<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> 0000092122
<NAME> THE SOUTHERN 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>                                    23,193,253
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                   5,001,430
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        3,847,844
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                      2,369,852
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               34,412,379
<COMMON>                                                      3,424,341
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                     2,190,378
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                           3,723,644
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                9,338,363
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         1,744,465
<PREFERRED>                                                     739,615
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                          6,801,975
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                              319,276
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     2,681,905
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                1,388,611
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                   588,007
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       143,757
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     146,486
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                  3,022
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                               10,516,897
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                34,412,379
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                     5,301,609
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                            299,888
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    4,176,012
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    4,475,900
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                         825,709
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                               95,493
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                  921,202
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        488,147
<NET-INCOME>                                                    433,055
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      31,247
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                   401,808
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                        441,738
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                        1,152,219
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0.59
        













</TABLE>