Southern Company
What do our scores mean?
The organizational score represents the degree to which the organization influencing climate policy and legislation. Corporations also have relationship scores reflecting their links with influencers like trade associations. Both are combined to place the corporation in a performance band. Full details can be found here.
Engagement Intensity
The engagement intensity (EI) is a metric of the extent to which the company is engaging on climate change policy matters, whether positively or negatively. It is a number from 0 (no engagement at all) to 100 (full engagement on all queries/data points). Clearly energy companies are more affected by climate regulations and will have a higher EI than, for example retailers. So an organization’s score should be looked at in conjunction with this metric to gauge the amount of evidence we are using in each case as a basis for scoring. On our scale, an EI of more than 35 indicates a relatively large amount of climate policy engagement.
Relationship Score, December 2020
A new batch of industry associations has been uploaded onto the InfluenceMap system and the relationship scores recalculated accordingly.
- Details of Organization Score
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What do the 0,1,2 and NSs, NAs mean?
Each cell in the organization's matrix presents a chance for us to assess each data source against our column of climate change policy queries. We score from -2 to 2, with negative scores representing evidence of obstructive influence. "NA" means "not applicable" and "NS" means "not scored" - that is we did not find any evidence either way. In both cases, the cell's weighting is re-distributed over others. Red and blue cells represent highly interesting negative or positive influence respectively. Full details can be found here.
- Details of Relationship Score
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What is the Relationship Score
A corporation, as well as its organizational score will have a relationship score. It is computed by aggregating the organizational scores of the Influencers (trade bodies etc.) it has relationships with, weighted by both the strength of these relationships and the relative importance of the Influencers towards climate change policy. Full details can be found here.
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QUERIES
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DATA SOURCES | |||||||
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Main Web Site
The main organizational Web site of the company and its direct links to major affiliates and attached documents. |
Social Media
We search other media and sites funded or controlled by the organization, such as social media (Twitter, Facebook) and direct advertising campaigns of the organization. |
CDP Responses
We assess and score responses to two questions from CDP's climate change information request (12.3 a & 12.3c) related to political influence questions (currently these are not numerically scored by the CDP process). |
Legislative Consultations
Comments from the entity being scored on governmental regulatory consultation processes, including those obtained by InfluenceMap through Freedom of Information requests. |
Media Reports
Here we search in a consistent manner (the organization name and relevant query search terms) a set of web sites of representing reputable news or data aggregations. Supported by targeted searches of proprietary databases. |
CEO Messaging
Here we search in a consistent manner (the CEO/Chairman, organization name and relevant query search terms) a set of web sites of representing reputable news or data aggregations. Supported by targeted searches of proprietary databases. |
Financial Disclosures
We search 10-K and 20-F SEC filings where available, and non US equivalents where not. . |
EU Register
Information provided by to the voluntary EU Transparency Register. |
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Climate Science Transparency
Is the organisation being transparent about climate change science? |
0
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NS | NS |
-2
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-2
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-1
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NS | NA |
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Climate Science Stance
Is the organization supporting the science of climate change and the response demanded (as per the IPCC) |
NS |
0
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NA |
-2
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0
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NS | NS | NA |
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Need for Climate Regulation
To what extent does the organization express the need for climate policy and regulations in general. |
1
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-2
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NS |
-1
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-2
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-1
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NS | NA |
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UN Treaty Support
Is the organization supporting a global treaty on climate change and the UN FCCC process? |
NS |
0
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NS | NS | NS | NS |
0
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NA |
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Transparency on Legislation
Is the organisation being transparent about their positions on climate change legislation and policy, including CEO statements. |
-1
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NA |
-1
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NA | NA | NA | NS | NA |
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Carbon Tax
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: carbon tax. |
NS |
-1
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NS | NS |
-2
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-1
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NS | NA |
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Emissions Trading
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: emissions trading. |
NS | NS | NS |
-2
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-2
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NS | NS | NA |
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Energy Efficiency Standards
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: Energy efficiency standards and targets |
0
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0
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0
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-2
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NS |
0
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0
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NA |
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Renewable Energy Legislation
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: Renewable energy targets, subsidies and legislation. |
NS |
0
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NS |
-1
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-2
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-1
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NS | NA |
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Energy Policy and Mix
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: energy policy and the energy mix. We refer to IPCC thinking on renewables, coal, oil and gas. |
0
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0
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1
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-1
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0
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0
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0
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NA |
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GHG Emission Standards
Is the organisation supporting policy and legislative measures to address climate change: GHG emission standards and targets. |
0
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NS | NS |
-1
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-1
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-2
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0
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NA |
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Disclosure on Relationships
The Caring for Climate “inventory” of climate change policy influences: Are companies being transparent about their business associations which may impact climate debate and policy |
0
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NS |
0
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NA | NA | NA | NS | NA |
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Southern Company is an Executive Committee Member of NAM
Christopher C. Womack
Open PDF file of Data Source
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Southern Company is an Executive Committee Member of NAM
Christopher C. Womack
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Southern Company is an Executive Committee Member of NAM
Christopher C. Womack
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Southern Company is an Executive Committee Member of NAM
Christopher C. Womack
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Southern is a member of AGA. Greg Jones is Director, Climate & Environmental Policy at Southern and serves as chair of AGA's Environmental Regulatory Action Committee (as of June 2020).
