Southern Company reported fourth-quarter 2018 earnings of $278 million, or 27 cents per share, compared with earnings of $496 million, or 49 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Southern Company also reported full-year 2018 earnings of $2.23 billion, or $2.18 per share, compared with earnings of $842 million, or 84 cents per share, in 2017.

Excluding the items described in the "Net Income – Excluding Items" table below, Southern Company earned $256 million, or 25 cents per share, during the fourth quarter of 2018, compared with $509 million, or 51 cents per share, during the fourth quarter of 2017.  For the full-year 2018, excluding these items, Southern Company earned $3.13 billion, or $3.07 per share, compared with earnings of $3.02 billion, or $3.02 per share, in 2017.

Earnings drivers for the full year 2018 were positively influenced by effects of constructive regulatory outcomes and weather at the state-regulated utilities. These impacts were partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization, interest expense and share issuances.

"2018 was a banner year for Southern Company, as we continued to see outstanding operational execution throughout the franchise," said Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "All of our state-regulated electric and gas companies delivered strong performance. We experienced solid customer growth, and we delivered significant benefits to customers resulting from tax reform while maintaining credit metrics across our businesses. We also saw excellent progress with the construction of the new nuclear units at Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle, achieving our year-end construction targets."

Fourth quarter 2018 operating revenues were $5.34 billion, compared with $5.63 billion for the fourth quarter of 2017, a decrease of 5.2 percent.  Operating revenues for the full year 2018 were $23.50 billion, compared with $23.03 billion in 2017, an increase of 2.0 percent.