind
Equinix Enterprises, Inc.
100

through Oct. 2028
Wake Wind
Owens Corning
125

through Oct. 2028
Wildhorse(5)
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation
100

Oct. 2019 – Sept. 2039
(1) MWs shown are for 100% of the PPA, which is based on demonstrated capacity of the facility.
(2) In May 2018, Southern Power sold a noncontrolling 33% equity interest in SP Solar (a limited partnership indirectly owning all of Southern Power's solar facilities, except the Roserock and Gaskell West facilities). SP Solar is the 51% majority owner of Boulder 1, Garland, Henrietta, Imperial Valley, Lost Hills Blackwell, North Star, and Tranquillity; the 66% majority owner of Desert Stateline; and the sole owner of the remaining SP Solar facilities. Southern Power is the 51% majority owner of Roserock and also the controlling partner in a tax equity partnership owning Gaskell West. All of these entities are consolidated subsidiaries of Southern Power.
(3) See Note 1 to the financial statements under "RevenuesConcentration of Revenue" in Item 8 herein for additional information on Pacific Gas & Electric Company's bankruptcy filing.
(4) In December 2018, Southern Power sold a noncontrolling tax equity interest in SP Wind (which owns all of Southern Power's wind facilities, except Cactus Flats and the two wind projects under construction, Reading and Wildhorse). SP Wind is the 90.1% majority owner of Wake Wind and owns 100% of the remaining SP Wind facilities. Southern Power owns 100% of Reading and Wildhorse and is the controlling partner in a tax equity partnership owning Cactus Flats. All of these entities are consolidated subsidiaries of Southern Power.
(5) Subject to commercial operation.

I-6

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

For the year ended December 31, 2018, approximately 9.8% of Southern Power's revenues were derived from Georgia Power. Southern Power actively pursues replacement PPAs prior to the expiration of its current PPAs and anticipates that the revenues attributable to one customer may be replaced by revenues from a new customer; however, the expiration of any of Southern Power's current PPAs without the successful remarketing of a replacement PPA could have a material negative impact on Southern Power's earnings but is not expected to have a material impact on Southern Company's earnings.
Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is an energy services holding company whose primary business is the distribution of natural gas through the natural gas distribution utilities. Southern Company Gas is also involved in several other businesses that are complementary to the distribution of natural gas, including gas pipeline investments, wholesale gas services, and gas marketing services. During the fourth quarter 2018, Southern Company Gas changed its reportable segments to further align with the way its new Chief Operating Decision Maker reviews operating results and has reclassified prior years' data to conform to the new reportable segment presentation. This change resulted in a new reportable segment, gas pipeline investments, which was formerly included in gas midstream operations. Gas pipeline investments consists primarily of joint ventures in natural gas pipeline investments including a 50% interest in SNG, two significant pipeline construction projects, and a 50% joint ownership interest in the Dalton Pipeline. Gas distribution operations, wholesale gas services, and gas marketing services continue to remain as separate reportable segments and reflect the impact of the Southern Company Gas Dispositions. The all other non-reportable segment includes segments below the quantitative threshold for separate disclosure, including the storage and fuels operations that were formerly included in gas midstream operations, and other subsidiaries that fall below the quantitative threshold for separate disclosure.
Gas distribution operations, the largest segment of Southern Company Gas' business, operates, constructs, and maintains approximately 75,200 miles of natural gas pipelines and 14 storage facilities, with total capacity of 158 Bcf, to provide natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Gas distribution operations serves approximately 4.2 million customers across four states.
On July 1, 2018, a Southern Company Gas subsidiary, Pivotal Utility Holdings, completed the sales of the assets of two of its natural gas distribution utilities, Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas, to South Jersey Industries, Inc. On July 29, 2018, Southern Company Gas and its wholly-owned direct subsidiary, NUI Corporation, completed the stock sale of Pivotal Utility Holdings, which then primarily consisted of Florida City Gas, to NextEra Energy. The transactions raised approximately $2.3 billion in proceeds. See Note 15 to the financial statements under "Southern Company Gas" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Gas pipeline investments includes joint ventures in natural gas pipeline investments that enable the provision of diverse sources of natural gas supplies to the customers of Southern Company Gas. SNG, the largest natural gas pipeline investment, is the owner of a 7,000-mile pipeline connecting natural gas supply basins in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to markets in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Wholesale gas services consists of Sequent and engages in natural gas storage and gas pipeline arbitrage and provides natural gas asset management and related logistical services to most of the natural gas distribution utilities as well as non-affiliate companies.
Gas marketing services is comprised of SouthStar and provides natural gas commodity and related services to customers in competitive markets or markets that provide for customer choice. SouthStar, serving approximately 697,000 natural gas commodity customers, markets gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and offers energy-related products that provide natural gas price stability and utility bill management.
On June 4, 2018, Southern Company Gas completed the stock sale of Pivotal Home Solutions to American Water Enterprises LLC for $365 million. See Note 15 to the financial statements under "Southern Company Gas" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Other Businesses
PowerSecure, which was acquired by Southern Company in 2016, provides energy solutions, including distributed energy infrastructure, energy efficiency products and services, and utility infrastructure services, to customers.
Southern Holdings is an intermediate holding subsidiary, primarily for Southern Company's investments in leveraged leases and energy-related funds and companies, and also for other electric and natural gas products and services.
Southern Linc provides digital wireless communications for use by Southern Company and its subsidiary companies and also markets these services to the public. Southern Linc 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

I-7

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

miles in the Southeast. Southern Linc also provides fiber optics services within the Southeast through its subsidiary, Southern Telecom, Inc.
These efforts to invest in and develop new business opportunities may offer potential returns exceeding those of rate-regulated operations. However, these activities often 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 2019 through 2023, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – "Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations" of each registrant in Item 7 herein. The Southern Company system's construction program consists of capital investment and capital expenditures to comply with environmental laws and regulations. In 2019, the construction program is expected to be apportioned approximately as follows:
 
Southern
Company
    system(a)(b)
Alabama
Power(a)
Georgia
Power(a)
Mississippi
Power
 
(in billions)
New generation
$
1.6

$

$
1.6

$

Environmental compliance(c)
0.5

0.2

0.2


Generation maintenance
0.9

0.4

0.4

0.1

Transmission
1.0

0.3

0.6


Distribution
1.1

0.5

0.5

0.1

Nuclear fuel
0.2

0.1

0.1


General plant
0.5

0.2

0.2


 
5.8

1.8

3.7

0.2

Southern Power(d)
0.3

 
 
 
Southern Company Gas(e)
1.6

 
 
 
Other subsidiaries
0.3

 
 
 
Total(a)
$
8.0

$
1.8

$
3.7

$
0.2

(a)
Totals may not add due to rounding.
(b)
Includes the Subsidiary Registrants, as well as the other subsidiaries. See "Other Businesses" herein for additional information.
(c)
Reflects cost estimates for environmental regulations. These estimated expenditures do not include any potential compliance costs associated with pending regulation of CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel-fired electric generating units or costs associated with ash pond closure and groundwater monitoring under the CCR Rule and the related state rules. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters – Environmental Laws and Regulations" and FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – "Capital Requirements and Contractual Obligations" of Southern Company and each traditional electric operating company in Item 7 herein for additional information.
(d)
Excludes up to approximately $0.5 billion for planned expenditures for plant acquisitions and placeholder growth, which may vary materially due to market opportunities and Southern Power's ability to execute its growth strategy.
(e)
Includes costs for ongoing capital projects associated with infrastructure improvement programs for certain natural gas distribution utilities that have been previously approved by their applicable state regulatory agencies. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Infrastructure Replacement Programs and Capital Projects" of Southern Company Gas in Item 7 herein for additional information.
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 laws and regulations; the outcome of any legal challenges to environmental rules; changes in electric generating plants, including unit retirements and replacements and adding or changing fuel sources at existing electric generating units, to meet regulatory requirements; changes in FERC rules and regulations; state regulatory agency approvals; changes in the expected environmental 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

I-8

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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.
The construction program also includes Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which includes components based on new technology that only recently began initial operation in the global nuclear industry at this scale and which may be subject to additional revised cost estimates during construction. The ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction, and operation of new facilities is subject to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in labor costs, availability, and productivity; challenges with management of contractors, subcontractors, or vendors; adverse weather conditions; shortages, increased costs, or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor; contractor or supplier delay; non-performance under construction, operating, or other agreements; operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs; engineering or design problems; design and other licensing-based compliance matters, including the timely resolution of ITAAC and the related approvals by the NRC; challenges with start-up activities, including major equipment failure and system integration; and/or operational performance. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia PowerNuclear Construction" in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding Georgia Power's construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Also see "Regulation – Environmental Laws and Regulations" herein for additional information with respect to certain existing and proposed environmental requirements and PROPERTIES – "Electric – Jointly-Owned Facilities" and – "Natural Gas – Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein and Note 5 to the financial statements under "Joint Ownership Agreements" in Item 8 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 and Southern Company Gas' joint ownership of a pipeline facility.
Financing Programs
See each of the registrant's MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY in Item 7 herein and Note 8 to the financial statements in Item 8 herein for information concerning financing programs.
Fuel Supply
Electric
The traditional electric 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 electric 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 2016 through 2018.
The traditional electric operating companies have agreements in place from which they expect to receive substantially all of their 2019 coal burn requirements. These agreements have terms ranging between one and four years. In 2018, the weighted average sulfur content of all coal burned by the traditional electric operating companies was 1.06%. This sulfur level, along with banked SO2 allowances, allowed the traditional electric operating companies to remain within limits set by Phase I of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) under the Clean Air Act. In 2018, the Southern Company system did not purchase any SO2 allowances, annual NOx emission allowances, or seasonal NOx emission allowances from the market. As any additional environmental regulations are proposed that impact the utilization of coal, the traditional electric operating companies' fuel mix will be monitored to help ensure that the traditional electric operating companies remain in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, Southern Company and the traditional electric 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 electric operating company, and Southern Power in Item 7 herein for additional information on environmental matters.
SCS, acting on behalf of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power Company, has agreements in place for the natural gas burn requirements of the Southern Company system. For 2019, SCS has contracted for 557 Bcf 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.
Alabama Power and Georgia Power have multiple contracts covering their nuclear fuel needs for uranium, conversion services, enrichment services, and fuel fabrication. The uranium, conversion services, and fuel fabrication contracts have remaining

I-9

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

terms ranging from one to 17 years. The remaining term lengths for the enrichment services contracts range from five to 10 years. Management believes suppliers have sufficient nuclear fuel production capability to permit the normal operation of the Southern Company system's nuclear generating units.
Changes in fuel prices to the traditional electric 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 natural gas and biomass PPAs 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 under "Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Natural Gas
Advances in natural gas drilling in shale producing regions of the United States have resulted in historically high supplies of natural gas and relatively low prices for natural gas. Procurement plans for natural gas supply and transportation to serve regulated utility customers are reviewed and approved by the regulatory agencies in the states where Southern Company Gas operates. Southern Company Gas purchases natural gas supplies in the open market by contracting with producers and marketers and, for the natural gas distribution utilities except Nicor Gas, from its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sequent, under asset management agreements approved by the applicable state regulatory agency. Southern Company Gas also contracts for transportation and storage services from interstate pipelines that are regulated by the FERC. When firm pipeline services are temporarily not needed, Southern Company Gas may release the services in the secondary market under FERC-approved capacity release provisions or utilize asset management arrangements, thereby reducing the net cost of natural gas charged to customers for most of the natural gas distribution utilities. Peak-use requirements are met through utilization of company-owned storage facilities, pipeline transportation capacity, purchased storage services, peaking facilities, and other supply sources, arranged by either transportation customers or Southern Company Gas.
Territory Served by the Southern Company System
Traditional Electric Operating Companies and Southern Power
As of January 1, 2019, the territory in which the traditional electric operating companies provide retail electric service comprises most of the states of Alabama and Georgia, together with southeastern Mississippi. See Note 15 to the financial statements under "Southern Company's Sale of Gulf Power" in Item 8 herein for information on the sale of Gulf Power. 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 electric operating companies. As of January 1, 2019, the territory had an area of approximately 114,000 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 other load-serving entities, as well as commercial and industrial customers.
Alabama Power is engaged, within the State of Alabama, in the generation, transmission, distribution, and purchase of electricity and the sale of electric service, 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 11 municipally-owned electric distribution systems, all of which are served indirectly through sales to AMEA, and two rural distributing cooperative associations. The sales contract with AMEA is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025. 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 and products and markets and sells outdoor lighting services.
Georgia Power is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, and purchase of electricity and the sale of electric service 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 to OPC, MEAG Power, Dalton, various EMCs, and non-affiliated utilities. Georgia Power also markets and sells outdoor lighting services.
Mississippi Power is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution, and purchase of electricity and the sale of electric service 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.

