Southern : Securities Registration (section 12(b))

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-A

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES

OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO

SECTION 12(b) or (g) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

THE SOUTHERN COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	58-0690070
(State of incorporation or organization)	(IRS Employer
		Identification No.)
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia	30308
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class	Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered		each class is to be so registered
Series 2020A 4.95% Junior	New York Stock Exchange
Subordinated Notes
due January 30, 2080

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c) or (e), check the following box. x

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d) or (e), check the following box. ¨

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities concurrently with a Regulation A offering, check the following box. ¨

Securities Act registration statement or Regulation A offering statement file number to which this form relates: 333-223128

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

This Registration Statement relates to the Series 2020A 4.95% Junior Subordinated Notes due January 30, 2080 (the "Series

2020A Junior Subordinated Notes") of The Southern Company (the "Company"). A description of the Series 2020A Junior Subordinated Notes is contained in (i) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company, Registration No.333-223128, filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), under the caption "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes" and (ii) a final prospectus supplementfiled by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act under the caption "Description of the Series 2020A Junior Subordinated Notes". Such descriptions are incorporated by reference herein.

Item 2.

Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

1Registration Statement on FormS-3,filed by the Company (Registration No. 333- 223128) (incorporated herein by reference).

4(a)Subordinated Note Indenture between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (designated in the Company's Current Report on Form8-Kdated October 1, 2015, File No.1-3526,as Exhibit 4.3 and incorporated herein by reference).

4(b)Eighth Supplemental Indenture to the Subordinated Note Indenture between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (designated in the Company's Current Report on Form8-Kdated January 6, 2020, File No.1-3526,as Exhibit 4.4 and incorporated herein by reference).

4(c) Form of Series 2020A Junior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4(b) above).

Exhibits heretofore filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and designated as set forth above are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof with the same effect as if filed herewith.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Dated:	January 9, 2020	THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
		By	/s/Melissa K. Caen
			Melissa K. Caen
			Assistant Secretary