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LEASES (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
Leases [Abstract] |
Major categories of lease obligations | The major categories of lease obligations are as follows:
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
At December 31, 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |
Electric generating units | $ | 802 |  | $ | 104 |  | $ | 1,217 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Real estate/land | 876 |  | 3 |  | 49 |  | 2 |  | 526 |  | 45 |
Communication towers | 156 |  | 2 |  | 4 |  | — |  | — |  | 24 |
Railcars | 32 |  | 10 |  | 20 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
Other | 103 |  | 5 |  | 1 |  | 24 |  | — |  | 1 |
Total | $ | 1,969 |  | $ | 124 |  | $ | 1,291 |  | $ | 28 |  | $ | 526 |  | $ | 70 |
At December 31, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Electric generating units | $ | 941 |  | $ | 146 |  | $ | 1,368 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Real estate/land | 815 |  | 4 |  | 53 |  | 2 |  | 451 |  | 61 |
Communication towers | 158 |  | 2 |  | 3 |  | — |  | — |  | 20 |
Railcars | 42 |  | 16 |  | 23 |  | 3 |  | — |  | — |
Other | 127 |  | 7 |  | 5 |  | 23 |  | — |  | 1 |
Total | $ | 2,083 |  | $ | 175 |  | $ | 1,452 |  | $ | 28 |  | $ | 451 |  | $ | 82 |
Balance sheet amounts recorded for operating and financing leases | Balance sheet amounts recorded for operating and finance leases are as follows:
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
At December 31, 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Leases |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease ROU assets, net | $ | 1,701 |  | $ | 108 |  | $ | 1,157 |  | $ | 10 |  | $ | 479 |  | $ | 70 |
Operating lease obligations - current | $ | 250 |  | $ | 54 |  | $ | 156 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 28 |  | $ | 11 |
Operating lease obligations - non-current | 1,503 |  | 66 |  | 999 |  | 6 |  | 497 |  | 59 |
Total operating lease obligations(*) | $ | 1,754 |  | $ | 121 |  | $ | 1,155 |  | $ | 10 |  | $ | 525 |  | $ | 70 |
Finance Leases |  |  |  |  |  |
Finance lease ROU assets, net | $ | 197 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 104 |  | $ | 17 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Finance lease obligations - current | $ | 16 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | 10 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Finance lease obligations - non-current | 199 |  | 3 |  | 126 |  | 17 |  | — |  | — |
Total finance lease obligations | $ | 215 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 136 |  | $ | 18 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
At December 31, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Leases |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease ROU assets, net | $ | 1,802 |  | $ | 151 |  | $ | 1,308 |  | $ | 9 |  | $ | 415 |  | $ | 81 |
Operating lease obligations - current | $ | 241 |  | $ | 51 |  | $ | 151 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 25 |  | $ | 15 |
Operating lease obligations - non-current | 1,611 |  | 119 |  | 1,156 |  | 7 |  | 426 |  | 67 |
Total operating lease obligations(*) | $ | 1,852 |  | $ | 170 |  | $ | 1,307 |  | $ | 9 |  | $ | 451 |  | $ | 82 |
Finance Leases |  |  |  |  |  |
Finance lease ROU assets, net | $ | 218 |  | $ | 5 |  | $ | 115 |  | $ | 19 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Finance lease obligations - current | $ | 17 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | 9 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Finance lease obligations - non-current | 214 |  | 4 |  | 136 |  | 18 |  | — |  | — |
Total finance lease obligations | $ | 231 |  | $ | 5 |  | $ | 145 |  | $ | 19 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
(*)Includes operating lease obligations related to PPAs at Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power totaling $802 million, $104 million, and $1.11 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2021 and $941 million, $146 million, and $1.25 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2020.