I-10

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

For information relating to KWH sales by customer classification for the traditional electric operating companies, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS of Southern Company and each traditional electric operating company in Item 7 herein. For information relating to the number of retail customers served by customer classification for the traditional electric operating companies, see SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA of Southern Company and each traditional electric operating company in Item 6 herein. Also, for information relating to the sources of revenues for Southern Company, each traditional electric 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 January 1, 2019, there were approximately 58 electric cooperative distribution systems operating in the territory in which the traditional electric 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. As of December 31, 2018, PowerSouth owned generating units with approximately 2,100 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 and Note 5 to the financial statements under "Joint Ownership Agreements" in Item 8 herein for details of Alabama Power's joint-ownership with PowerSouth of a portion of Plant Miller. Alabama Power has a system supply agreement with PowerSouth to provide 200 MWs of capacity service through December 31, 2030 with an option to extend and renegotiate in the event Alabama Power builds new generation or contracts for new capacity.
Alabama Power has entered into a separate agreement with PowerSouth involving interconnection between their systems. The delivery of capacity and energy from PowerSouth to certain distributing cooperatives in the service territory of Alabama 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.
OPC is an EMC owned by its 38 retail electric distribution cooperatives, which provide retail electric service to customers in Georgia. OPC provides wholesale electric power to its members through its generation assets, some of which are jointly owned with Georgia Power, and power purchased from other suppliers. OPC and the 38 retail electric distribution cooperatives are members of Georgia Transmission Corporation, an EMC (GTC), which provides transmission services to its members and third parties. See PROPERTIES – "Electric – Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein and Note 5 to the financial statements under "Joint Ownership Agreements" in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding Georgia Power's jointly-owned facilities.
Mississippi Power has an interchange agreement with Cooperative Energy, a generating and transmitting cooperative, pursuant to which various services are provided.
As of January 1, 2019, there were approximately 71 municipally-owned electric distribution systems operating in the territory in which the traditional electric operating companies provide electric service at retail or wholesale.
As of December 31, 2018, 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 Southern Power through a service agreement. See PROPERTIES – "Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein and Note 5 to the financial statements under "Joint Ownership Agreements" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Georgia Power has entered into substantially similar agreements with GTC, MEAG Power, and Dalton providing for the establishment of an integrated transmission system to carry the power and energy of all parties. The 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 assumed or entered into PPAs with Georgia Power, investor-owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, electric cooperatives, and other load-serving entities, as well as commercial and industrial customers. 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 electric operating companies, also has a contract with SEPA providing for the use of the traditional electric operating companies' facilities at government expense to deliver to certain cooperatives and municipalities,

I-11

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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 U.S. government hydroelectric projects.
Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is engaged in the distribution of natural gas in four states through the natural gas distribution utilities. The natural gas distribution utilities construct, manage, and maintain intrastate natural gas pipelines and distribution facilities. Details of the natural gas distribution utilities at December 31, 2018 are as follows:
Utility
State
Number of customers

Approximate miles of pipe

 
 
(in thousands)
 
Nicor Gas
Illinois
2,237

34,285

Atlanta Gas Light
Georgia
1,643

33,610

Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia
301

5,650

Chattanooga Gas
Tennessee
67

1,655

Total
 
4,248

75,200

For information relating to the sources of revenue for Southern Company Gas, see MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – RESULTS OF OPERATIONS and – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL of Southern Company Gas in Item 7 herein.
Competition
Electric
The electric utility industry in the U.S. 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 extend or maintain its electric system subject to certain regulatory approvals; extensions of facilities by such utility, or extensions of facilities into that area 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 a CPCN that are subsequently annexed to municipalities may continue to be served by the holder of the CPCN, 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 electric 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 across various U.S. utility markets. The needs of these markets are driven by the demands of end users 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.

I-12

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

As of December 31, 2018, Alabama Power had cogeneration contracts in effect with nine industrial customers. Under the terms of these contracts, Alabama Power purchases excess energy generated by such companies. During 2018, Alabama Power purchased approximately 99 million KWHs from such companies at a cost of $3 million.
As of December 31, 2018, Georgia Power had contracts in effect with 28 small power producers whereby Georgia Power purchases their excess generation. During 2018, Georgia Power purchased 2.1 billion KWHs from such companies at a cost of $140 million. Georgia Power also has PPAs for electricity with four cogeneration facilities. Payments are subject to reductions for failure to meet minimum capacity output. During 2018, Georgia Power purchased 26 million KWHs at a cost of $0.8 million from these facilities.
Also during 2018, Georgia Power purchased energy from three customer-owned generating facilities. These customers provide energy with no capacity commitment and are not dispatched by Georgia Power. During 2018, Georgia Power purchased a total of 341 million KWHs from the three customers at a cost of approximately $28 million.
As of December 31, 2018, Mississippi Power had a cogeneration agreement in effect with one of its industrial customers. Under the terms of this contract, Mississippi Power purchases any excess generation. During 2018, Mississippi Power did not purchase any excess generation from this customer.
Natural Gas
Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution utilities do not compete with other distributors of natural gas in their exclusive franchise territories but face competition from other energy products. Their principal competitors are electric utilities and fuel oil and propane providers serving the residential, commercial, and industrial markets in their service areas for customers who are considering switching to or from a natural gas appliance.
Competition for heating as well as general household and small commercial energy needs generally occurs at the initial installation phase when the customer or builder makes decisions as to which types of equipment to install. Customers generally use the chosen energy source for the life of the equipment.
Customer demand for natural gas could be affected by numerous factors, including:
changes in the availability or price of natural gas and other forms of energy;
general economic conditions;
energy conservation, including state-supported energy efficiency programs;
legislation and regulations;
the cost and capability to convert from natural gas to alternative energy products; and
technological changes resulting in displacement or replacement of natural gas appliances.
The natural gas-related programs generally emphasize natural gas as the fuel of choice for customers and seek to expand the use of natural gas through a variety of promotional activities. In addition, Southern Company Gas partners with third-party entities to market the benefits of natural gas appliances.
The availability and affordability of natural gas have provided cost advantages and further opportunity for growth of the businesses.
Seasonality
The demand for electric power and natural gas supply is affected by seasonal differences in the weather. While the electric power sales of some of the traditional electric operating companies peak in the summer, others peak in the winter. In the aggregate, electric power sales peak during the summer with a smaller peak during the winter. In most of the areas Southern Company Gas serves, natural gas demand peaks during the winter. As a result, the overall operating results of Southern Company, the traditional electric operating companies, Southern Power, and Southern Company Gas in the future may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, the traditional electric operating companies, Southern Power, and Southern Company Gas have historically sold less power and natural gas when weather conditions are milder.
Regulation
States
The traditional electric operating companies and the natural gas distribution utilities are subject to the jurisdiction of their respective state PSCs or applicable state regulatory agencies. These regulatory bodies 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 Southern Company System" and "Rate Matters" herein for additional information.

I-13

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Federal Power Act
The traditional electric 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, 2018, among the hydroelectric projects subject to licensing by the FERC are 14 existing Alabama Power generating stations having an aggregate installed capacity of 1,670,000 KWs and 17 existing Georgia Power generating stations and one generating station partially owned by Georgia Power, with a combined aggregate installed capacity of 1,101,402 KWs.
In 2013, the FERC issued a new 30-year license to Alabama Power for Alabama Power's seven hydroelectric developments on the Coosa River (Weiss, Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell, Jordan, and Bouldin). Alabama Power filed a petition requesting rehearing of the FERC order granting the relicense seeking revisions to several conditions of the license. Alabama Rivers Alliance, American Rivers, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and the Atlanta Regional Commission also filed petitions for rehearing of the FERC order. In 2016, the FERC issued an order granting in part and denying in part Alabama Power's rehearing request. The order also denied all of the other rehearing requests. Also in 2016, Alabama Rivers Alliance and American Rivers filed a second rehearing request and also filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for review of the license and the rehearing denial order. The FERC issued an order in 2016 denying the second rehearing request, and American Rivers and Alabama Rivers Alliance subsequently filed an appeal of that order at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit consolidated the two appeals into one proceeding and, on July 6, 2018, vacated the FERC's 2013 order for the new 30-year license and remanded the proceeding to the FERC. Alabama Power continues to operate the Coosa River developments under annual licenses issued by the FERC. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time.
In 2018, Alabama Power continued the process of developing an application to relicense the Harris Dam project on the Tallapoosa River, which is expected to be filed with the FERC by November 30, 2021. The current Harris Dam project license will expire on November 30, 2023.
On May 31, 2018, Georgia Power filed an application to relicense the Wallace Dam project on the Oconee River. The current Wallace Dam project license will expire on June 1, 2020. On July 3, 2018, Georgia Power filed a Notice of Intent to relicense the Lloyd Shoals project on the Ocmulgee River. The application to relicense the Lloyd Shoals project is expected to be filed with the FERC by December 31, 2021. The current Lloyd Shoals project license will expire on December 31, 2023. On December 18, 2018, Georgia Power filed applications to surrender the Langdale and Riverview hydroelectric projects on the Chattahoochee River upon their license expirations on December 31, 2023. Both projects together represent 1,520 KWs of Georgia Power's hydro fleet capacity.
Georgia Power and OPC also have a license, expiring in 2027, for the Rocky Mountain project, a pure pumped storage facility of 903,000 KW installed capacity. See PROPERTIES – "Jointly-Owned Facilities" in Item 2 herein for additional information.
Licenses for all projects, excluding those discussed above, expire in the years 2034-2066 in the case of Alabama Power's projects and in the years 2035-2044 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, as amended; 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

I-14

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia PowerNuclear Construction" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
See Notes 3 and 6 to the financial statements under "Nuclear Insurance" and "Nuclear Decommissioning," respectively, in Item 8 herein for information on nuclear insurance and nuclear decommissioning costs.
Environmental Laws and Regulations
The Southern Company system's operations are regulated by state and federal environmental agencies through a variety of laws and regulations governing air, water, land, and protection of other natural 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.
For Southern Company Gas, substantially all of these costs are related to former MGP sites, which are generally recovered through existing ratemaking provisions. See Note 3 to the financial statements under "Environmental Matters" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Compliance with environmental laws and resulting regulations, including, but not limited to, proposed and existing regulations related to air quality, water quality, CCR, and global climate issues, has been, and will continue to be, a significant focus for each of the registrants and SEGCO. Compliance with any new or revised environmental laws and regulations could affect many areas of the traditional electric operating companies', Southern Power's, SEGCO's, and Southern Company Gas' operations. See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters" of each of the registrants in Item 7 herein for additional information about environmental issues.
The Southern Company system's ultimate environmental compliance strategy and future environmental expenditures will depend on various factors, such as state adoption and implementation of requirements, the availability and cost of any deployed control technology, fuel prices, and the outcome of pending and/or future legal challenges. Compliance costs may result from the installation of additional environmental controls, closure and monitoring of CCR facilities, unit retirements, or changing fuel sources for certain existing units, as well as related upgrades to the transmission and distribution (electric and natural gas) systems. Environmental compliance spending over the next several years may differ materially from the amounts estimated. Such expenditures could affect results of operations, cash flows, and/or financial condition if such costs are not recovered on a timely basis through regulated rates for the traditional electric operating companies and the natural gas distribution utilities or through long-term wholesale agreements for the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power. Further, higher costs that are recovered through regulated rates could contribute to reduced demand for energy, which could negatively affect results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. Additionally, many 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 and natural gas. See "Construction Program" herein and MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Environmental Matters" of each of the registrants in Item 7 herein for additional information. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
Rate Matters
Rate Structure and Cost Recovery Plans
Electric
The rates and service regulations of the traditional electric 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 and Mississippi Power are generally allowed by

