SOUTHERN CO
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 20, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Feb 20, 2025
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Southern Company
Consolidated net income attributable to Southern Company was $4.4 billion in 2024, an increase of $425 million, or 10.7%, from 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in retail electric revenues associated with rates and pricing and weather impacts, an increase in natural gas revenues associated with rate increases, an increase in other revenues, and an increase in other electric revenues, partially offset by increases in non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses, income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, taxes other than income taxes, and cost of other sales.
Basic EPS was $4.02 in 2024 and $3.64 in 2023. Diluted EPS, which factors in additional shares primarily related to stock-based compensation, was $3.99 in 2024 and $3.62 in 2023. EPS for 2024 and 2023 was negatively impacted by $0.01 and $0.06 per
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Dividends paid per share of common stock were $2.86 in 2024 and $2.78 in 2023. In January 2025, Southern Company declared a quarterly dividend of 72 cents per share. For 2024, the dividend payout ratio was 71% compared to 76% for 2023.
Discussion of Southern Company's results of operations is divided into three parts – the Southern Company system's primary business of electricity sales, its gas business, and its other business activities.
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Electricity business | $4,473 | $3,994 |
| Gas business | 740 | 615 |
| Other business activities | (812) | (633) |
| Net Income | $4,401 | $3,976 |
Electricity Business
Southern Company's electric utilities generate and sell electricity to retail and wholesale customers. A condensed statement of income for the electricity business follows:
| 2024 | Increase (Decrease) from 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Electric operating revenues | $21,603 | $1,605 |
| Fuel | 4,096 | (269) |
| Purchased power | 883 | — |
| Cost of other sales | 237 | 66 |
| Other operations and maintenance | 5,111 | 432 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 4,034 | 169 |
| Taxes other than income taxes | 1,288 | 129 |
| Estimated loss on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 | (21) | 47 |
| Total electric operating expenses | 15,628 | 574 |
| Operating income | 5,975 | 1,031 |
| Allowance for equity funds used during construction | 209 | (38) |
| Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized | 1,372 | 98 |
| Other income (expense), net | 523 | (10) |
| Income taxes | 1,003 | 420 |
| Net income | 4,332 | 465 |
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (141) | (14) |
| Net Income Attributable to Southern Company | $4,473 | $479 |
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Electric Operating Revenues
Electric operating revenues for 2024 were $21.6 billion, reflecting a $1.6 billion, or 8.0%, increase from 2023. Details of electric operating revenues were as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Retail electric — prior year | $16,343 | |
| Estimated change resulting from — | ||
| Rates and pricing | 1,309 | |
| Sales growth | 36 | |
| Weather | 314 | |
| Fuel and other cost recovery | (212) | |
| Retail electric — current year | $17,790 | $16,343 |
| Wholesale electric revenues | 2,431 | 2,467 |
| Other electric revenues | 896 | 792 |
| Other revenues | 486 | 396 |
| Electric operating revenues | $21,603 | $19,998 |
Retail electric revenues increased $1.4 billion, or 8.9%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The significant factors driving this change are shown in the preceding table. The increase in rates and pricing was primarily due to the inclusion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in retail rates net of the elimination of the NCCR tariff at Georgia Power, customer bill credits in 2023 at Alabama Power related to the flowback of certain excess accumulated deferred income taxes, base tariff increases at Georgia Power in accordance with the 2022 ARP, higher contributions from commercial and industrial customers with variable demand-driven pricing at Georgia Power, and an increase in Rate CNP New Plant revenues at Alabama Power.
Electric rates for the traditional electric operating companies include provisions to adjust billings for fluctuations in fuel costs, including the energy component of purchased power costs. Under these provisions, fuel revenues generally equal fuel expenses, including the energy component of PPA costs, and do not affect net income. The traditional electric operating companies each have one or more regulatory mechanisms to recover other costs such as environmental and other compliance costs, storm damage, new plants, and PPA capacity costs.
