Company: SOJE
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0000092122-25-000032
Chunk: 27

Company: SOUTHERN CO
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 27
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 Director that chairs each committee reviews and approves the agenda and materials to be covered at the upcoming meeting. The independent Directors are free to raise subjects at a committee meeting that are not on the agenda for that meeting. An executive session is included on the agenda of every regular committee meeting.

The independent Directors evaluate the performance of the Chairman at least annually. The Lead Independent Director, in conjunction with the chair of the Compensation and Talent Development Committee, is responsible for overseeing the evaluation process. Input on the Chairman’s performance is sought from all of the independent Directors. The Lead Independent Director facilitates a robust discussion of the evaluation results with the independent Directors while meeting in executive session. The Lead Independent Director and the chair of the Compensation and Talent Development Committee together discuss the evaluation with the Chairman. The evaluation is used by the Compensation and Talent Development Committee to determine the compensation to be recommended for ratification by the independent Directors.

#### Meetings of Non-Management Directors
An executive session, which allows non-management Directors (our independent Directors) to meet without any members of the Company’s management present, is included on the agenda of each regularly-scheduled Board meeting. These executive sessions promote an open discussion of matters in a manner that is independent of the Chairman. The Lead Independent Director chairs each of these executive sessions.

#### Southern Company2025 Proxy Statement29

#### Governance

#### Board Independence

#### Director Independence Standards
No Director will be deemed to be independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that the Director has no material relationship with the Company directly or as an officer, stockholder or partner of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. The Board has adopted categorical guidelines which provide that a Director will not be deemed to be independent if within the preceding three years:

4 The Director was employed by the Company or the Director’s immediate family member was an executive officer of the Company.

4 The Director has received, or the Director’s immediate family member has received, during any 12-month period, direct compensation from the Company of more than $120,000, other than Director and committee fees. (Compensation received by an immediate family member for service as a non-executive employee of the Company need not be considered.)

4 The Director was affiliated with or employed by, or the Director’s immediate family member was affiliated with or employed in a professional capacity by, a present or former external auditor of the Company and personally worked on the Company’s audit.

4 The Director was employed, or the Director’s immediate family member was employed, as an executive officer of a company where any of the