I-15

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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 electric operating companies recover certain 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 compliance, storm damage, and certain other costs are recovered at Alabama 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 through periodic base rate proceedings.
See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Regulatory Matters" of Southern Company and each of the traditional electric operating companies in Item 7 herein and Note 2 to the financial statements in Item 8 herein for a discussion of rate matters and certain cost recovery mechanisms. Also, see Note 1 to the financial statements in Item 8 herein for a discussion of recovery of fuel costs, storm damage costs, and compliance costs through rate mechanisms.
See "Integrated Resource Planning" herein and Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia PowerIntegrated Resource Plan" in Item 8 herein for a discussion of Georgia PSC certification of new demand-side or 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 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia PowerNuclear 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 since 2011.
See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Kemper County Energy Facility" in Item 8 herein and MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Kemper County Energy Facility – Rate Recovery" of Mississippi Power in Item 7 herein for information on cost recovery plans for the Kemper County energy facility.
The traditional electric 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.
Mississippi Power serves long-term contracts with rural electric cooperative associations and a municipality located in southeastern Mississippi under cost-based electric tariffs which are subject to regulation by the FERC. The contracts with these wholesale customers represented 17.3% of Mississippi Power's total operating revenues in 2018 and are generally subject to 10-year rolling cancellation notices. Historically, these wholesale customers have acted as a group and any changes in contractual relationships for one customer are likely to be followed by the other wholesale customers.
Natural Gas
Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution utilities are subject to regulation and oversight by their respective state regulatory agencies. Rates charged to these customers vary according to customer class (residential, commercial, or industrial) and rate jurisdiction. These agencies approve rates designed to provide each natural gas distribution utility the opportunity to generate revenues to recover all prudently-incurred costs, including a return on rate base sufficient to pay interest on debt, and provide a reasonable return.
With the exception of Atlanta Gas Light, which operates in a deregulated environment in which Marketers rather than a traditional utility sell natural gas to end-use customers and earns revenue by charging rates to its customers based primarily on monthly fixed charges that are set by the Georgia PSC, the earnings of the natural gas distribution utilities can be affected by customer consumption patterns that are largely a function of weather conditions and price levels for natural gas.
The natural gas distribution utilities, excluding Atlanta Gas Light, are authorized to use natural gas cost recovery mechanisms that adjust rates to reflect changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas and ensure recovery of all costs prudently incurred in purchasing natural gas for customers. In addition to natural gas cost recovery mechanisms, the natural gas distribution utilities have other cost recovery mechanisms, such as regulatory riders, which vary by utility but allow recovery of certain costs, such as those related to infrastructure replacement programs as well as environmental remediation and energy efficiency plans.
See MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS – FUTURE EARNINGS POTENTIAL – "Regulatory Matters – Utility Regulation and Rate Design" of Southern Company Gas in Item 7 herein and Note 2 to the financial statements under "Southern Company Gas" in Item 8 herein for a discussion of rate matters and certain cost recovery mechanisms.

I-16

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Integrated Resource Planning
Each of the traditional electric 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 Laws and Regulations" above for a discussion of existing and potential environmental regulations that may impact the future generating resource needs of the traditional electric operating companies.
Alabama Power
Triennially, Alabama Power provides an IRP report to the Alabama PSC. This report overviews Alabama Power's resource planning process and contains information that serves as the foundation for certain decisions affecting Alabama Power's portfolio of supply-side and demand-side resources. The IRP report facilitates Alabama Power's ability to provide reliable and cost-effective electric service to customers, while accounting for the risks and uncertainties inherent in planning for resources sufficient to meet expected customer demand. Under State of Alabama law, a CPCN must be obtained from the Alabama PSC before Alabama Power constructs any new generating facility, unless such construction is deemed an ordinary extension in the usual course of business.
Georgia Power
Triennially, Georgia Power must file an IRP with the Georgia PSC that specifies how it intends to meet the future electric service 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 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Rate Plans," " – Integrated Resource Plan," and " – Nuclear Construction" in Item 8 herein for additional information.
Mississippi Power
On February 6, 2018, the Mississippi PSC approved a settlement agreement related to cost recovery for the Kemper County energy facility, pursuant to which Mississippi Power filed a Reserve Margin Plan (RMP) on August 6, 2018. The RMP includes many of the same aspects of a traditional IRP, but the RMP also contains alternatives proposed by Mississippi Power to address its existing reserve capacity, which is greater than the level required to meet Mississippi Power's projected summer peak demand. Mississippi Power developed the alternatives by evaluating the economics of each unit in Mississippi Power's fleet, the opportunities currently available in the wholesale market, and the operational constraints of the Southern Company system. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time. For additional information, see Note 2 to the financial statements under "Kemper County Energy Facility" in Item 8 herein.
Employee Relations
The Southern Company system had a total of 29,192 employees on its payroll at January 1, 2019.
 
Employees at
January 1, 2019
Alabama Power
6,650

Georgia Power
6,967

Mississippi Power
1,053

PowerSecure
1,743

SCS
3,799

Southern Company Gas
4,389

Southern Nuclear
3,870

Southern Power
491

Other
230

Total
29,192

The traditional electric operating companies and the natural gas distribution utilities have separate agreements with local unions of the IBEW and the Utilities Workers Union of America generally covering wages, working conditions, and procedures for handling grievances and arbitration. These agreements apply with certain exceptions to operating, maintenance, and construction employees.

I-17

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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, 2021.
Mississippi Power has an agreement with the IBEW covering wages and working conditions, which is in effect through May 1, 2019. In 2015, Mississippi Power signed a separate agreement with the IBEW related solely to the Kemper County energy facility; that current agreement is in effect through March 15, 2021. In August 2017, Mississippi Power signed an agreement with the IBEW that added several job classifications and provided guidelines related to the reorganization at the Kemper County energy facility.
Southern Nuclear has a five-year agreement with the IBEW covering certain employees at Plants Hatch and Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2, which is in effect through June 30, 2021. 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.
The natural gas distribution utilities have separate agreements with local unions of the IBEW and Utilities Workers Union of America covering wages, working conditions, and procedures for handling grievances and arbitration. Nicor Gas' agreement with the IBEW is effective through February 29, 2020. Virginia Natural Gas' agreement with the IBEW is effective through May 15, 2020. The agreements also make the terms of the Southern Company Gas pension plan subject to collective bargaining with the unions when significant changes to the benefit accruals are considered by Southern Company Gas.

I-18

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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 state and federal 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 are subject to substantial regulation from federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and are required to comply with numerous laws and regulations and to obtain numerous permits, approvals, and certificates from governmental agencies. The traditional electric operating companies and the natural gas distribution utilities seek to recover their costs (including a reasonable return on invested capital) through their retail rates, which must be approved by the applicable state PSC or other applicable state regulatory agency. A state PSC or other applicable state regulatory agency, in a future rate proceeding, may alter the timing or amount of certain costs for which recovery is allowed or modify the current authorized rate of return. Rate refunds may also be required. Additionally, the rates charged to wholesale customers by the traditional electric operating companies and by Southern Power and the rates charged to natural gas transportation customers by Southern Company Gas' pipeline investments and for some of its storage assets must be approved by the FERC. These wholesale rates could be affected by changes to Southern Power's and the traditional electric operating companies' ability to conduct business pursuant to FERC market-based rate authority. Retaining this authority from the FERC is important to the traditional electric operating companies' and Southern Power's ability to remain competitive in the wholesale electric markets.
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 is uncertain. 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 or otherwise negatively affect their results of operations.
The Southern Company system's costs of compliance with environmental laws and satisfying related AROs are significant. The costs of compliance with current and future environmental laws and related AROs and the incurrence of environmental liabilities could negatively impact the net income, cash flows, and financial condition of the registrants.
The Southern Company system's operations are subject to extensive regulation by state and federal environmental agencies through a variety of laws and regulations. Compliance with existing environmental requirements involves significant capital and operating costs including the settlement of AROs, 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. The registrants expect future compliance expenditures will continue to be significant.
The EPA has adopted and is implementing regulations governing air and water quality under the Clean Air Act and regulations governing cooling water intake structures and effluent guidelines for steam electric generating plants under the Clean Water Act. The EPA has also adopted regulations governing the disposal of CCR, including coal ash and gypsum, in landfills and surface impoundments at active generating power plants. The cost estimates for AROs related to the disposal of CCR are based on information using various assumptions related to closure and post-closure costs, timing of future cash outlays, inflation and discount rates, and the potential methods for complying with the CCR Rule. The traditional electric operating companies will continue to periodically update their ARO cost estimates.
Additionally, environmental laws and regulations covering the handling and disposal of waste and release of hazardous substances could require the Southern Company system to incur substantial costs to clean up affected sites, including certain current and former operating sites, and locations affected by historical operations or subject to contractual obligations.
Existing environmental laws and regulations may be revised or new environmental laws and regulations may be adopted or become applicable to the Southern Company system. In addition, existing environmental laws and regulations may be impacted by related legal challenges.
Litigation over environmental issues and claims of various types, including property damage, personal injury, common law nuisance, and citizen enforcement of environmental requirements has occurred throughout the U.S. This litigation has included claims for damages alleged to have been caused by CO2 and other emissions, CCR, releases of regulated substances, and alleged exposure to regulated substances, and/or requests for injunctive relief in connection with such matters.

I-19

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Compliance with any new or revised environmental laws or regulations could affect many areas of the Southern Company system's operations. The Southern Company system's ultimate environmental compliance strategy and future environmental expenditures will depend on various factors, such as state adoption and implementation of requirements, the availability and cost of any deployed control technology, and the outcome of pending and/or future legal challenges. Compliance costs may result from the installation of additional environmental controls, closure and monitoring of CCR facilities, unit retirements, or changing fuel sources for certain existing units, as well as related upgrades to the Southern Company system's transmission and distribution (electric and natural gas) systems. Environmental compliance spending over the next several years may differ materially from the amounts estimated. Such expenditures could affect results of operations, cash flows, and/or financial condition if such costs are not recovered on a timely basis through regulated rates for the traditional electric operating companies and the natural gas distribution utilities or through long-term wholesale agreements for the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power. Further, higher costs that are recovered through regulated rates could contribute to reduced demand for energy, which could negatively affect results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. Additionally, many 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 or natural gas.
The Southern Company system may be exposed to regulatory and financial risks related to the impact of GHG legislation, regulation, and emission reduction goals.
The EPA has published rules limiting CO2 emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired electric generating units and guidelines for states to develop plans to meet EPA-mandated CO2 emission performance standards for existing units (known as the Clean Power Plan or CPP). On August 31, 2018, the EPA published a proposed rule known as the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which is intended to replace a regulation enacted in 2015 known as the Clean Power Plan (CPP), that would limit CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units. The CPP has been stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court since 2016. The ACE Rule would require states to develop GHG unit-specific emission rate standards based on heat-rate efficiency improvements for existing fossil fuel-fired steam units. As proposed, combustion turbines, including natural gas combined cycles, are not affected sources. As of January 1, 2019, the Southern Company system has ownership interests in 40 fossil fuel-fired steam units to which the proposed ACE Rule is applicable. The ultimate impact of this rule to the Southern Company system is currently unknown and will depend on changes between the proposal and the final rule, subsequent state plan developments and requirements, and any associated legal challenges.
The EPA also has proposed a review of final rules adopted in 2015 to establish performance standards for new, modified, and reconstructed electric utility generating units. The impact of any changes will depend on the content of any final rule adopted by the EPA and the outcome of any related legal challenges.
In April 2018, Southern Company established an intermediate goal of a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from 2007 levels by 2030 and a long-term goal of low- to no-carbon operations by 2050. To achieve these goals, the Southern Company system expects to continue growing its renewable energy portfolio, optimize technology advancements to modernize its transmission and distribution systems, increase the use of natural gas for generation, complete ongoing construction projects, including Georgia Power's interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, invest in energy efficiency, and continue research and development efforts focused on technologies to lower GHG emissions. The Southern Company system's ability to achieve these goals also will be dependent on many external factors, including supportive national energy policies, low natural gas prices, and the development, deployment, and advancement of relevant energy technologies.
Costs associated with GHG legislation, regulation, and emission reduction goals could be significant. However, the ultimate impact will depend on various factors, such as state adoption and implementation of requirements, low natural gas prices, the development, deployment, and advancement of relevant energy technologies, the ability to recover costs through existing ratemaking provisions, and the outcome of pending and/or future legal challenges.
Because natural gas is a fossil fuel with lower carbon content relative to other fossil fuels, future GHG constraints, including, but not limited to, the imposition of a carbon tax, may create additional demand for natural gas, both for production of electricity and direct use in homes and businesses. Future GHG constraints designed to minimize emissions from natural gas could likewise result in increased costs to the Southern Company system and affect the demand for natural gas as well as the prices charged to customers and the competitive position of natural gas.