See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Alabama Power" and "Georgia Power" for additional information. Also see "Energy Sales" herein for a discussion of changes in the volume of energy sold, including estimated changes related to sales and weather.
Wholesale electric revenues from power sales were as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Capacity and other | $652 | $630 |
| Energy | 1,779 | 1,837 |
| Total | $2,431 | $2,467 |
In 2024, wholesale electric revenues decreased $36 million, or 1.5%, as compared to 2023 due to a decrease of $58 million in energy revenues, partially offset by an increase of $22 million in capacity and other revenues. Energy revenues decreased $45 million at the traditional electric operating companies and $13 million at Southern Power primarily due to fuel and purchased power price decreases compared to 2023. Partially offsetting the Southern Power decrease was an increase in the volume of KWHs sold primarily under natural gas and solar PPAs. The increase in capacity revenues was primarily due to a net increase in revenues from capacity contracts at Georgia Power and an increase in capacity revenues associated with natural gas PPAs at Southern Power. The changes in capacity and energy revenues also reflect decreases resulting from power sales agreements that ended in 2023 at Alabama Power and Mississippi Power.
Wholesale electric revenues consist of revenues from PPAs and short-term opportunity sales. Wholesale electric revenues from PPAs (other than solar and wind PPAs) have both capacity and energy components. Capacity revenues generally represent the greatest contribution to net income and are designed to provide recovery of fixed costs plus a return on investment. Energy revenues will vary depending on fuel prices, the market prices of wholesale energy compared to the Southern Company system's generation, demand for energy within the Southern Company system's electric service territory, and the availability of the
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Southern Company system's generation. Increases and decreases in energy revenues that are driven by fuel prices are accompanied by an increase or decrease in fuel costs and do not have a significant impact on net income. Energy sales from 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 through a fixed price related to the energy. As a result, the 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. Wholesale electric revenues at Mississippi Power include FERC-regulated MRA sales under cost-based tariffs as well as market-based sales. Short-term opportunity sales are made at market-based rates that generally provide a margin above the Southern Company system's variable cost to produce the energy.
Other electric revenues increased $104 million, or 13.1%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to increases of $77 million in open access transmission tariff sales at the traditional electric operating companies, $29 million in regulated sales primarily associated with power delivery construction and maintenance at Georgia Power, and $23 million in regulated outdoor lighting sales at Georgia Power, partially offset by a net increase of $17 million in realized losses associated with price stability products for retail customers on variable demand-driven pricing tariffs at Georgia Power and a decrease of $14 million related to liquidated damages receipts associated with generation facility production guarantees and an arbitration award in 2023 at Southern Power.
Other revenues increased $90 million, or 22.7%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to increases of $71 million in unregulated sales at Georgia Power associated with power delivery construction and maintenance, energy conservation projects, and renewables and $13 million in unregulated outdoor lighting sales at the traditional electric operating companies.
| 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| TotalKWHs | Total KWHPercent Change | Weather-AdjustedPercent Change(*) | |
| (in billions) | |||
| Residential | 49.3 | 4.7% | (0.5)% |
| Commercial | 50.2 | 3.9 | 2.2 |
| Industrial | 48.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Other | 0.5 | (3.1) | (3.7) |
| Total retail | 148.9 | 3.0% | 0.8% |
| Wholesale | 50.1 | (1.7) | |
| Total energy sales | 199.0 | 1.8% | |
(*)Weather-adjusted KWH sales are estimated using statistical models of the historical relationship between temperatures and energy sales, and then removing the estimated effect of deviations from normal temperature conditions. Normal temperature conditions are defined as those experienced in the applicable service territory over a specified historical period. This metric is useful because it allows trends in historical operations to be evaluated apart from the influence of weather conditions. Management also considers this metric in developing long-term capital and financial plans.
