<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><own:edgarSubmission xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns:own="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership">
  <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
  <own:headerData>
    <own:submissionType>144</own:submissionType>
    <own:filerInfo>
      <own:filer>
        <own:filerCredentials>
          <own:cik>0002023851</own:cik>
          <own:ccc>XXXXXXXX</own:ccc>
        </own:filerCredentials>
      </own:filer>
      <own:liveTestFlag>LIVE</own:liveTestFlag>



    </own:filerInfo>
  </own:headerData>
  <own:formData>
    <own:issuerInfo>
      <own:issuerCik>0000092122</own:issuerCik>
      <own:issuerName>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</own:issuerName>
      <own:secFileNumber>001-03526</own:secFileNumber>
      <own:issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>30 IVAN ALLEN JR BLVD NW</com:street1>
        <com:city>ATLANTA</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>30308</com:zipCode>
      </own:issuerAddress>
      <own:issuerContactPhone>404-506-5000</own:issuerContactPhone>
      <own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>PETER P SENA III</own:nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <own:relationshipsToIssuer>
        <own:relationshipToIssuer>Officer</own:relationshipToIssuer>
      </own:relationshipsToIssuer>
    </own:issuerInfo>
    <own:securitiesInformation>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <own:name>Merrill Lynch</own:name>
        <own:address>
          <com:street1>3455 Peachtree Road NE</com:street1>
          <com:street2>STE 1000</com:street2>
          <com:city>Atlanta</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30326</com:zipCode>
        </own:address>
      </own:brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <own:noOfUnitsSold>4266</own:noOfUnitsSold>
      <own:aggregateMarketValue>377924.94</own:aggregateMarketValue>
      <own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>1150362966</own:noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <own:approxSaleDate>09/03/2026</own:approxSaleDate>
      <own:securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</own:securitiesExchangeName>
    </own:securitiesInformation>
    <own:securitiesToBeSold>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:acquiredDate>12/15/2024</own:acquiredDate>
      <own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <own:isGiftTransaction>N</own:isGiftTransaction>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3953</own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <own:paymentDate>12/15/2024</own:paymentDate>
      <own:natureOfPayment>Compensatory Payment</own:natureOfPayment>
    </own:securitiesToBeSold>
    <own:securitiesToBeSold>
      <own:securitiesClassTitle>Common</own:securitiesClassTitle>
      <own:acquiredDate>12/15/2024</own:acquiredDate>
      <own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT VEST</own:natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</own:nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <own:isGiftTransaction>N</own:isGiftTransaction>
      <own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>313</own:amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <own:paymentDate>12/15/2024</own:paymentDate>
      <own:natureOfPayment>Compensatory Payment</own:natureOfPayment>
    </own:securitiesToBeSold>
    <own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</own:nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <own:noticeSignature>
      <own:noticeDate>09/03/2026</own:noticeDate>
      <own:planAdoptionDates>
        <own:planAdoptionDate>05/05/2026</own:planAdoptionDate>
      </own:planAdoptionDates>
      <own:signature>PETER P SENA III</own:signature>
    </own:noticeSignature>
  </own:formData>
</own:edgarSubmission>
