Southern Company said today it is increasing its annual dividend by 7 cents per share to a rate of $2.10 per share.

The increase marks the 13th 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 52.50 cents per share, payable June 6, 2014, to shareholders of record as of May 5, 2014. This marks 266 consecutive quarters – dating back to 1948 – that Southern Company will have paid a dividend to its shareholders.

"Southern Company is focused on providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to customers," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "This, along with keeping customers at the center of all we do, has been the foundation of our success for more than a century."