Southern Company

Georgia Power, Alabama Power, Power Secure, Mississippi Power, Southern Power,
Georgia
Energy

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Southern Power Company, vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees. However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children. Southern Power has funded Planned Parenthood and donated $200 million to racial equity and social justice causes. The company requires its employees complete unconscious bias training and its CEO is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. However, it does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving and has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Southern Power receives a Medium Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Southern Power received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). However, the company has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views. 

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Southern Power does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1). The company focuses on funding organizations that support, “arts and culture, health and human services, civic and community projects, safety, education and the environment” (2).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Southern Company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Southern Company’s CEO is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (1)(2).The company’s Pride Month Spotlight advocates for LGBTQ causes and highlights its unconscious and inclusive bias training required for all employees (3). Southern Power commits to being an “anti-racist” company (4).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Southern Company has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). The company has donated to Planned Parenthood and donated $200 million to racial equity and social justice causes, including $50 million to a net zero carbon future (3)(4).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Southern Company has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes but has lobbied for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 8, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/24/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenSimple Majority VoteAgainst38.00%
5/24/23EnvironmentalAs You SowSet Scope 3 GHG TargetsAgainst19.80%
5/24/23EnvironmentalSteven MilloyAnnual Report on Feasibility of Reaching Net-zero Carbon EmissionsAgainst0.00%
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