Company: SOJE
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0000092122-25-000032
Chunk: 44

Company: SOUTHERN CO
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 44
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-Term Incentive Program (LTI) |     | Performance share units (PSUs) (paid in shares of common stock)                   
 Performance-based restricted stock units (PRSUs) (paid in shares of common stock) |     | 4PSUs reward achievement of financial goals and stock price performance compared to utility peers over a three-year period                                              
 4PRSUs reward achievement of financial goals related to our ability to pay regular dividends while promoting employee retention                                         
 4Equity awards provide a significant stake in the long-term financial success of the Company that is aligned with stockholder interests and promotes employee retention 
 4For the CEO, CFO and COO, PSUs link a meaningful portion of LTI compensation with the Company’s GHG reduction goals                                                    |     |                                                                                                                                  |
|                                   |     | Employee                                                                          
 Savings Plan                                                                      |     | 401(k) plan                                                                                                                                                             |     | 4Creates shared responsibility for retirement through matching contributions                                                     |
| Pension Benefits                  |     | Defined benefit and supplemental pension plans                                    |     | 4Financially efficient vehicle to provide market-competitive retirement benefits while promoting employee retention                                                     |     |                                                                                                                                  |

#### 2024 Executive Officer Compensation Decisions
In consultation with its independent consultant, Pay Governance, the Committee continued to carefully evaluate the executive officer compensation of peer utility companies to develop reasonable ranges of total compensation for similarly situated executives. In setting target compensation for the NEOs, the Committee took into account the relative revenue, market capitalization and complexity of each peer as compared to the Company.

Southern Company is considerably larger than the majority of the companies in the industry. Compared to the peer group used to set compensation decisions, Southern Company ranks at the 96th percentile when comparing net annual revenue and at the 100th percentile when comparing market capitalization.

#### 46Southern Company2025 Proxy Statement
Southern Company is considerably larger than the majority of its peers

* Based on the four fiscal quarters ended prior to December 31, 2024 and publicly available as of March 1, 2025

** As of December 31, 2024

#### Base Salary
4 The Committee determines the CEO’s base salary based on its comprehensive review of his tenure in the role and his individual performance, considering competitive market data provided by its independent compensation consultant.

4 The CEO recommends base salary adjustments for each of the other executive officers for the Committee’s review and approval. The recommendations consider competitive market data provided by the Committee’s independent compensation consultant, the need