Lease costs and other information | Lease costs for 2021, 2020, and 2019, which includes both amounts recognized as operations and maintenance expense and amounts capitalized as part of the cost of another asset, are as follows:
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
2021 |  |  |  |  |
Lease cost |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease cost(*) | $ | 313 |  | $ | 58 |  | $ | 208 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 33 |  | $ | 19 |
Finance lease cost: |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of ROU assets | 21 |  | 1 |  | 11 |  | 1 |  | — |  | — |
Interest on lease obligations | 11 |  | — |  | 16 |  | 1 |  | — |  | — |
Total finance lease cost | 32 |  | 1 |  | 27 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
Short-term lease costs | 48 |  | 15 |  | 24 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Variable lease cost | 96 |  | 4 |  | 83 |  | — |  | 5 |  | — |
Sublease income | 1 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Total lease cost | $ | 490 |  | $ | 78 |  | $ | 342 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 38 |  | $ | 19 |
2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease cost |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease cost(*) | $ | 309 |  | $ | 55 |  | $ | 212 |  | $ | 3 |  | $ | 29 |  | $ | 19 |
Finance lease cost: |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of ROU assets | 26 |  | 1 |  | 15 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Interest on lease obligations | 11 |  | — |  | 16 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Total finance lease cost | 37 |  | 1 |  | 31 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Short-term lease costs | 39 |  | 11 |  | 26 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Variable lease cost | 91 |  | 4 |  | 76 |  | — |  | 7 |  | — |
Sublease income | — |  | (1) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Total lease cost | $ | 476 |  | $ | 70 |  | $ | 345 |  | $ | 3 |  | $ | 36 |  | $ | 19 |
2019 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease cost |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease cost(*) | $ | 310 |  | $ | 54 |  | $ | 206 |  | $ | 3 |  | $ | 28 |  | $ | 18 |
Finance lease cost: |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of ROU assets | 28 |  | 1 |  | 15 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Interest on lease obligations | 12 |  | — |  | 18 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Total finance lease cost | 40 |  | 1 |  | 33 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Short-term lease costs | 48 |  | 19 |  | 22 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Variable lease cost | 105 |  | 6 |  | 85 |  | — |  | 7 |  | — |
Sublease income | — |  | (1) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Total lease cost | $ | 503 |  | $ | 79 |  | $ | 346 |  | $ | 3 |  | $ | 35 |  | $ | 18 |
(*)Includes operating lease costs related to PPAs at Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power totaling $165 million, $47 million, and $184 million, respectively, in 2021, $161 million, $43 million, and $184 million, respectively, in 2020, and $149 million, $41 million, and $174 million, respectively, in 2019. Other information with respect to cash and noncash activities related to leases, as well as weighted-average lease terms and discount rates, is as follows:
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
2021 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other information |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurements of lease obligations: |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | 308 |  | $ | 58 |  | $ | 211 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 28 |  | $ | 19 |
Operating cash flows from finance leases | 9 |  | — |  | 17 |  | 1 |  | — |  | — |
Financing cash flows from finance leases | 17 |  | 1 |  | 9 |  | 1 |  | — |  | — |
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease obligations | 64 |  | 3 |  | 9 |  | — |  | 72 |  | 7 |
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease obligations | 3 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other information |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurements of lease obligations: |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | 310 |  | $ | 55 |  | $ | 215 |  | $ | 3 |  | $ | 28 |  | $ | 18 |
Operating cash flows from finance leases | 9 |  | — |  | 18 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Financing cash flows from finance leases | 22 |  | 1 |  | 11 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease obligations | 227 |  | 63 |  | 32 |  | — |  | 51 |  | 4 |
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease obligations | 10 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2019 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other information |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurements of lease obligations: |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | 323 |  | $ | 54 |  | $ | 210 |  | $ | 3 |  | 27 |  | 18 |
Operating cash flows from finance leases | 10 |  | — |  | 19 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Financing cash flows from finance leases | 32 |  | 1 |  | 13 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease obligations | 118 |  | 7 |  | 21 |  | — |  | 2 |  | 19 |
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease obligations | 35 |  | 2 |  | 24 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
At December 31, 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average remaining lease term in years: |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases | 15.9 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 6.1 | 32.8 | 10.5
Finance leases | 18.0 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 13.9 | N/A | N/A