I-20

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

The net income of Southern Company, the traditional electric 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 electric 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 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. 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 new transmission facilities.
The FERC rules related to transmission are intended to spur the development of new transmission infrastructure to promote and 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. Technology changes in the power and fuel industries continue to create significant impacts to wholesale transaction cost structures. The impact of these and other such developments and the effect of changes in levels of wholesale supply and demand are uncertain. The financial condition, net income, and cash flows of Southern Company, the traditional electric operating companies, and Southern Power could be adversely affected by these and other changes.
The traditional electric 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 electric 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 electric operating companies and Southern Power to higher operating costs and/or increased capital expenditures. If any traditional electric operating company or Southern Power is found to be in noncompliance with these standards, such traditional electric 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 the electric generation, transmission, and distribution facilities and natural gas distribution and storage 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;
accidents;
operating limitations that may be imposed by environmental or other regulatory requirements or in connection with joint owner arrangements;
labor disputes;
physical attacks;
fuel or material supply interruptions and/or shortages;
transmission disruption or capacity constraints, including with respect to the Southern Company system's and third parties' transmission, storage, and transportation facilities;
compliance with mandatory reliability standards, including mandatory cyber security standards;
implementation of new technologies;
information technology system failures;
cyber intrusions;
environmental events, such as spills or releases; and
catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events, or other similar occurrences.
A decrease or elimination of revenues from the electric generation, transmission, or distribution facilities or natural gas distribution or storage 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 registrant.

I-21

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Operation of nuclear facilities involves inherent risks, including environmental, safety, health, regulatory, natural disasters, cyber intrusions or physical attacks, 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 8% of the Southern Company system's electric generation capacity at January 1, 2019. In addition, these units generated approximately 25% of the total KWHs generated by each of Alabama Power and Georgia Power in the year ended December 31, 2018. In addition, Southern Nuclear, on behalf of Georgia Power and the other Vogtle Owners, is managing 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 U.S.;
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;
actual or threatened cyber intrusions or physical attacks; 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, 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 delay or prohibit construction of new nuclear units or require additional safety measures at new and existing units. Moreover, a major incident at any nuclear facility in the U.S., including facilities owned and operated by third parties, could require Alabama Power and Georgia Power to make material contributory payments.
In addition, actual or potential threats of cyber intrusions or physical attacks could result in increased nuclear licensing or compliance costs that are difficult to predict.
Transporting and storing natural gas involves risks that may result in accidents and other operating risks and costs.
Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution and storage activities involve a variety of inherent hazards and operating risks, such as leaks, accidents, explosions, and mechanical problems, which could result in serious injury to employees and non-employees, loss of life, significant damage to property, environmental pollution, and impairment of its operations. The location of pipelines and storage facilities near populated areas could increase the level of damage resulting from these risks. Additionally, these pipeline and storage facilities are subject to various state and other regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with these regulatory requirements could result in substantial monetary penalties or potential early retirement of storage facilities, which could trigger an associated impairment. The occurrence of any of these events not fully covered by insurance or otherwise could adversely affect Southern Company Gas' and Southern Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Physical attacks, both threatened and actual, could impact the ability of the Subsidiary Registrants to operate and could adversely affect financial results and liquidity.
The Subsidiary Registrants face the risk of physical attacks, both threatened and actual, against their respective generation and storage facilities and the transmission and distribution infrastructure used to transport energy, which could negatively impact

I-22

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

their ability to generate, transport, and deliver power, or otherwise operate their respective facilities, or, with respect to Southern Company Gas, its ability to distribute or store natural gas, or otherwise operate its facilities, in the most efficient manner or at all. In addition, physical attacks against third-party providers could have a similar effect on Southern Company and its subsidiaries.
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 attacks. If assets were to fail, be physically damaged, or be breached and were not restored in a timely manner, the affected Subsidiary Registrant may be unable to fulfill critical business functions. Moreover, the amount and scope of insurance maintained against losses resulting from any such events or physical security breaches may not be sufficient to cover losses or otherwise adequately compensate for any disruptions to business that could result.
These events could harm the reputation of and negatively affect the financial results of the registrants through lost revenues and costs to repair damage, if such costs cannot be recovered.
An information security incident, including a cybersecurity breach, or the failure of one or more key information technology systems, networks, or processes could impact the ability of the registrants to operate and could adversely affect financial results and liquidity.
Information security risks have generally increased in recent years as a result of the proliferation of new technology and increased sophistication and frequency of cyber attacks and data security breaches. The Subsidiary Registrants operate in highly regulated industries that require the continued operation of sophisticated information technology systems and network infrastructure, which are part of interconnected distribution systems. Because of the critical nature of the infrastructure, increased connectivity to the internet, and technology systems' inherent vulnerability to disability or failures due to hacking, viruses, acts of war or terrorism, or other types of data security breaches, Southern Company and its subsidiaries face a heightened risk of cyberattack. Parties that wish to disrupt the U.S. bulk power system or Southern Company system operations could view these computer systems, software, or networks as targets. The registrants and their third-party vendors have been subject, and will likely continue to be subject, to attempts to gain unauthorized access to their information technology systems and confidential data or to attempts to disrupt utility operations. As a result, Southern Company and its subsidiaries face on-going threats to their assets, including assets deemed critical infrastructure, where databases and systems have been, and will likely continue to be, subject to advanced computer viruses or other malicious codes, unauthorized access attempts, phishing, and other cyber attacks. While there have been immaterial incidents of phishing and attempted financial fraud across the Southern Company system, there has been no material impact on business or operations from these attacks. However, the registrants cannot guarantee that security efforts will prevent breaches, operational incidents, or other breakdowns of information technology systems and network infrastructure and cannot provide any assurance that such incidents will not have a material adverse effect in the future.
In addition, in the ordinary course of business, Southern Company and its subsidiaries collect and retain sensitive information, including personally identifiable information about customers, employees, and stockholders, and other confidential information. In some cases, administration of certain functions may be outsourced to third-party service providers that could also be targets of cyber attacks. Generally, Southern Company and its subsidiaries enter certain contractual security guarantees and assurances with these third parties to help ensure the security and safety of this information.
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 cyber attacks. If assets were to fail or be breached and were not restored in a timely manner, the affected registrant may be unable to fulfill critical business functions, and sensitive and other data could be compromised. Any cyber breach or theft, damage, or improper disclosure of sensitive electronic data may also subject the affected registrant to penalties and claims from regulators or other third parties. Moreover, the amount and scope of insurance maintained against losses resulting from any such events or security breaches may not be sufficient to cover losses or otherwise adequately compensate for any disruptions to business that could result. In addition, as cybercriminals become more sophisticated, the cost of proactive defensive measures may increase.
These events could negatively affect the financial results of the registrants through lost revenues, costs to recover and repair damage, costs associated with governmental actions in response to such attacks, and litigation costs if such costs cannot be recovered through insurance or otherwise.
The Southern Company system may not be able to obtain adequate natural gas, fuel supplies, and other resources required to operate the traditional electric operating companies' and Southern Power's electric generating plants or serve Southern Company Gas' natural gas customers.
The traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power purchase fuel, including coal, natural gas, uranium, fuel oil, and biomass, as applicable, from a number of suppliers. Additionally, the traditional electric operating companies and Southern

I-23

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Power need adequate access to water, which is drawn from nearby sources to aid in the production of electricity and, once it is used, returned to its source. 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, or the availability of water, could limit the ability of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power to operate certain facilities, which could result in higher fuel and operating costs and potentially reduce the net income of the affected traditional electric operating company or Southern Power and Southern Company.
Southern Company Gas' primary business is the distribution and sale of natural gas through its regulated and unregulated subsidiaries. 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. Southern Company Gas also relies on natural gas pipelines and other storage and transportation facilities owned and operated by third parties to deliver natural gas to wholesale markets and to Southern Company Gas' distribution systems. The availability of shale gas and potential regulations affecting its accessibility may have a material impact on the supply and cost of natural gas. Disruption in natural gas supplies could limit the ability to fulfill these contractual obligations.
The traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power have become more dependent on natural gas for a portion of their electric generating capacity and expect to continue to increase such dependence. In many instances, the cost of purchased power for the traditional electric 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 electric operating companies' reliance on natural gas-fired generating units.
The traditional electric operating companies are also dependent on coal for a portion of their electric generating capacity. The traditional electric operating companies depend on coal supply contracts, and the counterparties to these agreements may not fulfill their obligations to supply coal to the traditional electric operating companies. The suppliers may experience financial or technical problems that inhibit their ability to fulfill their obligations. In addition, the suppliers may not be required to supply coal under certain circumstances, such as in the event of a natural disaster. If the traditional electric operating companies are unable to obtain their coal requirements under these contracts, they may be required to purchase their coal requirements at higher prices, which may not be recoverable through rates.
The revenues of Southern Company, the traditional electric 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, the failure of the traditional electric operating companies or Southern Power to satisfy minimum requirements under the PPAs, 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 electric operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company.
Most of Southern Power's generating capacity has been sold to purchasers under PPAs. Southern Power's top three customers, Georgia Power, Duke Energy Corporation, and Southern California Edison accounted for 9.8%, 6.8%, and 6.2%, respectively, of Southern Power's total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. In addition, the traditional electric 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, including as a result of a general default or bankruptcy, could have a negative impact on the net income and cash flows of the affected traditional electric operating company or Southern Power and of Southern Company. Although the credit evaluations undertaken and contractual protections implemented by Southern Power and the traditional electric 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. See Note 1 to the financial statements under "RevenuesConcentration of Revenue" in Item 8 herein for additional information on Pacific Gas & Electric Company's bankruptcy filing.
Additionally, neither Southern Power nor any traditional electric 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. The failure of the traditional electric operating companies or Southern Power to satisfy minimum operational or availability requirements under these PPAs could result in payment of damages or termination of the PPAs.
The asset management arrangements between Southern Company Gas' wholesale gas services and its customers, including the natural gas distribution utilities, may not be renewed or may be renewed at lower levels, which could have a significant impact on Southern Company Gas' financial results.
Southern Company Gas' wholesale gas services currently manages the storage and transportation assets of the natural gas distribution utilities (except Nicor Gas) as well as certain non-affiliated customers. Southern Company Gas' wholesale gas

I-24

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

services has a concentration of credit risk for services it provides to its counterparties, which is generally concentrated in 20 of its counterparties.
The profits earned from the management of affiliate assets are shared with the respective affiliate's customers (and for Atlanta Gas Light with the Georgia PSC's Universal Service Fund), except for Chattanooga Gas where wholesale gas services are provided under annual fixed-fee agreements. These asset management agreements are subject to regulatory approval and such agreements may not be renewed or may be renewed with less favorable terms.
The financial results of Southern Company Gas' wholesale gas services could be significantly impacted if any of its agreements with its affiliated or non-affiliated customers are not renewed or are amended or renewed with less favorable terms. Sustained low natural gas prices could reduce the demand for these types of asset management arrangements.
Increased competition could negatively impact Southern Company's and its subsidiaries' revenues, results of operations, and financial condition.
The Southern Company system faces increasing competition from other companies that supply energy or generation and storage technologies. Changes in technology may make the Southern Company system's electric generating facilities owned by the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power less competitive. Southern Company Gas' business is dependent on natural gas prices remaining competitive as compared to other forms of energy. Southern Company Gas also faces competition in its unregulated markets.
A key element of the business models of the traditional electric 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 and storage technologies that produce and store power, including fuel cells, microturbines, wind turbines, solar cells, and batteries. 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 that allows for increased self-generation by customers. Broader use of distributed generation by retail energy customers may also result from customers' changing perceptions of the merits of utilizing existing generation technology or tax or other economic incentives. Additionally, a state PSC or legislature may modify certain aspects of the traditional electric operating companies' business as a result of these advances in technology.
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 electric 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 electric operating companies, or Southern Power.
Southern Company Gas' gas marketing services is affected by competition from other energy marketers providing similar services in Southern Company Gas' service territories, most notably in Illinois and Georgia. Southern Company Gas' wholesale gas services competes for sales with national and regional full-service energy providers, energy merchants and producers, and pipelines based on the ability to aggregate competitively-priced commodities with transportation and storage capacity. Southern Company Gas competes with natural gas facilities in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S., as the majority of the existing and proposed high deliverability salt-dome natural gas storage facilities in North America are located in the Gulf Coast region.
If new technologies become cost competitive and achieve sufficient scale, the market share of the Subsidiary Registrants could be eroded, and the value of their respective electric generating facilities or natural gas distribution and storage facilities could be reduced. Additionally, Southern Company Gas' market share could be reduced if Southern Company Gas cannot remain price competitive in its unregulated markets. If state PSCs or other applicable state regulatory agencies 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 affected traditional electric operating company or Southern Company Gas 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, including with the workforce needs associated with major construction projects and ongoing operations. 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