Changes in retail energy sales are generally the result of changes in electricity usage by customers, weather, and the number of customers. Weather-adjusted retail energy sales increased by 1.1 billion KWHs in 2024 as compared to 2023. Weather-adjusted residential KWH sales decreased 0.5% primarily due to decreased customer usage, partially offset by customer growth. Weather-adjusted commercial KWH sales increased 2.2% primarily due to increased customer usage, primarily driven by existing data centers, and customer growth. Industrial KWH sales increased 0.7% primarily due to increases in the pipeline and transportation sectors, partially offset by a decrease in the primary metals sector.
See "Electric Operating Revenues" above for a discussion of significant changes in wholesale revenues related to changes in price and KWH sales.
The mix of fuel sources for the generation of electricity is determined primarily by demand, the unit cost of fuel consumed, and the availability of generating units. Additionally, the electric utilities purchase a portion of their electricity needs from the wholesale market.
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Details of the Southern Company system's generation and purchased power were as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation (in billions of KWHs)(a) | 188 | 184 |
| Total purchased power (in billions of KWHs) | 18 | 18 |
| Sources of generation (percent) — | ||
| Gas | 52 | 54 |
| Nuclear(a) | 20 | 18 |
| Coal | 18 | 17 |
| Hydro | 2 | 3 |
| Wind, Solar, and Other | 8 | 8 |
| Cost of fuel, generated (in cents per net KWH) — | ||
| Gas | 2.62 | 2.77 |
| Nuclear(a)(b) | 0.86 | 0.76 |
| Coal | 3.94 | 4.33 |
| Average cost of fuel, generated (in cents per net KWH)(a) | 2.50 | 2.68 |
| Average cost of purchased power (in cents per net KWH)(c) | 5.14 | 5.17 |
(a)Excludes KWHs generated from test period energy at Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 prior to each unit's respective in-service date. The related fuel costs were charged to CWIP in accordance with FERC guidance. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" for additional information on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
(b)Excludes $55 million of credits recorded to nuclear fuel expense in 2024 resulting from litigation related to nuclear fuel disposal costs. See Note 3 to the financial statements under "Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs" for additional information.
(c)Average cost of purchased power includes fuel purchased by the Southern Company system for tolling agreements where power is generated by the provider.
In 2024, total fuel and purchased power expenses were $5.0 billion, a decrease of $269 million, or 5.1%, as compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily the result of a $244 million decrease related to the average cost of fuel generated and purchased, partially offset by a $30 million net increase related to the volume of KWHs generated and purchased. Also contributing to the decrease was a $55 million credit to nuclear fuel expense at Georgia Power resulting from litigation related to nuclear fuel disposal costs. See Note 3 to the financial statements under "Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs" for additional information.
Fuel and purchased power energy transactions at the traditional electric operating companies are generally offset by fuel revenues and do not have a significant impact on net income. See Note 2 to the financial statements for additional information. Fuel expenses incurred under Southern Power's PPAs are generally the responsibility of the counterparties and do not significantly impact net income.
Fuel
In 2024, fuel expense was $4.1 billion, a decrease of $269 million, or 6.2%, as compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a 9.0% decrease in the average cost of coal per KWH generated, a 5.4% decrease in the average cost of natural gas per KWH generated, and a 3.5% decrease in the volume of KWHs generated by natural gas, partially offset by a 15.6% increase in the volume of KWHs generated by nuclear, a 13.2% increase in the average cost per KWH generated by nuclear, an 8.0% decrease in the volume of KWHs generated by hydro, and a 7.6% increase in the volume of KWHs generated by coal. Also contributing to the decrease was a $55 million credit to nuclear fuel expense at Georgia Power resulting from litigation related to nuclear fuel disposal costs. See Note 3 to the financial statements under "Nuclear Fuel Disposal Costs" for additional information.
Purchased Power
In 2024, purchased power expense was $883 million, which was flat compared to 2023.
Energy purchases will vary depending on demand for energy within the Southern Company system's electric service territory, the market prices of wholesale energy as compared to the cost of the Southern Company system's generation, and the availability of the Southern Company system's generation.
Cost of Other Sales
Cost of other sales increased $66 million, or 38.6%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to increases of $40 million in expenses associated with unregulated power delivery construction and maintenance contracts at Georgia Power and $18 million in expenses associated with energy conservation projects at Georgia Power.
