At their meeting today, the directors of Southern Company declared a regular quarterly dividend of 31½ cents a share on the company`s common stock, payable Sept. 6 to stockholders of record Aug. 5.

This marks the 195th consecutive quarter — dating back to 1948 — that Southern Company will have paid a dividend to its common shareholders.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the parent firm of five electric utilities: Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric. Other subsidiaries include Southern Electric International, Southern Communications Services, Southern Development and Investment Group and Southern Company Services. Southern Company`s stock is one of the 20 most widely held corporate stocks in America.