Company: SOJE
Filing Date: 2025-04-11
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000092122-25-000036
Chunk: 14

Company: SOUTHERN CO
Filing Date: 2025-04-11
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 14
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 nominee. In that event, the proxy would be voted for the substitute nominee unless instructed otherwise on the proxy form. |     |                                                         |     |                 |     |                       |     |                       |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |     | The Board recommends a voteFOReach nominee for Director |     |                 |     |                       |     |                       |

#### Governance Highlights
We seek to establish corporate governance standards and practices that create long-term value for our stockholders and positive influences on the governance of the Company.

| Stockholder Empowerment                                                                                |     | Independent Board of Directors                                                                                                                                   |
| 4All Directors stand for stockholder election annually                                                 
 4Majority voting standard in uncontested Director elections                                            
 4Directors not receiving majority support must tender their resignation for consideration by the Board 
 4Proxy access for stockholders                                                                         
 410% threshold for stockholders to request a special meeting                                           
 4No poison pill                                                                                        |     | 412 of our 13 nominees for Director are independent                                                                                                              
 4Strong Lead Independent Director with robust authority and responsibility that is disclosed to stockholders                                                     
 4All Board committees are comprised of independent Directors and are chaired by independent Directors                                                            
 4Actively endeavors to include candidates in the pool that reflect a broad range and depth of expertise and experience relevant to our businesses and strategies |

| Stockholder Engagement                                                                                                                                                               |     | Governance Best Practices                                                                                                |
| 4Year-round stockholder outreach that includes participation of independent Directors, with feedback provided to the Board                                                           
 4Key members of senior management regularly attend investor conferences to better understand emerging issues and stockholder perspectives and to facilitate engagement opportunities 
 4Process in place for stockholders and interested parties to communicate with Lead Independent Director or other independent Directors                                               |     | 4Regular Board refreshment with nationally-recognized search firm on retainer                                            
 4Elected five new Directors in last three years                                                                          
 4Annual Board review of leadership structure and disclosure of the Board’s reasoning underlying its leadership structure 
 4Annual Board self-assessment facilitated by an independent third party and annual committee self-assessments            
 4Regular executive sessions of independent Directors                                                                     
 4Limits on the number of public company boards a Director may serve                                                      |

| Director Nominee Attributes |

#### 12Southern Company2025 Proxy Statement

#### Governance
Board of Director Nominees Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience

The Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee establishes and regularly reviews with the Board the qualifications