Southern Company Raises Dividend Rate 10th Straight Year; Annual Rate Goes to $1.89 Per Share

Southern Company SO said today it is increasing its annual dividend rate by 7 cents per share to $1.89 per share. The 3.9 percent increase marks the 10th straight year that Southern Company has raised the dividend on its common stock. Southern Company also announced today a regular quarterly dividend -- including an increase of 1.75 cents per share on a quarterly basis -- of 47.25 cents per share, payable June 6, 2011, to shareholders of record as of May 2, 2011. This marks 254 consecutive quarters -- dating back to 1948 -- that Southern Company will have paid a dividend to its shareholders.