Southern Company releases 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report
<p>Southern Company is proud to announce the publication of our 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report. The report provides insight into Southern Company’s approach to environmental, social and governance issues through the lens of our company, our people, our community and our world. At the heart of this report is the belief that how we do our work is just as important as what we do. We live by Our Values of Safety First, Unquestionable Trust, Superior Performance and Total Commitment to build the future of energy. These standards will continue to drive our future success as they guide us in defining who we are and how we operate as a business.<br>
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<p>Below you can find the highlights from the 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report.<br>
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<p><b>Our Company</b></p>
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<li>In 2017, Southern Company’s dividend yield was 4.78 percent, compared with 1.85 percent for the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. Our dividend increased for the 16<sup>th</sup> consecutive year.</li>
<li>We are investing in technology such as grid modernization, liquefied natural gas, carbon capture, distributed energy resources, advanced nuclear, energy storage, compressed natural gas and electric transportation.</li>
<li>The governing Board of Directors met 11 times in 2017 with an average attendance of 93 percent.</li>
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<p><b>Our People</b></p>
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<li>CEO Tom Fanning demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion by signing the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.</li>
<li>Southern Company promoted nearly 600 employees to first-time supervisor roles and transferred over 350 employees between subsidiaries this past year. </li>
<li>The Safety and Health Council developed a systematic approach to address critical risks and eliminate serious injuries. In 2017, 98.9 percent of employees worked injury free.</li>
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<p><b>Our Community</b></p>
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<li>Corporate giving totaled $51,687,244 and employees raised more than $1,746,000. </li>
<li>Employees and retirees volunteered more than 260,000 hours to improve their communities. </li>
<li>Southern Company donated $100,000 to American Red Cross to help communities displaced from Hurricane Harvey in Houston. </li>
<li>Following Hurricane Maria devastating Puerto Rico, Southern Company made financial donations as well as sending crews from PowerSecure and operating companies to help restore power to the island.</li>
<li>Our state-regulated electric companies have invested approximately $12.9 billion in environmental capital retrofit projects to comply with environmental requirements.</li>
<li>Since 2003, we have invested more than $14.2 million in 306 grants, restoring or enhancing over 1.7 million acres.</li>
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<p><b>Our World</b></p>
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<li>Southern Company is committing to a transition to low-to no-carbon operations by 2050. We have reduced GHG levels by 36 percent compared to 2007 levels. </li>
<li>Between 2013 and 2017, the system’s thermoelectric plants withdrew 3.7 billion gallons of water per day, returning 93 percent to the same source of rivers or lakes.</li>
<li>Southern Company has made a commitment to close all ash ponds and we have put a schedule in place for all ponds in the system to stop receiving ash by 2019.. </li>
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<p>Read the full report by clicking <a href="/content/dam/southern-company/pdf/corpresponsibility/2017_Corporate_Responsibility_Report.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Read the latest corporate responsibility news by visiting our <a href="/content/southern-company/homepage/corporate-responsibility/corporate-responsibility-newsroom.html" target="_self">Newsroom</a>.</p>
<p>For more information about our Corporate Responsibility Initiatives and Programs, go <a href="/content/southern-company/homepage/corporate-responsibility.html" target="_self">here</a>.<br>
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