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Other operations and maintenance expenses increased $432 million, or 9.2%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to increases of $170 million in generation expenses primarily associated with Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 being placed in service at Georgia Power, maintenance and scheduled outage expenses, and Rate CNP Compliance-related expenses at Alabama Power, $166 million in transmission and distribution expenses primarily related to line maintenance and billing adjustments with integrated transmission system owners at Georgia Power, $41 million in customer service and sales expenses including bad debt, $36 million related to an impairment loss associated with Alabama Power discontinuing the development of a multi-use commercial facility, $21 million associated with an additional Rate NDR accrual at Alabama Power, $20 million associated with reliability reserve accruals and reliability-related expenses at Alabama Power and Mississippi Power, $16 million associated with a gain on the sale of spare parts in 2023 at Southern Power, $11 million associated with an arbitration award received in 2023 at Southern Power related to losses previously incurred, and $10 million in amortization of deferred cloud implementation costs, partially offset by a $91 million increase in gains from sales of integrated transmission system assets at Georgia Power and a $31 million decrease in technology infrastructure and application production expenses. See Note 1 to the financial statements under "Storm Damage and Reliability Reserves" and "Impairment of Long-Lived Assets" and Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Transmission Asset Sales" and " – Nuclear Construction" for additional information.
Depreciation and amortization increased $169 million, or 4.4%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $244 million associated with additional plant in service, partially offset by a decrease of $59 million in amortization of regulatory assets related to CCR AROs at Georgia Power as approved in the 2024 compliance filing under the terms of the 2022 ARP and an increase of $24 million in amortization of federal ITCs at Georgia Power. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Rate Plans" for additional information. Also see Note 10 to the financial statements for additional information on amortization of federal ITCs.
Taxes other than income taxes increased $129 million, or 11.1%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to increases of $92 million in property taxes primarily resulting from an increase in the assessed value of property at the traditional electric operating companies as well as a decrease in the capitalized portion of property taxes at Georgia Power primarily due to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 being placed in service in July 2023 and April 2024, respectively, $23 million in municipal franchise fees resulting from higher retail revenues at Georgia Power, and $13 million in utility license taxes at Alabama Power resulting from an increase in the tax base. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" for additional information.
Estimated Loss on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4
Georgia Power recorded credits to income related to the estimated probable loss on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 totaling $21 million and $68 million in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The credits to income reflected revisions to the total project capital cost forecast for the construction and completion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and the related cost recovery. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" for additional information.
Allowance for equity funds used during construction decreased $38 million, or 15.4%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily associated with Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 being placed in service in July 2023 and April 2024, respectively, at Georgia Power and Plant Barry Unit 8 being placed in service in November 2023 at Alabama Power, partially offset by an increase in capital expenditures subject to AFUDC at Georgia Power. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction" and "Alabama Power – Rate CNP New Plant" for additional information.
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized increased $98 million, or 7.7%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase primarily reflects approximately $43 million related to higher interest rates and $37 million related to higher average outstanding borrowings, as well as a net decrease of $35 million in AFUDC debt and capitalized interest primarily related to Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 at Georgia Power and Plant Barry Unit 8 at Alabama Power. See FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – "Sources of Capital" and "Financing Activities" herein, Note 2 to the financial statements under "Alabama Power – Rate CNP New Plant" and "Georgia Power – Nuclear Construction," and Note 8 to the financial statements for additional information.
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Income taxes increased $420 million, or 72.0%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher pre-tax earnings, a $197 million decrease in the flowback of certain excess deferred income taxes at Alabama Power, and a $112 million increase in charges to a valuation allowance on certain state tax credit carryforwards at Georgia Power, partially offset by an increase of $79 million in the generation of advanced nuclear PTCs at Georgia Power and $26 million from the recognition of certain state tax positions from amended returns at Georgia Power. See Note 10 to the financial statements for additional information.
