Company: SOJE
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000092122-25-000018
Chunk: 4318

Company: SOUTHERN CO
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 2
Chunk 4318
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 generated (in cents per net KWH) —Gas2.73 2.99 Coal3.19 3.46 Nuclear0.72 0.69 Average cost of fuel, generated (in cents per net KWH)2.36 2.50 Average cost of purchased power (in cents per net KWH)(*)5.72 4.98 

(*)Average cost of purchased power includes fuel, energy, and transmission purchased by Alabama Power for tolling agreements where power is generated by the provider.

Fuel and purchased power expenses were $1.7 billion in 2024, a decrease of $71 million, or 3.9%, compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a $54 million net decrease related to the average cost of fuel and purchased power and a $17 million net decrease related to the volume of KWHs generated and purchased.

Fuel and purchased power energy transactions do not have a significant impact on earnings since energy expenses are generally offset by energy revenues through Alabama Power's energy cost recovery clause. Alabama Power, along with the Alabama PSC, continuously monitors the under/over recovered balance to determine whether adjustments to billing rates are required. See Note 2 to the financial statements under "Alabama Power – Rate ECR" for additional information.

Fuel

Fuel expense was $1.4 billion in 2024, an increase of $59 million, or 4.5%, compared to 2023. The increase was primarily due to a 23.1% increase in the volume of KWHs generated by natural gas, an 8.4% increase in the volume of KWHs generated by coal, and a 9.6% decrease in the volume of KWHs generated by hydro facilities as a result of less rainfall, partially offset by an 8.7% decrease in the average cost per KWH generated by natural gas, which excludes tolling agreements, and a 7.8% decrease in the average cost per KWH generated by coal.

Purchased Power – Non-Affiliates

Purchased power expense from non-affiliates was $199 million in 2024, a decrease of $54 million, or 21.3%, compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a 31.3% decrease in the volume of KWHs purchased as a result of a PPA that ended in May 2023 and the availability of Plant Barry Unit 8 and Central