ATLANTA -- Southern Company today announced a regular quarterly dividend of 49 cents per share on the company's common stock, payable Sept. 6, 2012, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 6, 2012.  This marks 259 consecutive quarters – dating back to 1948 – that Southern Company will have paid a dividend to its shareholders.

With 4.4 million customers and more than 43,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company also is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company