At their meeting in Atlanta today, the directors of Southern Company declared a regular quarterly dividend of 31 1/2 cents a share on the company’s common stock, payable December 6, 1996, to stockholders of record November 4, 1996.

This marks the 196th consecutive quarter -- dating back to 1948 -- that Southern Company will have paid a dividend to its common shareholders.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO), the largest producer of electricity in the United States, is the parent firm of five electric utilities: Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power and Savannah Electric. Other subsidiaries include Southern Energy Inc., Southern Communications Services, Southern Development and Investment Group, Southern Nuclear and Southern Company Services. Southern Company’s common stock is one of the 20 most widely held corporate stocks in America.