I-25

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

and its subsidiaries are unable to successfully attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce, results of operations could be negatively impacted.
CONSTRUCTION RISKS
The registrants 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 Subsidiary Registrants require ongoing expenditures, including those to meet AROs and other environmental standards and goals.
General
The businesses of the registrants require substantial expenditures for investments in new facilities and, for the traditional electric operating companies, capital improvements to transmission, distribution, and generation facilities, for Southern Power, capital improvements to generation facilities, and, for Southern Company Gas, capital improvements to natural gas distribution and storage facilities. These expenditures also include those to meet AROs and environmental standards and goals. Certain of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power are in the process of constructing new generating facilities and adding environmental controls equipment at existing generating facilities. Southern Company Gas is replacing certain pipelines in its natural gas distribution system and is involved in two new gas pipeline construction projects. The Southern Company system intends to continue its strategy of developing and constructing other new facilities, expanding or updating existing facilities, and adding environmental control equipment. These types of projects are long term in nature and in some cases may 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, increased costs, or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor;
changes in labor costs, availability, and productivity;
challenges related to management of contractors, subcontractors, or vendors;
work stoppages;
contractor or supplier delay;
non-performance under construction, operating, or other agreements;
delays in or failure to receive necessary permits, approvals, tax credits, and other regulatory authorizations;
delays in start-up activities (including major equipment failure and system integration) and/or operational performance;
operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs;
impacts of new and existing laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations;
the outcome of any legal challenges to projects, including legal challenges to regulatory approvals;
failure to construct in accordance with permitting and licensing requirements (including satisfaction of NRC requirements);
failure to satisfy any environmental performance standards and the requirements of tax credits and other incentives;
continued public and policymaker support for projects;
adverse weather conditions or natural disasters;
engineering or design problems;
changes in project design or scope;
environmental and geological conditions;
delays or increased costs to interconnect facilities to transmission grids; and
increased financing costs as a result of changes in market interest rates or as a result of project delays.
If a Subsidiary Registrant is unable to complete the development or construction of a project or decides to delay or cancel construction of a project, it may not be able to recover its investment in that project and may incur substantial cancellation payments under equipment purchase orders or construction contracts, as well as other costs associated with the closure and/or abandonment of the construction project. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Kemper County Energy Facility" for information related to the abandonment of and related closure activities and costs for the mine and gasifier-related assets at the Kemper County energy facility.
Additionally, each Southern Company Gas pipeline construction project involves separate joint venture participants, Southern Power participates in partnership agreements with respect to renewable energy projects, and Georgia Power jointly owns Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 with other co-owners. Any failure by a partner or co-owner to perform its obligations under the applicable agreements could have a material negative impact on the applicable project under construction. In addition, partnership and joint ownership agreements may provide partners or co-owners with certain decision-making authority in connection with projects under construction, including rights to cause the cancellation of a construction project under certain circumstances.
Even if a construction project (including a joint venture construction project) is completed, the total costs may be higher than estimated and may not be recoverable through regulated rates, if applicable. In addition, construction delays and contractor

I-26

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

performance shortfalls can result in the loss of revenues and may, in turn, adversely affect the net income and financial position of the affected registrant. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "FERC Matters – Southern Company Gas" for information regarding the Atlantic Coast Pipeline construction delays and the associated cost increase.
Construction delays could result in the loss of otherwise available tax credits and incentives. Furthermore, if construction projects are not completed according to specification, a registrant may incur liabilities and suffer reduced plant efficiency, higher operating costs, and reduced net income.
Once facilities become operational, ongoing capital expenditures are required to maintain reliable levels of operation. Significant portions of the traditional electric operating companies' existing facilities were constructed many years ago. Older equipment, even if maintained in accordance with good engineering practices, may require significant expenditures to maintain efficiency, to comply with changing environmental requirements, to provide safe and reliable operations, and/or to meet related retirement obligations.
The largest construction project currently underway in the Southern Company system is Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 construction and rate recovery
Background
In 2009, the Georgia PSC certified construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Georgia Power holds a 45.7% ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. In 2012, the NRC issued the related combined construction and operating licenses, which allowed full construction of the two AP1000 nuclear units (with electric generating capacity of approximately 1,100 MWs each) and related facilities to begin. Until March 2017, construction on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 continued under the Vogtle 3 and 4 Agreement, which was a substantially fixed price agreement. In March 2017, the EPC Contractor filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
In connection with the EPC Contractor's bankruptcy filing, Georgia Power, acting for itself and as agent for the Vogtle Owners, entered into the Interim Assessment Agreement with the EPC Contractor to allow construction to continue. The Interim Assessment Agreement expired in July 2017 when Georgia Power, acting for itself and as agent for the other Vogtle Owners, and the EPC Contractor entered into the Vogtle Services Agreement. Under the Vogtle Services Agreement, Westinghouse provides facility design and engineering services, procurement and technical support, and staff augmentation on a time and materials cost basis.
In October 2017, Georgia Power, acting for itself and as agent for the other Vogtle Owners, executed the Bechtel Agreement, a cost reimbursable plus fee arrangement, whereby Bechtel is reimbursed for actual costs plus a base fee and an at-risk fee, which is subject to adjustment based on Bechtel's performance against cost and schedule targets.
Cost and Schedule
Georgia Power's approximate proportionate share of the remaining estimated capital cost to complete Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 by the expected in-service dates of November 2021 and November 2022, respectively, is as follows:
 
(in billions)
Base project capital cost forecast(a)(b)
$
8.0

Construction contingency estimate
0.4

Total project capital cost forecast(a)(b)
8.4

Net investment as of December 31, 2018(b)
(4.6
)
Remaining estimate to complete(a)
$
3.8

(a)
Excludes financing costs expected to be capitalized through AFUDC of approximately $315 million.
(b)
Net of $1.7 billion received from Toshiba under the Guarantee Settlement Agreement and approximately $188 million in related Customer Refunds.
Georgia Power estimates that its financing costs for construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 will total approximately $3.1 billion, of which $1.9 billion had been incurred through December 31, 2018.
As construction continues, challenges with management of contractors, subcontractors, and vendors; labor productivity, availability, and/or cost escalation; procurement, fabrication, delivery, assembly, and/or installation and testing, including any required engineering changes, of plant systems, structures, and components (some of which are based on new technology that only recently began initial operation in the global nuclear industry at this scale); or other issues could arise and change the projected schedule and estimated cost. Monthly construction production targets required to maintain the current project schedule will continue to increase significantly throughout 2019. To meet these increasing monthly targets, existing craft construction productivity must improve and additional craft laborers must be retained and deployed.

I-27

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear believe it is a leading practice in connection with a construction project of this size and complexity to periodically validate recent construction progress in comparison to the projected schedule and to verify and update quantities of commodities remaining to install, labor productivity, and forecasted staffing needs. This verification process, led by Southern Nuclear, was underway as of December 31, 2018 and is expected to be completed during the second quarter 2019. Georgia Power currently does not anticipate any material changes to the total estimated project capital cost forecast for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 or the expected in-service dates of November 2021 and November 2022, respectively, resulting from this verification process. However, the ultimate impact on cost and schedule, if any, will not be known until the verification process is completed. Georgia Power is required to report the results and any project impacts to the Georgia PSC by May 15, 2019.
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 may arise. Processes are in place that are designed to assure compliance with the requirements specified in the Westinghouse Design Control Document and the combined construction and operating licenses, 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 matters, including the timely resolution of ITAAC and the related approvals by the NRC, may arise, 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.
The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time. However, any extension of the project schedule is currently estimated to result in additional base capital costs of approximately $50 million per month, based on Georgia Power's ownership interests, and AFUDC of approximately $12 million per month. While Georgia Power is not precluded from seeking recovery of any future capital cost forecast increase, management will ultimately determine whether or not to seek recovery. Any further changes to the capital cost forecast that are not expected to be recoverable through regulated rates will be required to be charged to income and such charges could be material.
Joint Owner Contracts
In November 2017, the Vogtle Owners entered into an amendment to their joint ownership agreements for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to provide for, among other conditions, additional Vogtle Owner approval requirements. Effective August 31, 2018, the Vogtle Owners further amended the joint ownership agreements to clarify and provide procedures for certain provisions of the joint ownership agreements related to adverse events that require the vote of the holders of at least 90% of the ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to continue construction (as amended, and together with the November 2017 amendment, the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements).
As a result of the increase in the total project capital cost forecast and Georgia Power's decision not to seek rate recovery of the increase in the base capital costs as described below, the holders of at least 90% of the ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 were required to vote to continue construction. On September 26, 2018, the Vogtle Owners unanimously voted to continue construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Amendments to the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements
In connection with the vote to continue construction, Georgia Power entered into (i) a binding term sheet (Vogtle Owner Term Sheet) with the other Vogtle Owners and MEAG's wholly-owned subsidiaries MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC (MEAG SPVJ), MEAG Power SPVM, LLC (MEAG SPVM), and MEAG Power SPVP, LLC (MEAG SPVP) to take certain actions which partially mitigate potential financial exposure for the other Vogtle Owners, including additional amendments to the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements and the purchase of PTCs from the other Vogtle Owners, and (ii) a term sheet (MEAG Term Sheet) with MEAG and MEAG SPVJ to provide funding with respect to MEAG SPVJ's ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 (Project J) under certain circumstances. On January 14, 2019, Georgia Power, MEAG, and MEAG SPVJ entered into an agreement to implement the provisions of the MEAG Term Sheet (MEAG Funding Agreement). On February 18, 2019, Georgia Power, the other Vogtle Owners, and MEAG's wholly-owned subsidiaries MEAG SPVJ, MEAG SPVM, and MEAG SPVP entered into certain amendments to the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements to implement the provisions of the Vogtle Owner Term Sheet (Global Amendments).
Pursuant to the Global Amendments, and consistent with the Vogtle Owner Term Sheet, the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements were modified as follows: (i) each Vogtle Owner must pay its proportionate share of qualifying construction costs for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 based on its ownership percentage up to the estimated cost at completion (EAC) for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 which formed the basis of Georgia Power's forecast of $8.4 billion in the nineteenth VCM plus $800 million; (ii) Georgia Power will be responsible for 55.7% of actual qualifying construction costs between $800 million and $1.6 billion over the EAC in the nineteenth VCM (resulting in $80 million of potential additional costs to Georgia Power), with the remaining Vogtle Owners responsible for 44.3% of such costs pro rata in accordance with their respective ownership interests; and (iii) Georgia

