Southern Company today reported second quarter 2014 earnings of $611 million, or 68 cents per share, compared with earnings of $297 million, or 34 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2013.

For the six months ended June 30, 2014, earnings were $962 million, or $1.08 per share, compared with $378 million, or 43 cents per share, for the same period in 2013.

Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2014, include an after-tax charge of $235 million (26 cents per share) related to increased cost estimates for the construction of Mississippi Power's Kemper County integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) project recorded in the first quarter of 2014. Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, include after-tax charges of $278 million (32 cents per share) and $611 million (70 cents per share), respectively, related to the Kemper County IGCC project. Earnings for the first six months of 2013 also include an after-tax charge of $16 million (2 cents per share) for the restructuring of a leveraged lease investment recorded in the first quarter of 2013.

Excluding these items, Southern Company earned $611 million, or 68 cents per share, during the second quarter of 2014, compared with $575 million, or 66 cents per share, during the second quarter of 2013. For the first six months of 2014, excluding these items, Southern Company earned $1.2 billion, or $1.34 per share, compared with earnings of $1.0 billion, or $1.15 per share, for the same period in 2013.

Earnings were positively influenced by increased industrial sales, normal weather and retail revenue effects at Southern Company's traditional operating companies. Earnings were negatively influenced by increased non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses.

"Southern Company's second quarter industrial sales growth is an indicator of the potential for a broader economic recovery across the Southeast," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEOThomas A. Fanning. "Our commitment to provide clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy has enabled us to continue to meet the needs of a region that's growing faster than the U.S as a whole."

Second quarter 2014 operating revenues were $4.47 billion, compared with $4.25 billion for the same period in 2013, an increase of 5.2 percent. Operating revenues for the first six months of 2014 were$9.11 billion, compared with $8.14 billion for the same period in 2013, an 11.9 percent increase.

Kilowatt-hour sales to retail customers in Southern Company's four-state service area increased 2.1 percent in the second quarter of 2014 compared with the second quarter of 2013. Residential energy sales increased 2.0 percent, commercial energy sales increased 1.3 percent and industrial energy sales increased 3.0 percent.

For the first six months of 2014, retail sales increased 4.5 percent compared with the same period in 2013. Residential energy sales increased 8.5 percent, commercial energy sales increased 2.4 percent and industrial energy sales increased 2.9 percent.

Total energy sales to Southern Company's customers in the Southeast, including wholesale sales, increased 4.7 percent in the second quarter of 2014 compared with the same period in 2013. For the first six months of 2014, total energy sales increased 7.2 percent compared with the same period in 2013.

Southern Company's financial analyst call will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern time today, during which Fanning and Chief Financial Officer Art P. Beattie will discuss earnings and provide a general business update. Investors, media and the public may listen to a live webcast of the call and view associated slides at http://investor.southerncompany.com/English/information-for-investors/investor-information/webcasts-and-presentations/default.aspx. A replay of the webcast only will be available at the site for 12 months.

Southern Company has also posted on its website detailed financial information on its second quarter performance. These materials are available at www.southerncompany.com.