Greg Jones
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Southern is a member of AGA. Greg Jones is Director, Climate & Environmental Policy at Southern and serves as chair of AGA's Environmental Regulatory Action Committee (as of June 2020).
Greg Jones
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Vice President of Southern Power is a director of AWEA
John pemberton
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Has disclosed is membership of AWEA
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Vice President of Southern Power is a director of AWEA
John pemberton
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Has disclosed is membership of AWEA
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Southern Company serves on multiple committees and in leadership positions in EEI
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Southern Company is a member of EEI
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Southern Company was previously chairman of the board of Edison Electric Institute (2016)
Tom Fanning
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Southern Company serves on multiple committees and in leadership positions in EEI
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Southern Company is a member of EEI
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Southern Company was previously chairman of the board of Edison Electric Institute (2016)
Tom Fanning
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Is a member of US Chamber of Commerce
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Southern Company was on the board of directors of the Chamber (2016-2017)
Christopher C. Womack
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Is a member of US Chamber of Commerce
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
Senior Executive of Southern Company was on the board of directors of the Chamber (2016-2017)
Christopher C. Womack
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Southern Company is a direct member of Business Roundtable
Thomas Fanning
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Southern Company is a direct member of Business Roundtable
Thomas A. Fanning
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Southern Company is a direct member of Business Roundtable
Thomas Fanning
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
InfluenceMap Comment:
CEO of Southern Company is a direct member of Business Roundtable
Thomas A. Fanning
How to Read our Relationship Score Map
In this section, we depict graphically the relationships the corporation has with trade associations, federations, advocacy groups and other third parties who may be acting on their behalf to influence climate change policy. Each of the columns above represents one relationship the corporation appears to have with such a third party. In these columns, the top, dark section represents the strength of the relationship the corporation has with the influencer. For example if a corporation's senior executive also held a key role in the trade association, we would deem this to be a strong relationship and it would be on the far left of the chart above, with the weaker ones to the right. Click on these grey shaded upper sections for details of these relationships. The middle section contains a link to the organization score details of the influencer concerned, so you can see the details of its climate change policy influence. Click on the middle sections for for details of the trade associations. The lower section contains the organization score of that influencer, the lower the more negatively it is influencing climate policy.
Climate Lobbying Overview: Southern Company is actively lobbying against US climate change policy and appears to oppose nearly all strands of climate legislation. Though their top-line messaging on climate change has shown a loosely positive shift, their stances on climate-related regulation and the transition of the energy mix remain largely at odds with IPCC guidance.
Top-Line Messaging on Climate Policy: Southern Company has historically questioned the science of climate change, including funding the research of a prominent climate denier in 2015. As recently as 2017, CEO Tom Fanning publicly disputed the science of climate change. In 2019 and 2020, the company has shifted to recognize the “importance” of responding to climate change, but exhibits strong support for carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies rather than stringent policy measures to combat emissions as recommended by the IPCC.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Southern Company was a consistent opponent of the Clean Power Plan, utilizing consultations with the US EPA as well as legal action to derail the plan between 2014 and 2016. In 2016, Southern Company directly opposed proposed model emissions trading rules included in the plan. The company lobbied against carbon tax legislation in 2014, and in 2019, CEO Tom Fanning reiterated his opposition to a climate-motivated carbon tax.
Southern Company does not support renewable energy legislation, with Fanning speaking out in 2020 against renewable energy mandates. The company, through their subsidiary Alabama power, was also the principle advocate of an Alabama solar fee, which limits the feasibility of independent solar generation in the state.
Positioning on Energy Transition: While pursuing a low-to-no carbon transition in its own operations, Southern Company does not appear to support a low-carbon energy sector. CEO Tom Fanning has voiced support for the replacement of coal with natural gas, but remains opposed as of 2020 to government intervention in the energy mix, including the regulation of coal. In addition, Southern Company and its subsidiary, Southern Company Gas, appear to support a long-term rather than transitional role for natural gas “in a clean energy future.” Comments on the 2018 Virginia Energy Plan suggest a similar position on the role of natural gas.
Southern Company’s adverse position on the energy transition is further evident at the state level. Southern Company subsidiaries have blocked third-party interventions in utility commission cases for their Integrated Resource Plans in Mississippi and Alabama, reportedly to protect investments in gas-burning. In 2020, subsidiary Nicor Gas stood as an opponent of Illinois’ Clean Energy Jobs Act. Despite Southern Company’s predominantly negative position on the energy transition, they are a founding member of the Zero Emission Transportation Association - an electric vehicle advocacy group.
Industry Association Governance: Southern Company left America’s Power in 2019 as one of two final utilities to leave the group. However, it remains a member of other organizations consistently opposed to climate change policies, such as the US Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Southern Company Vice-President and President for External Affairs Christopher C. Womack is on the executive committee of the National Association of Manufacturers.