<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for June 30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000066904
<NAME> MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                        6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                      993,458
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                      3,002
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         113,013
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                        45,140
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               1,154,613
<COMMON>                                                        37,691
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                      179,761
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                            166,145
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                 383,597
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           35,000
<PREFERRED>                                                     39,414
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                           211,532
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       80,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                   35,010
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                 335,060
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                1,154,613
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                      245,818
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                            14,527
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                     194,819
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                     209,346
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                         36,472
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                               1,221
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                  37,693
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        11,981
<NET-INCOME>                                                    25,712
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      2,449
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                   23,263
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                        23,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                          24,794
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        0
        



</TABLE>