I-28

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Power will be responsible for 65.7% of qualifying construction costs between $1.6 billion and $2.1 billion over the EAC in the nineteenth VCM (resulting in a further $100 million of potential additional costs to Georgia Power), with the remaining Vogtle Owners responsible for 34.3% of such costs pro rata in accordance with their respective ownership interests.
If the EAC is revised and exceeds the EAC in the nineteenth VCM by more than $2.1 billion, each of the other Vogtle Owners will have a one-time option at the time the project budget forecast is so revised to tender a portion of its ownership interest to Georgia Power in exchange for Georgia Power's agreement to pay 100% of such Vogtle Owner's remaining share of total construction costs in excess of the EAC in the nineteenth VCM plus $2.1 billion. In this event, Georgia Power will have the option of cancelling the project in lieu of purchasing a portion of the ownership interest of any other Vogtle Owner. If Georgia Power accepts the offer to purchase a portion of another Vogtle Owner's ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, the ownership interest(s) to be conveyed from the tendering Vogtle Owner(s) to Georgia Power will be calculated based on the proportion of the cumulative amount of construction costs paid by each such tendering Vogtle Owner(s) and by Georgia Power as of the COD of Plant Vogtle Unit 4. For purposes of this calculation, payments made by Georgia Power on behalf of another Vogtle Owner in accordance with the second and third items described in the paragraph above will be treated as payments made by the applicable Vogtle Owner.
In the event the actual costs of construction at completion of a Unit are less than the EAC reflected in the nineteenth VCM report and such Unit is placed in service in accordance with the schedule projected in the nineteenth VCM report (i.e., Plant Vogtle Unit 3 is placed in service by November 2021 or Plant Vogtle Unit 4 is placed in service by November 2022), Georgia Power will be entitled to 60.7% of the cost savings with respect to the relevant Unit and the remaining Vogtle Owners will be entitled to 39.3% of such savings on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective ownership interests.
For purposes of the foregoing provisions, qualifying construction costs will not include costs (i) resulting from force majeure events, including governmental actions or inactions (or significant delays associated with issuance of such actions) that affect the licensing, completion, start-up, operations, or financing of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, administrative proceedings or litigation regarding ITAAC or other regulatory challenges to commencement of operation of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, and changes in laws or regulations governing Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, (ii) legal fees and legal expenses incurred due to litigation with contractors or subcontractors that are not subsidiaries or affiliates of Southern Company, and (iii) additional costs caused by requests from the Vogtle Owners other than Georgia Power, except for the exercise of a right to vote granted under the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements, that increase costs by $100,000 or more.
Pursuant to the Global Amendments, and consistent with the Vogtle Owner Term Sheet, the provisions of the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements requiring that Vogtle Owners holding 90% of the ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 vote to continue construction following certain adverse events (Project Adverse Events) were modified. Pursuant to the Global Amendments, the holders of at least 90% of the ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 must vote to continue construction if certain Project Adverse Events occur, including: (i) the bankruptcy of Toshiba; (ii) the termination or rejection in bankruptcy of certain agreements, including the Vogtle Services Agreement, the Bechtel Agreement, or the agency agreement with Southern Nuclear; (iii) Georgia Power publicly announces its intention not to submit for rate recovery any portion of its investment in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 or the Georgia PSC determines that any of Georgia Power's costs relating to the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 will not be recovered in retail rates, excluding any additional amounts paid by Georgia Power on behalf of the other Vogtle Owners pursuant to the Global Amendments described above and the first 6% of costs during any six-month VCM reporting period that are disallowed by the Georgia PSC for recovery, or for which Georgia Power elects not to seek cost recovery, through retail rates; and (iv) an incremental extension of one year or more over the most recently approved schedule. Under the Global Amendments, Georgia Power may cancel the project at any time in its sole discretion.
In addition, pursuant to the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements, the required approval of holders of ownership interests in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 is at least (i) 90% for a change of the primary construction contractor and (ii) 67% for material amendments to the Vogtle Services Agreement or agreements with Southern Nuclear or the primary construction contractor, including the Bechtel Agreement.
The Global Amendments provide that if the holders of at least 90% of the ownership interests fail to vote in favor of continuing the project following any future Project Adverse Event, work on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 will continue for a period of 30 days if the holders of more than 50% of the ownership interests vote in favor of continuing construction (Majority Voting Owners). In such a case, the Vogtle Owners (i) have agreed to negotiate in good faith towards the resumption of the project, (ii) if no agreement is reached during such 30-day period, the project will be cancelled, and (iii) in the event of such a cancellation, the Majority Voting Owners will be obligated to reimburse any other Vogtle Owner for the incremental costs it incurred during such 30-day negotiation period.

I-29

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Purchase of PTCs During Commercial Operation
Pursuant to the Global Amendments, and consistent with the Vogtle Owner Term Sheet, Georgia Power has agreed to purchase additional PTCs from OPC, Dalton, MEAG SPVM, MEAG SPVP, and MEAG SPVJ (to the extent any MEAG SPVJ PTC rights remain after any purchases required under the MEAG Funding Agreement as described below) at varying purchase prices dependent upon the actual cost to complete construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 as compared to the EAC reflected in the nineteenth VCM report. The purchases are at the option of the applicable Vogtle Owner.
Potential Funding to MEAG Project J
Pursuant to the MEAG Funding Agreement, and consistent with the MEAG Term Sheet, if MEAG SPVJ is unable to make its payments due under the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements solely as a result of the occurrence of one of the following situations that materially impedes access to capital markets for MEAG for Project J: (i) the conduct of JEA or the City of Jacksonville, such as JEA's legal challenges of its obligations under a PPA with MEAG (PPA-J), or (ii) PPA-J is declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction or rejected by JEA under the applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (each of (i) and (ii), a JEA Default), at MEAG's request, Georgia Power will purchase from MEAG SPVJ the rights to PTCs attributable to MEAG SPVJ's share of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 (approximately 206 MWs) within 30 days of such request at varying prices dependent upon the stage of construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. The aggregate purchase price of the PTCs, together with any advances made as described in the next paragraph, shall not exceed $300 million.
At the option of MEAG, as an alternative or supplement to Georgia Power's purchase of PTCs as described above, Georgia Power has agreed to provide up to $250 million in funding to MEAG for Project J in the form of advances (either advances under the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements or the purchase of MEAG Project J bonds, at the discretion of Georgia Power), subject to any required approvals of the Georgia PSC and the DOE.
In the event MEAG SPVJ certifies to Georgia Power that it is unable to fund its obligations under the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements as a result of a JEA Default and Georgia Power becomes obligated to provide funding as described above, MEAG is required to (i) assign to Georgia Power its right to vote on any future Project Adverse Event and (ii) diligently pursue JEA for its breach of PPA-J. In addition, Georgia Power agreed that it will not sue MEAG for any amounts due from MEAG SPVJ under MEAG's guarantee of MEAG SPVJ's obligations so long as MEAG SPVJ complies with the terms of the MEAG Funding Agreement as to its payment obligations and the other non-payment provisions of the Vogtle Joint Ownership Agreements.
Under the terms of the MEAG Funding Agreement, Georgia Power may cancel the project in lieu of providing funding in the form of advances or PTC purchases.
Regulatory Matters
In December 2017, the Georgia PSC voted to approve (and issued its related order on January 11, 2018) Georgia Power's recommendation to continue construction and resolved the following regulatory matters related to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4: (i) none of the $3.3 billion of costs incurred through December 31, 2015 and reflected in the fourteenth VCM report should be disallowed from rate base on the basis of imprudence; (ii) the Contractor Settlement Agreement was reasonable and prudent and none of the amounts paid pursuant to the Contractor Settlement Agreement should be disallowed from rate base on the basis of imprudence; (iii) (a) capital costs incurred up to $5.68 billion would be presumed to be reasonable and prudent with the burden of proof on any party challenging such costs, (b) Georgia Power would have the burden to show that any capital costs above $5.68 billion were prudent, and (c) a revised capital cost forecast of $7.3 billion (after reflecting the impact of payments received under the Guarantee Settlement Agreement and related Customer Refunds) was found reasonable; (iv) construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 should be completed, with Southern Nuclear serving as project manager and Bechtel as primary contractor; (v) approved and deemed reasonable Georgia Power's revised schedule placing Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in service in November 2021 and November 2022, respectively; (vi) confirmed that the revised cost forecast does not represent a cost cap and that prudence decisions on cost recovery will be made at a later date, consistent with applicable Georgia law; (vii) reduced the ROE used to calculate the NCCR tariff (a) from 10.95% (the ROE rate setting point authorized by the Georgia PSC in the 2013 ARP) to 10.00% effective January 1, 2016, (b) from 10.00% to 8.30%, effective January 1, 2020, and (c) from 8.30% to 5.30%, effective January 1, 2021 (provided that the ROE in no case will be less than Georgia Power's average cost of long-term debt); (viii) reduced the ROE used for AFUDC equity for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 from 10.00% to Georgia Power's average cost of long-term debt, effective January 1, 2018; and (ix) agreed that upon Unit 3 reaching commercial operation, retail base rates would be adjusted to include carrying costs on those capital costs deemed prudent in the Vogtle Cost Settlement Agreement. The January 11, 2018 order also stated that if Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are not commercially operational by June 1, 2021 and June 1, 2022, respectively, the ROE used to calculate the NCCR tariff will be further reduced by 10 basis points each month (but not lower than Georgia Power's average cost of long-term debt) until the respective Unit is commercially operational. The ROE reductions negatively impacted earnings by approximately $100 million, $25 million, and $20 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, and are estimated to have negative earnings impacts of approximately $75 million in 2019 and an aggregate of approximately $615 million from 2020 to 2022.

I-30

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

In its January 11, 2018 order, the Georgia PSC also stated if other conditions change and assumptions upon which Georgia Power's seventeenth VCM report are based do not materialize, the Georgia PSC reserved the right to reconsider the decision to continue construction.
On February 12, 2018, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Inc. (GIPL) and Partnership for Southern Equity, Inc. (PSE) filed a petition appealing the Georgia PSC's January 11, 2018 order with the Fulton County Superior Court. On March 8, 2018, Georgia Watch filed a similar appeal to the Fulton County Superior Court for judicial review of the Georgia PSC's decision and denial of Georgia Watch's motion for reconsideration. On December 21, 2018, the Fulton County Superior Court granted Georgia Power's motion to dismiss the two appeals. On January 9, 2019, GIPL, PSE, and Georgia Watch filed an appeal of this decision with the Georgia Court of Appeals. Georgia Power believes the appeal has no merit; however, an adverse outcome in the appeal combined with subsequent adverse action by the Georgia PSC could have a material impact on Southern Company's and Georgia Power's results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
In preparation for its nineteenth VCM filing, Georgia Power requested Southern Nuclear to perform a full cost reforecast for the project. This reforecast, performed prior to the nineteenth VCM filing, resulted in a $0.7 billion increase to the base capital cost forecast reported in the second quarter 2018. This base cost increase primarily resulted from changed assumptions related to the finalization of contract scopes and management responsibilities for Bechtel and over 60 subcontractors, labor productivity rates, and craft labor incentives, as well as the related levels of project management, oversight, and support, including field supervision and engineering support.
Although Georgia Power believes these incremental costs are reasonable and necessary to complete the project and the Georgia PSC's order in the seventeenth VCM proceeding specifically states that the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 is not subject to a cost cap, Georgia Power did not seek rate recovery for these cost increases included in the current base capital cost forecast (or any related financing costs) in the nineteenth VCM report. In connection with future VCM filings, Georgia Power may request the Georgia PSC to evaluate costs currently included in the construction contingency estimate for rate recovery as and when they are appropriately included in the base capital cost forecast. After considering the significant level of uncertainty that exists regarding the future recoverability of costs included in the construction contingency estimate since the ultimate outcome of these matters is subject to the outcome of future assessments by management, as well as Georgia PSC decisions in these future regulatory proceedings, Georgia Power recorded a total pre-tax charge to income of $1.1 billion ($0.8 billion after tax) in the second quarter 2018, which includes the total increase in the base capital cost forecast and construction contingency estimate.
The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time.
See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" in Item 8 herein for additional information regarding Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
Southern Company Gas' significant investments in pipelines and pipeline development projects involve financial and execution risks.
Southern Company Gas has made significant investments in existing pipelines and pipeline development projects. Many of the existing pipelines are, and when completed many of the pipeline development projects will be, operated by third parties. If one of these agents fails to perform in a proper manner, the value of the investment could decline and Southern Company Gas could lose part or all of its investment. In addition, from time to time, Southern Company Gas may be required to contribute additional capital to a pipeline joint venture or guarantee the obligations of such joint venture.
With respect to certain pipeline development projects, Southern Company Gas will rely on its joint venture partners for construction management and will not exercise direct control over the process. All of the pipeline development projects are dependent on contractors for the successful and timely completion of the projects. Further, the development of pipeline projects involves numerous regulatory, environmental, construction, safety, political, and legal uncertainties and may require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital. These projects may not be completed on schedule, at the budgeted cost, or at all. There may be cost overruns and construction difficulties that cause Southern Company Gas' capital expenditures to exceed its initial expectations. Moreover, Southern Company Gas' income will not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds on a pipeline project. Pipeline construction occurs over an extended period of time and Southern Company Gas will not receive material increases in income until the project is placed in service.
Work continues with state and federal agencies to obtain the required permits to begin construction on the PennEast Pipeline. Any material delays may impact forecasted capital expenditures and the expected in-service date.
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline has experienced challenges to its permits since construction began in 2018. During the third and fourth quarters 2018, a FERC stop work order, together with delays in obtaining permits necessary for construction and construction delays due to judicial actions, impacted the cost and schedule for the project. As a result, total project cost estimates have increased and the operator of the joint venture currently expects to achieve a late 2020 in-service date for at least