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Substantially all noncontrolling interests relate to renewable projects at Southern Power. Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $14 million, or 11.0%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increased loss was primarily due to $23 million in higher HLBV loss allocations to Southern Power's tax equity partners, partially offset by $12 million in higher income allocations to Southern Power's equity partners.
Gas Business
Southern Company Gas distributes natural gas through utilities in four states and is involved in several other complementary businesses including gas pipeline investments and gas marketing services.
A condensed statement of income for the gas business follows:
| 2024 | Increase (Decrease) from 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Operating revenues | $4,456 | $(246) |
| Cost of natural gas | 1,196 | (448) |
| Other operations and maintenance | 1,235 | (40) |
| Depreciation and amortization | 650 | 68 |
| Taxes other than income taxes | 248 | (14) |
| Total operating expenses | 3,329 | (434) |
| Operating income | 1,127 | 188 |
| Earnings from equity method investments | 146 | 6 |
| Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized | 341 | 31 |
| Other income (expense), net | 66 | 9 |
| Income taxes | 258 | 47 |
| Net income | $740 | $125 |
Southern Company Gas measures weather and the effect on its business using Heating Degree Days. Generally, increased Heating Degree Days result in higher demand for natural gas on Southern Company Gas' distribution system. During the Heating Season, more customers are connected to Southern Company Gas' distribution systems and natural gas usage is higher in periods of colder weather. As a result, operating results can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. For 2024, the percentage of operating revenues and net income generated during the Heating Season was 62% and 80%, respectively. For 2023, the percentage of operating revenues and net income generated during the Heating Season was 67% and 73%, respectively.
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Operating revenues in 2024 were $4.5 billion, reflecting a $246 million, or 5.2%, decrease compared to 2023. Details of operating revenues were as follows:
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| (in millions) | |
| Operating revenues – prior year | $4,702 |
| Estimated change resulting from – | |
| Rate changes | 243 |
| Gas costs and other cost recovery | (407) |
| Gas marketing services | (30) |
| Other | (52) |
| Operating revenues – current year | $4,456 |
Revenues increased from rate changes in 2024 primarily due to base rate increases at the natural gas distribution utilities. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Southern Company Gas – Rate Proceedings" for additional information.
Revenues associated with gas costs and other cost recovery decreased in 2024 primarily due to lower natural gas cost recovery associated with lower natural gas prices and lower demand associated with warmer weather. The natural gas distribution utilities have weather or revenue normalization mechanisms that mitigate revenue fluctuations from customer consumption changes. Natural gas distribution rates include provisions to adjust billings for fluctuations in natural gas costs. Therefore, gas costs recovered through natural gas revenues generally equal the amount expensed in cost of natural gas and do not affect net income from the natural gas distribution utilities. See "Cost of Natural Gas" herein for additional information.
Revenues from gas marketing services decreased in 2024 primarily due to lower commodity prices.
Southern Company Gas has various regulatory mechanisms, such as weather and revenue normalization and straight-fixed-variable rate design, which limit its exposure to weather changes within typical ranges in each of its utility's respective service territory. Southern Company Gas also utilizes weather hedges to limit the negative income impacts in the event of warmer-than-normal weather in Illinois for gas distribution operations and in Illinois and Georgia for gas marketing services. Therefore, weather typically does not have a significant net income impact.
Excluding Atlanta Gas Light, which does not sell natural gas to end-use customers, the natural gas distribution utilities' rates include provisions to adjust billings for fluctuations in natural gas costs. Therefore, gas costs recovered through natural gas revenues generally equal the amount expensed in cost of natural gas and do not affect net income from the natural gas distribution utilities. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Southern Company Gas –Natural Gas Cost Recovery" for additional information. Cost of natural gas at the natural gas distribution utilities represented 80.3% of the total cost of natural gas for 2024.
Gas marketing services customers are charged for actual and estimated natural gas consumed. Cost of natural gas includes the cost of fuel and associated transportation costs, lost and unaccounted for gas, and gains and losses associated with certain derivatives.
