Executive Chairman Letter

Decarbonization: Solid progress toward net zero goal

In our most recent in-depth climate report, Implementation and Action Toward Net Zero, we set a long-term goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and reaffirmed our interim goal of reducing GHG emissions 50% by 2030, as compared to 2007 levels. We estimate that 2021 emissions were 47% below 2007 levels, and we expect to consistently achieve GHG reductions of greater than 50% by 2025, a full five years earlier than our 2030 goal. In 2021, we indicated our intent to repower or retire a significant portion of our remaining coal generating fleet. By the end of 2028, pending regulatory approval, we expect to have eight coal units remaining, down from 66 in 2007.

Reliability, Resilience and Affordability: Continued prudent infrastructure investment is an imperative

With the increase of business disruptions related to extreme weather events, cyber-attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain challenges and other factors, our customers have increased needs and expectations for reliable and resilient service. Southern Company must invest in our electric and natural gas infrastructure to help ensure best-in-class service. While complete risk elimination is not possible, prudent investment can serve to maximize resilience, recovery and business continuity while preserving affordability for customers.

Innovation: Leading our industry in R&D

Southern Company is the leading U.S. utility for research and development (R&D). For decades, we have worked with governmental institutions, research organizations, peer utilities and customers to fund, develop, test and pilot new technologies. Our R&D organization today is focused almost entirely on clean energy solutions that can help our company and our industry decarbonize to reach our net zero goals.

Workforce Sustainability: Recruiting and developing top talent

Simply put, a company cannot be sustainable without a strong and dedicated workforce. At Southern Company, we employ some of the best and brightest in our regions and in our industry. Competition for talent is stronger today than at any time in my career. Southern Company is well-positioned to attract and retain a premium workforce due to our decades of investment in recruiting, workforce training and development. We are honing our approaches daily to help ensure we remain competitive on many fronts, including hiring, compensation and pay equity, company culture, inclusivity and employee benefits. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Committed to be a role model among companies forging change

Southern Company has formalized commitments and actions toward preventing racism, and I pledge that this work will not be episodic but rather will continue and become reflected in Our Values that we live each and every day. Our Move to Equity framework focuses on our approaches to talent, work environment, community investment and social justice, supplier diversity and political engagement. This framework will guide our businesses in their continuing work on racial equity and racial justice. It also makes clear our beliefs, institutionalizes our commitments, and works to align our volunteering, giving and community investment strategies to the four key pillars we have prioritized for impact: education, criminal justice reform, economic empowerment and energy justice. 

Community Relationships: Supporting and improving our communities at the local level and beyond

Embedded in our culture is the philosophy of being “A Citizen Wherever We Serve.” Employee volunteerism and support of community initiatives, both large and small, are hallmarks of Southern Company and our subsidiaries. Elements of each of the core areas previously discussed impact our communities. Our objective is to work closely with community partners to help ensure their long-term vitality.

Corporate Responsibility Core to Corporate Strategy

At Southern Company, we have long believed corporate responsibility and corporate strategy are inextricably linked. The Board of Directors of Southern Company provides substantive oversight to our management team on strategy and risk issues across the ESG spectrum, and each Board committee has responsibility for key elements of risk oversight. By focusing on these issues, we aim to effectively align and link our commitments to customers, communities, employees, policymakers and stockholders. Importantly, engagement with our stakeholders will remain a priority as we collectively shape the future of our company.

Thank you for your interest in our company. We will continue our hard work on your behalf.