I-31

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

key segments of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, while the remainder may extend into early 2021. Abnormal weather, work delays (including due to judicial or regulatory action), and other conditions may result in additional cost or schedule modifications, which could result in an impairment of Southern Company Gas' investment and could have a material impact on Southern Company's and Southern Company Gas' financial statements.
The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined at this time and the occurrence of these or any other of the foregoing events could adversely affect the results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition of Southern Company Gas and Southern Company.
FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND MARKET RISKS
The electric generation and energy marketing operations of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power and the natural gas operations of Southern Company Gas are subject to risks, many of which are beyond their control, including changes in energy prices and fuel costs, which may reduce revenues and increase costs.
The generation, energy marketing, and natural gas operations of the Southern Company system are subject to changes in energy prices and fuel costs, which could increase the cost of producing power, decrease the amount received from the sale of energy, and/or make electric generating facilities less competitive. The market prices for these commodities may fluctuate significantly over relatively short periods of time. Among the factors that could influence energy prices and fuel costs are:
prevailing market prices for coal, natural gas, uranium, fuel oil, biomass, and other fuels, as applicable, used in the generation facilities of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power and, in the case of natural gas, distributed by Southern Company Gas, 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;
liquidity in the general wholesale electricity and natural gas markets;
weather conditions impacting demand for electricity and natural gas;
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 Southern Company system's service territory, the nation, and worldwide, including the impact of economic conditions on demand for electricity and the demand for fuels, including natural gas;
natural disasters, wars, embargos, physical or cyber attacks, and other catastrophic events; and
federal, state, and foreign energy and environmental regulation and legislation.
These factors could increase the expenses and/or reduce the revenues of the registrants. For the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Company Gas' regulated gas distribution operations, such impacts may not be fully recoverable through rates.
Historically, the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Company Gas from time to time have experienced underrecovered fuel and/or purchased gas cost balances and may experience such balances in the future. While the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Company Gas are generally authorized to recover fuel and/or purchased gas costs through cost recovery clauses, recovery may be denied if costs are deemed to be imprudently incurred, and delays in the authorization of such recovery, both of which could negatively impact the cash flows of the affected traditional electric operating company or Southern Company Gas and of Southern Company.
The registrants are subject to risks associated with a changing economic environment, customer behaviors, including increased energy conservation, and adoption patterns of technologies by the customers of the Subsidiary Registrants.
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 energy 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 Subsidiary Registrants.
Outside of economic disruptions, changes in customer behaviors in response to energy efficiency programs, changing conditions and preferences, or changes in the adoption of technologies could affect the relationship of economic activity to the consumption of energy.
Both federal and state programs exist to influence how customers use energy, and several of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Company Gas have PSC or other applicable state regulatory agency mandates to promote energy efficiency. Conservation programs could impact the financial results of the registrants in different ways. For example, if any traditional electric operating company or Southern Company Gas is required to invest in conservation measures that result in

I-32

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

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 electric operating company or Southern Company Gas and Southern Company. Customers could also voluntarily reduce their consumption of energy in response to decreases in their disposable income, increases in energy prices, or individual conservation efforts.
In addition, 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, electric and natural gas technologies such as electric and natural gas vehicles can create additional demand. The Southern Company system uses best available methods and experience to incorporate the effects of changes in customer behavior, state and federal programs, PSC or other applicable state regulatory agency mandates, and technology, but the Southern Company system's planning processes may not appropriately estimate and incorporate these effects.
All of the factors discussed above could adversely affect a registrant's results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
The operating results of the registrants are affected by weather conditions and may fluctuate on a seasonal and quarterly basis. In addition, catastrophic events, such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and storms, could result in substantial damage to or limit the operation of the properties of a Subsidiary Registrant and could negatively impact results of operation, financial condition, and liquidity.
Electric power and natural gas supply are generally seasonal businesses. 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 months. While the electric power sales of some of the traditional electric operating companies peak in the summer, others peak in the winter. In the aggregate, electric power sales peak during the summer with a smaller peak during the winter. Additionally, Southern Power has variability in its revenues from renewable generation facilities due to seasonal weather patterns primarily from wind and sun. In most of the areas Southern Company Gas serves, natural gas demand peaks during the winter. As a result, the overall operating results of the registrants may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, the Subsidiary Registrants have historically sold less power and natural gas when weather conditions are milder. Unusually mild weather in the future could reduce the revenues, net income, and available cash of the affected registrant.
Further, volatile or significant weather events could result in substantial damage to the transmission and distribution lines of the traditional electric operating companies, the generating facilities of the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Power, and the natural gas distribution and storage facilities of Southern Company Gas. The Subsidiary Registrants have significant investments in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions and Southern Power and Southern Company Gas have investments in various states which could be subject to severe weather and natural disasters, including wildfires. Further, severe drought conditions can reduce the availability of water and restrict or prevent the operation of certain generating facilities. There have been multiple significant hurricanes in the Southern Company system service territory in recent years.
In the event a traditional electric operating company or Southern Company Gas 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 or other applicable state regulatory agency. Historically, the traditional electric operating companies from time to time have experienced deficits in their storm cost recovery reserve balances and may experience such deficits in the future. For example, at December 31, 2018, Georgia Power had a substantial underrecovered balance in its storm cost recovery balance as a result of multiple recent significant hurricanes in its service territory. Any denial by the applicable state PSC or other applicable state regulatory agency or delay in recovery of any portion of such costs could have a material negative impact on a traditional electric operating company's or Southern Company Gas' and on 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 electric operating company or Southern Company Gas or affecting Southern Power's customers may result in the loss of customers and reduced demand for energy for extended periods and may impact customers' ability to perform under existing PPAs. See Note 1 to the financial statements under "RevenuesConcentration of Revenue" in Item 8 herein for additional information on Pacific Gas & Electric Company's bankruptcy filing. Any significant loss of customers or reduction in demand for energy could have a material negative impact on a registrant's results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
Acquisitions, dispositions, or other strategic ventures or investments 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 investments in the past, as well as recent dispositions, and may in the future make additional acquisitions, dispositions, or other strategic ventures or investments, including the pending disposition by Southern Power of Plant Mankato, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to Southern Company or its subsidiaries. Southern Company and its subsidiaries continually seek opportunities to create value

I-33

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

through various transactions, including acquisitions or sales of assets. Specifically, Southern Power continually seeks opportunities to execute its strategy to create value through various transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, and sales of partnership interests, development and construction of new generating facilities, and entry into PPAs primarily with investor-owned utilities, IPPs, municipalities, and other load-serving entities, as well as commercial and industrial customers.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries may face significant competition for transactional opportunities and anticipated transactions may not 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:
they may not result in an increase in income or provide adequate or expected funds or return on capital or other anticipated benefits;
they may result in Southern Company or its subsidiaries entering into new or additional lines of business, which may have new or different business or operational risks;
they may not be successfully integrated into the acquiring company's operations and/or internal control processes;
the due diligence conducted prior to a transaction may not uncover situations that could result in financial or legal exposure or may not appropriately evaluate the likelihood or quantify the exposure from identified risks;
they may result in decreased earnings, revenues, or cash flow;
Southern Company, Southern Company Gas, and certain of their subsidiaries have retained obligations in connection with transitional agreements related to dispositions that subject these companies to additional risk;
Southern Company or the applicable subsidiary may not be able to achieve the expected financial benefits from the use of funds generated by any dispositions;
expected benefits of a transaction may be dependent on the cooperation or performance of a counterparty; or
for the traditional electric operating companies and Southern Company Gas, costs associated with such investments that were expected to be recovered through regulated rates may not be recoverable.
Southern Company and Southern Company Gas are holding companies and Southern Power owns many of its assets indirectly through subsidiaries. Each of these companies is dependent on cash flows from their respective subsidiaries to meet their ongoing and future financial obligations, including making interest and principal payments on outstanding indebtedness and, for Southern Company, to pay dividends on its common stock.
Southern Company and Southern Company Gas are holding companies and, as such, they have no operations of their own. Substantially all of Southern Company's and Southern Company Gas' and many of Southern Power's respective consolidated assets are held by subsidiaries. A significant portion of Southern Company Gas' debt is issued by its 100%-owned subsidiary, Southern Company Gas Capital, and is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Southern Company Gas. Southern Company's, Southern Company Gas' and, to a certain extent, Southern Power's ability to meet their respective financial obligations, including making interest and principal payments on outstanding indebtedness, and, for Southern Company, to pay dividends on its common stock, is dependent on the net income and cash flows of their respective subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or to repay borrowed funds. Prior to funding Southern Company, Southern Company Gas, or Southern Power, the respective subsidiaries have financial obligations and, with respect to Southern Company and Southern Company Gas, regulatory restrictions that must be satisfied, including among others, debt service and preferred stock dividends. These subsidiaries are separate legal entities and, except as described below, have no obligation to provide Southern Company, Southern Company Gas, or Southern Power with funds. Certain of Southern Power's assets are held through controlling interests in subsidiaries. In certain cases, distributions without partner consent are limited to available cash, and the subsidiaries are obligated to distribute all available cash to their owners each quarter. In addition, Southern Company, Southern Company Gas, and Southern Power may provide capital contributions or debt financing to subsidiaries under certain circumstances, which would reduce the funds available to meet their respective financial obligations, including making interest and principal payments on outstanding indebtedness, and to pay dividends on Southern Company's common stock.
A downgrade in the credit ratings of any of the registrants, Southern Company Gas Capital, or Nicor Gas could negatively affect their ability to access capital at reasonable costs and/or could require posting of collateral or replacing certain indebtedness.
There are a number of factors that rating agencies evaluate to arrive at credit ratings for the registrants, Southern Company Gas Capital, and Nicor Gas, including capital structure, regulatory environment, the ability to cover liquidity requirements, and other commitments for capital. The registrants, Southern Company Gas Capital, and Nicor Gas could experience a downgrade in their ratings if any rating agency concludes that the level of business or financial risk of the industry or the applicable 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 any registrant, Southern Company Gas Capital, or Nicor Gas, borrowing

I-34

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

costs likely would increase, including automatic increases in interest rates under applicable term loans and credit facilities, 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 altering the mix of debt financing currently used, and could require the issuance of secured indebtedness and/or indebtedness with additional restrictive covenants binding the applicable company.
Uncertainty in demand for energy can result in lower earnings or higher costs. If demand for energy falls short of expectations, it could result in potentially stranded assets. If demand for energy exceeds expectations, it could result in increased costs for purchasing capacity in the open market or building additional electric generation and transmission facilities or natural gas distribution and storage facilities.
Southern Company, the traditional electric 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. Southern Company Gas engages in a long-term planning process to estimate the optimal mix and timing of building new pipelines and storage facilities, replacing existing pipelines, rewatering storage facilities, and entering new markets and/or expanding in existing markets. These planning processes must look many years into the future in order to accommodate the long lead times associated with the permitting and construction of new generation and associated transmission facilities and natural gas distribution and storage facilities. Inherent risk exists in predicting demand as future loads are dependent on many uncertain factors, including economic conditions, customer usage patterns, efficiency programs, and customer technology adoption. Because regulators may not permit the traditional electric operating companies or Southern Company Gas' regulated operating companies to adjust rates to recover the costs of new generation and associated transmission assets and/or new pipelines and related infrastructure in a timely manner or at all, Southern Company and its subsidiaries 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 and the 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 electric operating companies may not be able to extend existing PPAs or 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 registrant.
The traditional electric operating companies are currently obligated to supply power to retail customers and wholesale customers under long-term PPAs. Southern Power is currently obligated to supply power to 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 electric operating companies purchase capacity on the open market or build additional generation and transmission facilities and that Southern Power purchase energy or capacity on the open market. Because regulators may not permit the traditional electric operating companies to pass all of these purchase or construction costs on to their customers, the traditional electric 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 electric operating companies' recovery in customers' rates. Under Southern Power's long-term fixed price PPAs, Southern Power may not be able to recover all of these costs. These situations could have negative impacts on net income and cash flows for the affected registrant.
The businesses of the registrants, SEGCO, and Nicor Gas are dependent on their ability to successfully access funds through capital markets and financial institutions. The inability of any of the registrants, SEGCO, or Nicor Gas to access funds may limit its ability to execute its business plan by impacting its ability to fund capital investments or acquisitions that it may otherwise rely on to achieve future earnings and cash flows.
The registrants, SEGCO, and Nicor Gas 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 any of the registrants, SEGCO, or Nicor Gas 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 it may otherwise rely on to achieve future earnings and cash flows. In addition, the registrants, SEGCO, and Nicor Gas rely on committed bank lending agreements as back-up liquidity which allows them to access low cost money markets. Each of the registrants, SEGCO, and Nicor Gas 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, including further interpretation and guidance on tax reform;

