content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001616250</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000092122</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THE SOUTHERN COMPANY</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-03526</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>30 IVAN ALLEN JE BLVD NW</com:street1>
          <com:city>ATLANTA</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>30308</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>4045065000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Poroch David P.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>MERRILL LYNCH</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>3455 PEACHTREE RD NE</com:street1>
            <com:street2>SUITE 1000</com:street2>
            <com:city>ATLANTA</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>30326</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>10000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>700537.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>100402540</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>06/05/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NEW YORK</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>06/05/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTIONS</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>DAVID POROCH</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>06/05/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATORY PAYMENT</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>06/05/2023</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>03/06/2023</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>DAVID POROCH</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2866}]
text: 144
  0001616250
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000092122
  THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
  001-03526
  30 IVAN ALLEN JE BLVD NW
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30308
  4045065000
  Poroch David P.
  Officer
  COMMON
  MERRILL LYNCH
  3455 PEACHTREE RD NE
  SUITE 1000
  ATLANTA
  GA
  30326
  10000
  700537.00
  100402540
  06/05/2023
  NEW YORK
  COMMON
  06/05/2023
  STOCK OPTIONS
  DAVID POROCH
  N
  10000
  06/05/2023
  COMPENSATORY PAYMENT
  Y
  06/05/2023
  03/06/2023
  DAVID POROCH