so-20231016

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


☐			Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Registrant	Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
The Southern Company	Common Stock, par value $5 per share	SO	New York Stock Exchange
The Southern Company	Series 2017B 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2077	SOJC	New York Stock Exchange
The Southern Company	Series 2020A 4.95% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2080	SOJD	New York Stock Exchange
The Southern Company	Series 2020C 4.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060	SOJE	New York Stock Exchange
The Southern Company	Series 2021B 1.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2081	SO 81	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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. ☐


Item 5.02.			Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On October 16, 2023, the Board of Directors of The Southern Company (the “Company”) elected a new director, Ms. Shantella E. Cooper, effective immediately. Ms. Cooper is the Chief Executive Officer of Journey Forward Strategies, LLC. Ms. Cooper also serves on the board of directors of SouthState Corporation, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., and Veritiv Corporation and previously served on the board of directors of Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. In addition, Ms. Cooper served on the board of directors of Georgia Power Company (“Georgia Power”), a subsidiary of the Company, from 2017 to October 16, 2023.

Board committee assignments for Ms. Cooper have not yet been determined. When available, such committee assignments will be reported by an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

No arrangement or understanding exists between Ms. Cooper and any other person pursuant to which she was selected as a director. Ms. Cooper will participate in the Company’s standard non-employee director cash and equity compensation program as more fully described in the Company’s Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2023. While serving on the board of directors of Georgia Power, Ms. Cooper received director compensation from Georgia Power in cash and shares of Company common stock, consistent with Georgia Power’s director compensation program. Since January 1, 2022, the aggregate value of such compensation was $158,000 for 2022 and approximately $125,370 for 2023.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Date: October 17, 2023	THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
	By	/s/Melissa K. Caen
		Melissa K. Caen Assistant Secretary


			Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)			October 16, 2023