I-35

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

volatility in market prices for electricity and natural gas;
actual or threatened cyber or physical attacks on the Southern Company system's facilities or unrelated energy companies' facilities;
war or threat of war; or
the overall health of the utility and financial institution industries.
Georgia Power's ability to make future borrowings through its term loan credit facility with the FFB 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, 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. Prior to obtaining any further advances under Georgia Power's loan guarantee agreement with the DOE, Georgia Power is required to obtain the DOE's approval of the Bechtel Agreement.
Failure to comply with debt covenants or conditions could adversely affect the ability of the registrants, SEGCO, Southern Company Gas Capital, or Nicor Gas to execute future borrowings.
The debt and credit agreements of the registrants, SEGCO, Southern Company Gas Capital, and Nicor Gas contain various financial and other covenants. Georgia Power's loan guarantee agreement with the DOE contains additional covenants, events of default, and mandatory prepayment events relating to the construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Failure to meet those covenants beyond applicable grace periods could result in accelerated due dates and/or termination of the agreements, which would negatively affect the applicable company's financial condition and liquidity.
Volatility in the securities markets, interest rates, and other factors could substantially increase defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan costs and the funding available for nuclear decommissioning.
The costs of providing pension and other postretirement benefit plans are dependent on a number of factors, such as the rates of return on plan assets, discount rates, the level of interest rates used to measure the required minimum funding levels of the plan, changes in actuarial assumptions, government regulations, and/or life expectancy, and the frequency and amount of the Southern Company system's required or voluntary contributions made to the plans. Changes in actuarial assumptions and differences between the assumptions and actual values, as well as a significant decline in the value of investments that fund the pension and other postretirement plans, if not offset or mitigated by a decline in plan liabilities, could increase pension and other postretirement expense, and the Southern Company system could be required from time to time to fund the pension plans with significant amounts of cash. Such cash funding obligations could have a material impact on liquidity by reducing cash flows and could negatively affect results of operations. Additionally, Alabama Power and Georgia Power each hold significant assets in their nuclear decommissioning trusts to satisfy obligations to decommission Alabama Power's and Georgia Power's nuclear plants. The rate of return on assets held in those trusts can significantly impact both the funding available for decommissioning and the funding requirements for the trusts.
The registrants are subject to risks associated with their ability to obtain adequate insurance at acceptable costs.
The financial condition of some insurance companies, actual or threatened physical or cyber attacks, and natural disasters, among other things, could have disruptive effects on insurance markets. The availability of insurance covering risks that the registrants and their respective competitors typically insure against may decrease, and the insurance that the registrants are able to obtain may have higher deductibles, higher premiums, and more restrictive policy terms. Further, the insurance policies may not 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 the affected registrant.
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 the registrants or in reported net income volatility.
Southern Company and its subsidiaries use derivative instruments, such as swaps, options, futures, and forwards, to manage their commodity and interest rate exposures and, to a lesser extent, manage foreign currency exchange rate exposure and engage in limited trading activities. The registrants 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, which might not work as planned and cannot entirely eliminate the risks associated with these activities. In addition, derivative contracts entered into for hedging purposes might not offset 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 further into the

I-36

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

future. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts.
In addition, Southern Company Gas utilizes derivative instruments to lock in economic value in wholesale gas services, which may not qualify as, or may not be designated as, hedges for accounting purposes. The difference in accounting treatment for the underlying position and the financial instrument used to hedge the value of the contract can cause volatility in reported net income of Southern Company and Southern Company Gas while the positions are open due to mark-to-market accounting.
Future impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets could have a material adverse effect on the registrants' results of operations.
Goodwill is assessed for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events or circumstances occur that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value and long-lived assets are assessed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that an asset's carrying amount may not be recoverable. In connection with the completion of the Merger, the application of the acquisition method of accounting was pushed down to Southern Company Gas. The excess of the purchase price over the fair values of Southern Company Gas' assets and liabilities was recorded as goodwill. This resulted in a significant increase in the goodwill recorded on Southern Company's and Southern Company Gas' consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2018, goodwill was $5.3 billion and $5.0 billion for Southern Company and Southern Company Gas, respectively.
In addition, Southern Company and its subsidiaries have long-lived assets recorded on their balance sheets. To the extent the value of goodwill or long-lived assets become impaired, the affected registrant may be required to incur impairment charges that could have a material impact on their results of operations. For example, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company Gas owns and operates a natural gas storage facility consisting of two salt dome caverns where recent seismic mapping indicates that proximity of one of the caverns to the edge of the salt dome may be less than the required minimum and could result in Southern Company Gas retiring the cavern early. Early retirement of the cavern could trigger impairment of other long-lived assets associated with the natural gas storage facility. In addition, a subsidiary of Southern Company has several leveraged lease agreements, with terms ranging up to 45 years, which relate to international and domestic energy generation, distribution, and transportation assets. Southern Company receives federal income tax deductions for depreciation and amortization, as well as interest on long-term debt related to these investments. Southern Company reviews all important lease assumptions at least annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that a change in assumptions has occurred or may occur. With respect to Southern Company's subsidiary's investments in leveraged leases, the recovery of its investment is dependent on the profitable operation of the leased assets by the respective lessees. A significant deterioration in the performance of the leased asset could result in the impairment of the related lease receivable.
Item 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.

I-37

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Item 2. PROPERTIES
Electric
Electric Properties
The traditional electric operating companies, Southern Power, and SEGCO, at January 1, 2019, owned and/or operated 33 hydroelectric generating stations, 26 fossil fuel generating stations, three nuclear generating stations, 13 combined cycle/cogeneration stations, 40 solar facilities, nine wind facilities, and one biomass facility. The amounts of capacity for each company, at January 1, 2019, are shown in the table below.
Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
 
 
(KWs)

 
FOSSIL STEAM
 
 
 
Gadsden
Gadsden, AL
120,000

 
Gorgas
Jasper, AL
1,021,250

(2
)
Barry
Mobile, AL
1,300,000

 
Greene County
Demopolis, AL
300,000

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

 
Miller
Birmingham, AL
2,532,288

(4
)
Alabama Power Total
 
6,153,538

 
Bowen
Cartersville, GA
3,160,000

 
Hammond
Rome, GA
800,000

(5
)
McIntosh
Effingham County, GA
163,117

(5
)
Scherer
Macon, GA
750,924

(6
)
Wansley
Carrollton, GA
925,550

(7
)
Yates
Newnan, GA
700,000

 
Georgia Power Total
 
6,499,591

 
Daniel
Pascagoula, MS
500,000

(8
)
Greene County
Demopolis, AL
200,000

(3
)
Watson
Gulfport, MS
750,000

 
Mississippi Power Total
 
1,450,000

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

(9
)
Total Fossil Steam
 
15,103,129

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

 
Hatch
Baxley, GA
899,612

(10
)
Vogtle Units 1 and 2
Augusta, GA
1,060,240

(11
)
Georgia Power Total
 
1,959,852

 
Total Nuclear Steam
 
3,679,852

 

I-38

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

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

 
Boulevard
Savannah, GA
19,700

 
McDonough Unit 3
Atlanta, GA
78,800

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

 
McManus
Brunswick, GA
481,700

 
Robins
Warner Robins, GA
158,400

 
Wansley
Carrollton, GA
26,322

(7
)
Wilson
Augusta, GA
354,100

 
Georgia Power Total
 
1,759,022

 
Chevron Cogenerating Station
Pascagoula, MS
147,292

(12
)
Sweatt
Meridian, MS
39,400

 
Watson
Gulfport, MS
39,360

 
Mississippi Power Total
 
226,052

 
Addison
Thomaston, GA
668,800

 
Cleveland County
Cleveland County, NC
720,000

 
Dahlberg
Jackson County, GA
756,000

 
Rowan
Salisbury, NC
455,250

 
Southern Power Total
 
2,600,050

 
Gaston (SEGCO)
Wilsonville, AL
19,680

(9
)
Total Combustion Turbines
 
5,324,804

 
COGENERATION
 
 
 
Washington County
Washington County, AL
123,428

 
Lowndes County
Burkeville, AL
104,800

 
Theodore
Theodore, AL
236,418

 
Alabama Power Total
 
464,646

 
COMBINED CYCLE
 
 
 
Barry
Mobile, AL
 
 
Alabama Power Total
 
1,070,424

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

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

 
Georgia Power Total
 
3,838,920

 
Daniel
Pascagoula, MS
1,070,424

 
Ratcliffe
Kemper County, MS
769,898

(13)

Mississippi Power Total
 
1,840,322

 
Franklin
Smiths, AL
1,857,820

 
Harris
Autaugaville, AL
1,318,920

 
Mankato
Mankato, MN
375,000

(14)
Rowan
Salisbury, NC
530,550

 
Wansley Units 6 and 7
Carrollton, GA
1,073,000

 
Southern Power Total
 
5,155,290

 
Total Combined Cycle
 
11,904,956

 

I-39

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
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

(15
)
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 locations
18,080

 
Georgia Power Total
 
1,087,536

 
Total Hydroelectric Facilities
 
2,755,615

 

I-40

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
RENEWABLE SOURCES:
 
 
 
SOLAR FACILITIES
 
 
 
Fort Rucker
Calhoun County, AL
10,560

 
Anniston Army Depot
Dale County, AL
7,380

 
Alabama Power Total
 
17,940

 
Fort Benning
Columbus, GA
30,005

 
Fort Gordon
Augusta, GA
30,000

 
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart, GA
30,000

 
Kings Bay
Camden County, GA
30,161

 
Dalton
Dalton, GA
6,508

 
Marine Corps Logistics Base
Albany, GA
31,161

 
4 Other Plants
Various Georgia locations
5,171

 
Georgia Power Total
 
163,006

 
Adobe
Kern County, CA
20,000

 
Apex
North Las Vegas, NV
20,000

 
Boulder I
Clark County, NV
100,000

 
Butler
Taylor County, GA
103,700

 
Butler Solar Farm
Taylor County, GA
22,000

 
Calipatria
Imperial County, CA
20,000

 
Campo Verde
Imperial County, CA
147,420

 
Cimarron
Springer, NM
30,640

 
Decatur County
Decatur County, GA
20,000

 
Decatur Parkway
Decatur County, GA
84,000

 
Desert Stateline
San Bernadino County, CA
299,900

 
East Pecos
Pecos County, TX
120,000

 
Garland
Kern County, CA
205,130

 
Gaskell West I
Kern County, CA
20,000

 
Granville
Oxford, NC
2,500

 
Henrietta
Kings County, CA
102,000

 
Imperial Valley
Imperial County, CA
163,200

 
Lamesa
Dawson County, TX
102,000

 
Lost Hills - Blackwell
Kern County, CA
33,440

 
Macho Springs
Luna County, NM
55,000

 
Morelos del Sol
Kern County, CA
15,000

 
North Star
Fresno County, CA
61,600

 
Pawpaw
Taylor County, GA
30,480

 
Roserock
Pecos County, TX
160,000

 
Rutherford
Rutherford County, NC
74,800

 
Sandhills
Taylor County, GA
146,890

 
Spectrum
Clark County, NV
30,240

 
Tranquillity
Fresno County, CA
205,300

 
Southern Power Total
 
2,395,240

(16
)
Total Solar
 
2,576,186

 

I-41

    Table of Contents                                Index to Financial Statements

Generating Station
Location
Nameplate
Capacity (1)

 
WIND FACILITIES
 
 
 
Bethel
Castro County, TX
276,000

 
Cactus Flats
Concho County, TX
148,350

 
Grant Plains
Grant County, OK
147,200

 
Grant Wind
Grant County, OK
151,800

 
Kay Wind
Kay County, OK
299,000

 
Passadumkeag
Penobscot County, ME
42,900

 
Salt Fork
Donley & Gray Counties TX
174,000

 
Tyler Bluff
Cooke County, TX
125,580

 
Wake Wind
Crosby & Floyd Counties, TX
257,250

 
Southern Power Total
 
1,622,080

(17)
BIOMASS FACILITY
 
 
 
Nacogdoches
Sacul, TX