Cost of natural gas was $1.2 billion, a decrease of $448 million, or 27.3%, in 2024 as compared to 2023, which reflects lower gas cost recovery in 2024 as a result of a 17.1% decrease in natural gas prices compared to 2023.
Other operations and maintenance expenses decreased $40 million, or 3.1%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to prior year regulatory disallowances totaling $88 million at Nicor Gas and decreases of $12 million related to energy services contracts and $9 million in expenses passed through to customers primarily related to bad debt and energy efficiency programs at the natural gas distribution utilities, partially offset by increases of $56 million in compensation and benefit expenses and $20 million in survey, locate, and inspection expenses for distribution gas mains. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Southern Company Gas" for additional information.
Depreciation and amortization increased $68 million, or 11.7%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to continued investments at the natural gas distribution utilities. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Southern Company Gas – Infrastructure Replacement Programs and Capital Projects" for additional information.
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Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized increased $31 million, or 10.0%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase reflects approximately $17 million related to higher average outstanding borrowings and $14 million related to higher interest rates. See FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY – "Sources of Capital" and "Financing Activities" herein and Note 8 to the financial statements for additional information.
Income taxes increased $47 million, or 22.3%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher pre-tax earnings. See Note 10 to the financial statements for additional information.
Other Business Activities
Southern Company's other business activities primarily include the parent company (which does not allocate operating expenses to business units); PowerSecure, which provides distributed energy and resilience solutions and deploys microgrids for commercial, industrial, governmental, and utility customers; Southern Holdings, which invests in various projects; and Southern Linc, which provides digital wireless communications for use by the Southern Company system and also markets these services to the public and provides fiber optics services within the Southeast.
A condensed statement of operations for Southern Company's other business activities follows:
| 2024 | Increase (Decrease) from 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| (in millions) | ||
| Operating revenues | $665 | $111 |
| Cost of other sales | 411 | 56 |
| Other operations and maintenance | 213 | 38 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 71 | (6) |
| Taxes other than income taxes | 4 | — |
| Total operating expenses | 699 | 88 |
| Operating income (loss) | (34) | 23 |
| Earnings (loss) from equity method investments | (16) | (21) |
| Interest expense | 1,030 | 167 |
| Other income (expense), net | (24) | (8) |
| Income taxes (benefit) | (292) | 6 |
| Net loss | $(812) | $(179) |
Operating revenues for these other business activities increased $111 million, or 20.0%, in 2024 as compared to 2023 primarily due to an increase of $120 million at PowerSecure primarily related to distributed infrastructure projects, partially offset by a decrease of $18 million at Southern Linc primarily related to equipment sales associated with commercial customers.
Cost of Other Sales
Cost of other sales for these other business activities increased $56 million, or 15.8%, in 2024 as compared to 2023 primarily due to an increase of $82 million at PowerSecure primarily related to distributed infrastructure projects, partially offset by a decrease of $15 million at Southern Linc primarily related to equipment sales associated with commercial customers.
Other Operations and Maintenance
Other operations and maintenance expenses for these other business activities increased $38 million, or 21.7%, in 2024 as compared to 2023 primarily due to an increase at the parent company primarily related to higher director compensation expenses.
Earnings (Loss) from Equity Method Investments
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments for these other business activities decreased $21 million in 2024 as compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to investment losses at Southern Holdings. See Note 7 to the financial statements under "Southern Company" for additional information on Southern Holdings' equity method investments.
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Interest Expense
Interest expense for these other business activities increased $167 million, or 19.4%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The increase primarily results from parent company financing activities and includes approximately $88 million related to higher average outstanding borrowings and $59 million related to higher interest rates. See Note 8 to the financial statements for additional information.
Income Taxes (Benefit)
The income tax benefit for these other business activities decreased $6 million, or 2.0%, in 2024 as compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a $35 million tax benefit in 2023 at the parent company related to a reversal of an uncertain tax position associated with the 2019 sale of Gulf Power as well as higher pre-tax earnings at PowerSecure, largely offset by higher pre-tax losses at the parent company.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.