Weighted-average discount rate: |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases | 4.41 | % | 4.37 | % | 4.45 | % | 2.74 | % | 5.20 | % | 3.61 | %
Finance leases | 4.82 | % | 3.09 | % | 10.81 | % | 2.74 | % | N/A | N/A
At December 31, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average remaining lease term in years: |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases | 14.5 | 7.8 | 9.4 | 6.5 | 32.1 | 9.8
Finance leases | 18.2 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 14.9 | N/A | N/A
Weighted-average discount rate: |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases | 4.44 | % | 4.14 | % | 4.37 | % | 3.26 | % | 5.45 | % | 3.67 | %
Finance leases | 4.79 | % | 3.20 | % | 10.81 | % | 2.74 |  | N/A | N/A
Maturities of operating lease liabilities | Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:
| At December 31, 2021
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
Maturity Analysis |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases: |  |  |  |  |  |
2022 | $ | 307 |  | $ | 59 |  | $ | 205 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 37 |  | $ | 14 |
2023 | 238 |  | 9 |  | 201 |  | 2 |  | 29 |  | 11 |
2024 | 195 |  | 7 |  | 164 |  | 1 |  | 29 |  | 11 |
2025 | 174 |  | 6 |  | 136 |  | 1 |  | 29 |  | 11 |
2026 | 154 |  | 5 |  | 133 |  | 1 |  | 30 |  | 8 |
Thereafter | 1,575 |  | 69 |  | 566 |  | 2 |  | 995 |  | 31 |
Total | 2,643 |  | 155 |  | 1,405 |  | 11 |  | 1,149 |  | 86 |
Less: Present value discount | 889 |  | 34 |  | 250 |  | 1 |  | 624 |  | 16 |
Operating lease obligations | $ | 1,754 |  | $ | 121 |  | $ | 1,155 |  | $ | 10 |  | $ | 525 |  | $ | 70 |
Finance leases: |  |  |  |  |  |
2022 | $ | 25 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 25 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
2023 | 22 |  | 1 |  | 25 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
2024 | 19 |  | 1 |  | 25 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
2025 | 16 |  | — |  | 25 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
2026 | 16 |  | — |  | 26 |  | 1 |  | — |  | — |
Thereafter | 231 |  | — |  | 83 |  | 13 |  | — |  | — |
Total | 329 |  | 4 |  | 209 |  | 22 |  | — |  | — |
Less: Present value discount | 114 |  | — |  | 73 |  | 4 |  | — |  | — |
Finance lease obligations | $ | 215 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 136 |  | $ | 18 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Maturities of finance lease liabilities | Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:
| At December 31, 2021
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
Maturity Analysis |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases: |  |  |  |  |  |
2022 | $ | 307 |  | $ | 59 |  | $ | 205 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 37 |  | $ | 14 |
2023 | 238 |  | 9 |  | 201 |  | 2 |  | 29 |  | 11 |
2024 | 195 |  | 7 |  | 164 |  | 1 |  | 29 |  | 11 |
2025 | 174 |  | 6 |  | 136 |  | 1 |  | 29 |  | 11 |
2026 | 154 |  | 5 |  | 133 |  | 1 |  | 30 |  | 8 |
Thereafter | 1,575 |  | 69 |  | 566 |  | 2 |  | 995 |  | 31 |
Total | 2,643 |  | 155 |  | 1,405 |  | 11 |  | 1,149 |  | 86 |
Less: Present value discount | 889 |  | 34 |  | 250 |  | 1 |  | 624 |  | 16 |
Operating lease obligations | $ | 1,754 |  | $ | 121 |  | $ | 1,155 |  | $ | 10 |  | $ | 525 |  | $ | 70 |
Finance leases: |  |  |  |  |  |
2022 | $ | 25 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | 25 |  | $ | 2 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
2023 | 22 |  | 1 |  | 25 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
2024 | 19 |  | 1 |  | 25 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
2025 | 16 |  | — |  | 25 |  | 2 |  | — |  | — |
2026 | 16 |  | — |  | 26 |  | 1 |  | — |  | — |
Thereafter | 231 |  | — |  | 83 |  | 13 |  | — |  | — |
Total | 329 |  | 4 |  | 209 |  | 22 |  | — |  | — |
Less: Present value discount | 114 |  | — |  | 73 |  | 4 |  | — |  | — |
Finance lease obligations | $ | 215 |  | $ | 4 |  | $ | 136 |  | $ | 18 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Lease income, operating leases | Lease income for 2021, 2020, and 2019, is as follows:
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
2021 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease income - interest income on sales-type leases | $ | 15 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | 14 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | — |
Lease income - operating leases | 223 |  | 82 |  | 42 |  | 2 |  | 85 |  | 35 |
Variable lease income | 429 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 456 |  | — |
Total lease income | $ | 667 |  | $ | 82 |  | $ | 42 |  | $ | 16 |  | $ | 542 |  | $ | 35 |
2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease income - interest income on sales-type leases | $ | 16 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | 12 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Lease income - operating leases | 208 |  | 45 |  | 58 |  | 2 |  | 87 |  | 35 |
Variable lease income | 419 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 449 |  | — |
Total lease income | $ | 643 |  | $ | 45 |  | $ | 58 |  | $ | 14 |  | $ | 536 |  | $ | 35 |
2019 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease income - interest income on sales-type leases | $ | 9 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | 9 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Lease income - operating leases | 273 |  | 24 |  | 71 |  | — |  | 160 |  | 35 |
Variable lease income | 403 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 434 |  | — |
Total lease income | $ | 685 |  | $ | 24 |  | $ | 71 |  | $ | 9 |  | $ | 594 |  | $ | 35 |
Lease income, sales-type leases and Power Purchase Agreements | Lease income for 2021, 2020, and 2019, is as follows:
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
2021 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease income - interest income on sales-type leases | $ | 15 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | 14 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | — |
