Company: SOJE
Filing Date: 2025-04-11
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000092122-25-000036
Chunk: 43

Company: SOUTHERN CO
Filing Date: 2025-04-11
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 43
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 progress in our fleet transition, along with a qualitative modifier 
 The Committee incorporated energy efficiency and load flexibility/demand response MWs into the quantitative GHG metric starting in 2024                                                                                                            |
| 4Support for linking CEO pay with the Company's fleet transition strategy and GHG reduction goals                                                
 4Interest from stockholders in understanding the increased projected load growth in our service territory and how our fleet may evolve over time |     |                                                 |     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

#### Southern Company2025 Proxy Statement45

### Compensation Discussion and Analysis

#### Executive Compensation Program

### Overview of Key Compensation Components
|                                   |     | Element                                                                           |     | Vehicle                                                                                                                                                                 |     | Link to Stockholder Value                                                                                                        |
|                                   |     | Base Salary                                                                       |     | Cash                                                                                                                                                                    |     | 4Fixed cash compensation rewards scope of responsibility, experience and individual performance to attract and retain top talent |
|                                   |     | Annual Performance                                                                
 Pay Program (PPP)                                                                 |     | Cash                                                                                                                                                                    |     | 4Promotes strong short-term business results by rewarding value drivers, without creating an incentive to take excessive risk    
 4Serves as key compensation vehicle for rewarding annual results and differentiating performance each year                       |
| Long-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