1.0.0.3 false (G) EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS false 1 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 2 (G) EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS 0 so_EffectiveTaxRateAndUnrecognizedTaxBenefits so false na duration string The abstract element for Note H to the financial statements. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false The abstract element for Note H to the financial statements. false 3 Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] 1 us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div><div><a name="_AUC4f912916ba51414b80f6267428995f72">(G) EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS</a>   Effective Tax Rate   Southern Company’s effective tax rate was 36.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to 34.3% for the same period in 2008.  See Note 5 to the financial statements of each registrant in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for information on the effective income tax rate.  Southern Company’s effective tax rate increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily due to the $202 million charge recorded for the MC Asset Recovery settlement.  Southern Company is currently evaluating potential recovery of the settlement payment through various means.  The degree to which any recovery is realized will determine, in part, the final income tax treatment of the settlement payment.  The increase in Southern Company’s effective tax rate was partially offset by the early termination of an international leveraged lease investment, which is not taxable.  See Note (B) herein under “Mirant Matters” and “Income Tax Matters – Leveraged Leases” for further information regarding these matters.    Unrecognized Tax Benefits   Changes during 2009 for unrecognized tax benefits are as follows:   <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-left: 0px! important; border-collapse: separate;"> <tr style="height: .3in;"> <td colspan="2" valign="top" style="border-top: 0px; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: .3in;">   </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: .3in; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Southern Company </td> <td width="69" valign="top" style="width: 51.4pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: .3in; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Alabama <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Power </td> <td width="60" valign="top" style="width: 45.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: .3in; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Georgia Power </td> <td width="48" valign="top" style="width: .5in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: .3in; border-top: 0px;">  Gulf Power </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: .3in; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Mississippi <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Power </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: .3in; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Southern Power </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="203" valign="top" style="width: 152.55pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: -2.35pt; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  </td> <td colspan="7" valign="top" style="border-top: 0px; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt;"> (in millions) </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 0px; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 5.05pt; margin-left: 15.2pt; text-indent: -15.2pt; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2008 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$146.4 </td> <td width="69" valign="top" style="width: 51.4pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$ 3.0 </td> <td width="60" valign="top" style="width: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$ 137.1 </td> <td width="48" valign="top" style="width: .5in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$ 0.3 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$1.8 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$ 0.5 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 0px; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt;"> Tax positions from current periods </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">39.5 </td> <td width="69" valign="top" style="width: 51.4pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">1.6 </td> <td width="60" valign="top" style="width: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">    32.4 </td> <td width="48" valign="top" style="width: .5in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">0.2 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">1.0 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">0.4 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 0px; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt;"> Tax positions from prior periods </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">4.7 </td> <td width="69" valign="top" style="width: 51.4pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">0.3 </td> <td width="60" valign="top" style="width: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">      2.8 </td> <td width="48" valign="top" style="width: .5in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">0.4 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">      - </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">0.6 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 0px; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt;"> Reductions due to settlements </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">    - </td> <td width="69" valign="top" style="width: 51.4pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">        - </td> <td width="60" valign="top" style="width: 45.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">            - </td> <td width="48" valign="top" style="width: .5in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">- </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">      - </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">     - </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 8.1pt;"> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 0px; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 8.1pt;"> Reductions due to expired <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 5.05pt; margin-left: 6.2pt; text-indent: 9.0pt; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">statute of limitations </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 8.1pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">(1.0) </td> <td width="69" valign="top" style="width: 51.4pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 8.1pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">        - </td> <td width="60" valign="top" style="width: 45.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 8.1pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">        - </td> <td width="48" valign="top" style="width: .5in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 8.1pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">- </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 8.1pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">      - </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 8.1pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">      - </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top" style="border-top: 0px; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt;"> Balance as of September 30, 2009 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 5.15pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$189.6 </td> <td width="69" valign="top" style="width: 51.4pt; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 2.55pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$ 4.9 </td> <td width="60" valign="top" style="width: 45.