Lease income - operating leases | 223 |  | 82 |  | 42 |  | 2 |  | 85 |  | 35 |
Variable lease income | 429 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 456 |  | — |
Total lease income | $ | 667 |  | $ | 82 |  | $ | 42 |  | $ | 16 |  | $ | 542 |  | $ | 35 |
2020 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease income - interest income on sales-type leases | $ | 16 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | 12 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Lease income - operating leases | 208 |  | 45 |  | 58 |  | 2 |  | 87 |  | 35 |
Variable lease income | 419 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 449 |  | — |
Total lease income | $ | 643 |  | $ | 45 |  | $ | 58 |  | $ | 14 |  | $ | 536 |  | $ | 35 |
2019 |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease income - interest income on sales-type leases | $ | 9 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |  | $ | 9 |  | $ | — |  | $ | — |
Lease income - operating leases | 273 |  | 24 |  | 71 |  | — |  | 160 |  | 35 |
Variable lease income | 403 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 434 |  | — |
Total lease income | $ | 685 |  | $ | 24 |  | $ | 71 |  | $ | 9 |  | $ | 594 |  | $ | 35 |
During 2021, Southern Power completed construction of a portion of the Garland and Tranquillity battery energy storage facilities' assets and recorded losses totaling $40 million upon commencement of the related PPAs, which Southern Power accounts for as sales-type leases. The losses were due to ITCs retained and expected to be realized by Southern Power and its partners in these projects, and no estimated residual asset value was assumed in calculating the losses. Each lease has an initial term of 20 years. Upon commencement of the leases, the book values of the related assets totaling $210 million were derecognized from CWIP and lease receivables were recorded. At December 31, 2021, the current portion of the lease receivables totaling $12 million is included in other current assets and the long-term portion totaling $161 million is included in miscellaneous property and investments on Southern Company's balance sheet and net investment in sales-type leases on Southern Power's consolidated balance sheet. The transfers represented noncash investing transactions for purposes of the statement of cash flows. See Note 15 under "Southern Power" for additional information.
Undiscounted cash flows to be received under tolling arrangements accounted for as sales-type leases | The undiscounted cash flows expected to be received for in-service leased assets under the leases are as follows:
| At December 31, 2021
| Southern Company | Mississippi Power | Southern Power
| (in millions)
2022 | $ | 37 |  | $ | 25 |  | $ | 12 |
2023 | 39 |  | 24 |  | 15 |
2024 | 38 |  | 23 |  | 15 |
2025 | 37 |  | 22 |  | 15 |
2026 | 36 |  | 21 |  | 15 |
Thereafter | 390 |  | 183 |  | 207 |
Total undiscounted cash flows | $ | 577 |  | $ | 298 |  | $ | 279 |
Net investment in sales-type lease(*) | 340 |  | 167 |  | 173 |
Difference between undiscounted cash flows and discounted cash flows | $ | 237 |  | $ | 131 |  | $ | 106 |
(*)For Mississippi Power, included in other current assets and other property and investments on the balance sheets. For Southern Power, included in other current assets and net investment in sales-type leases on the balance sheet.
Undiscounted cash flows to be received under PPAs accounted for as operating leases | The undiscounted cash flows to be received under operating leases and contracts accounted for as operating leases (adjusted for intercompany eliminations) are as follows:
| At December 31, 2021
| Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Southern Power | Southern Company Gas
| (in millions)
2022 | $ | 188 |  | $ | 76 |  | $ | 8 |  | $ | 87 |  | $ | 35 |
2023 | 139 |  | 32 |  | 2 |  | 88 |  | 35 |
2024 | 107 |  | 5 |  | — |  | 90 |  | 33 |
2025 | 100 |  | 3 |  | — |  | 74 |  | 28 |
2026 | 99 |  | 3 |  | — |  | 73 |  | 28 |
Thereafter | 883 |  | 23 |  | — |  | 240 |  | 407 |
Total | $ | 1,516 |  | $ | 142 |  | $ | 10 |  | $ | 652 |  | $ | 566 |
Schedule of net investment in domestic and international leveraged leases | Southern Company's net investment in leveraged leases at December 31, 2020 consisted of the following:
| December 31, 2020(*)
| (in millions)
Net rentals receivable | $ | 734 |
Unearned income | (178) |
Investment in leveraged leases | 556 |
Deferred taxes from leveraged leases | (7) |
Net investment in leveraged leases | $ | 549 |
(*)Excludes the investment classified as held for sale. See Note 15 under "Southern Company" for additional information.
Summary of the components of income from leveraged leases | The following table provides a summary of the components of income related to leveraged lease investments. Income was impacted in all periods presented by the impairment charges discussed below and in Note 15 under "Southern Company." Income in 2021 does not include the impacts of the sale and terminations of leveraged lease projects discussed in Note 15 under "Southern Company."
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2019
| (in millions)
Pretax leveraged lease income (loss) | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | (180) |  |  | $ | 11 |
Income tax benefit (expense) | (5) |  |  | 98 |  |  | — |
Net leveraged lease income (loss) | $ | 12 |  |  | $ | (82) |  |  | $ | 11 |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of undiscounted cash flows of lessee's operating lease liability. Includes, but is not limited to, reconciliation of undiscounted cash flows to operating lease liability recognized in statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123408670&loc=SL77918701-209980 + Details
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