Southern Company reported third quarter 2016 earnings of $1.1 billion, or $1.18 per share, compared with earnings of $1.0 billion, or $1.05 per share, in the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, earnings were $2.2 billion, or $2.39 per share, compared with $2.1 billion, or $2.30 per share, for the same period in 2015.

Excluding the items described in the "Net Income – Excluding Items" table below, Southern Company earned $1.2 billion, or $1.28 per share, during the third quarter of 2016, compared with $1.1 billion, or $1.17 per share, during the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, excluding these items, Southern Company earned $2.5 billion, or $2.64 per share, compared with earnings of $2.2 billion, or $2.45 per share, for the same period in 2015.

NOTE: For more information regarding these non-GAAP adjustments, see the footnotes accompanying the Financial Highlights page of the earnings package.

Earnings drivers for the third quarter of 2016 were positively influenced by warmer than normal weather, retail revenue effects at Southern Company's traditional electric operating companies and stronger-than-expected performance of its Southern Power subsidiary. Earnings were negatively influenced by increased shares outstanding.

"We are pleased with the performance of our electric and gas businesses so far this year, including the strong performance of our wholesale generation subsidiary, Southern Power," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "For the first time, our reported earnings include results from Southern Company Gas, including the recent investment in the Southern Natural Gas pipeline. With these investments and the recently announced strategic alliance between our PowerSecure subsidiary and Bloom Energy, Southern Company continues to build the future of energy for the benefit of the customers and communities we are privileged to serve."

Third quarter 2016 operating revenues were $6.3 billion, compared with $5.4 billion for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 16.0 percent. Southern Company Gas accounted for $0.5 billion of the increase in operating revenues for the third quarter of 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, operating revenues were $14.7 billion, compared with $13.9 billion for the same period in 2015, an increase of 5.7 percent. 

Southern Company's third quarter earnings slides with supplemental financial information, including its earnings estimate for the fourth quarter of 2016, earnings guidance for 2017 and the company's financial outlook for the next five years, are included in the October 31, 2016 Analyst Day materials available at http://investor.southerncompany.com.