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  $172.3 </td> <td width="48" valign="top" style="width: .5in; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$0.9 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$ 2.8 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 8.3pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$1.5 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="203" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> <td width="3" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> <td width="72" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> <td width="69" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> <td width="60" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> <td width="48" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> <td width="72" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> <td width="72" style="border: none; border-top: 0px;"></td> </tr> </table> </div>   <a name="OLE_LINK36"></a><a name="OLE_LINK35">The tax positions increase from the current periods relates primarily to the</a> Georgia state tax credits and other miscellaneous uncertain tax positions.  See Note (B) herein under “Income Tax Matters – Georgia State Income Tax Credits” for additional information.  The tax positions increase from the prior periods relates to the production activities deduction tax position.   Impact on Southern Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized, is as follows:   <div align="center"> <table class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border: none; font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; border-collapse: separate;"> <tr> <td width="175" valign="top" style="width: 131.4pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;">   </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Georgia Power </td> <td width="84" valign="top" style="width: 63.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Other <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Registrants </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">As of <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">September 30, 2009 </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">As of <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">December 31, <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;"> 2008 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Change </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 7.6pt;"> <td colspan="2" valign="top" style="border-top: 0px; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height: 7.6pt;">   </td> <td colspan="4" valign="top" style="border-top: 0px; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; height: 7.6pt;"> (in millions) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="175" valign="top" style="width: 131.4pt; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 5.25pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt; line-height: 94%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Tax positions impacting the effective tax rate </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$169.6        </td> <td width="84" valign="top" style="width: 63.0pt; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$17.3 </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$186.9 </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$143.5 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$43.4 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="175" valign="top" style="width: 131.4pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 5.25pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt; line-height: 94%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Tax positions not impacting the effective tax rate </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">2.7 </td> <td width="84" valign="top" style="width: 63.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">       - </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">      2.7 </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">      2.9 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">    (0.2) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="175" valign="top" style="width: 131.4pt; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 5.25pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; text-indent: -9.0pt; line-height: 94%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">Balance of unrecognized tax benefits </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$172.3 </td> <td width="84" valign="top" style="width: 63.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$17.3 </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$189.6 </td> <td width="108" valign="top" style="width: 81.0pt; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$146.4 </td> <td width="72" valign="top" style="width: .75in; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">  <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$43.2 </td> </tr> </table> </div>   The change in the tax positions impacting the effective tax rate increase relates primarily to the Georgia state tax credits and the production activities deduction.   Accrued interest for unrecognized tax benefits:   <div align="center"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; border-collapse: separate;"> <tr> <td width="304" valign="top" style="width: 228.05pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;">   </td> <td width="96" valign="top" style="width: 1.0in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;">   </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 4.45pt;"> <td width="304" valign="top" style="width: 228.05pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 4.45pt; border-top: 0px;">   </td> <td width="96" valign="top" style="width: 1.0in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; height: 4.45pt; border-top: 0px;"> (in millions) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="304" valign="top" style="width: 228.05pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> Interest accrued as of December 31, 2008 </td> <td width="96" valign="top" style="width: 1.0in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 9.05pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$14.8 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="304" valign="top" style="width: 228.05pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> Interest accrued year-to-date             </td> <td width="96" valign="top" style="width: 1.0in; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 9.05pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">6.4 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="304" valign="top" style="width: 228.05pt; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> Interest reduction due to expired statute of limitations </td> <td width="96" valign="top" style="width: 1.0in; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 9.05pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">(1.1) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="304" valign="top" style="width: 228.05pt; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> Balance as of September 30, 2009 </td> <td width="96" valign="top" style="width: 1.0in; border: none; border-bottom: double windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 2.35pt 0in 2.35pt; border-top: 0px;"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-right: 9.05pt; text-align: right; line-height: 93%; text-autospace: none; white-space: nowrap;">$20.1 </td> </tr> </table> </div>   It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized benefit with respect to a majority of Southern Company’s and Georgia Power’s unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.  The conclusion or settlement of the Georgia state tax credits litigation would substantially reduce the balances.  The conclusion or settlement of federal or state audits could also impact the balances significantly.  At this time, an estimate of the range of reasonably possible outcomes cannot be determined.  </div></div> (G) EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS   Effective Tax Rate   Southern Company’s effective tax rate was 36.5% for the nine months false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true