At their meeting today, the directors of The Southern Company declared a regular quarterly dividend of 31½ cents a share on the company’s common stock, payable June 6 to stockholders of record May 6.

This marks the 194th consecutive quarter — dating back to 1948 — that The Southern Company will have paid a dividend to its common shareholders.

The 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. The Southern Company’s stock is one of the 20 most widely held corporate stocks in America.