<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31, 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>                                                                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                     DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                          MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                         23,138,705
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                        4,884,925
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                             3,546,555
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                           2,429,897
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                    34,000,082
<COMMON>                                                                           3,405,594
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                          2,125,534
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                                3,730,782
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                     9,261,910
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                              1,353,500
<PREFERRED>                                                                          833,372
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                               6,809,602
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                   286,340
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                          2,743,356
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                     1,737,895
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                        463,148
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                            116,155
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                          146,799
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                       3,367
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                    10,244,638
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                     34,000,082
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                          2,584,414
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                                 146,182
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         2,042,080
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         2,188,262
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                              396,152
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                    47,524
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                       443,676
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             239,608
<NET-INCOME>                                                                         204,068
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                           17,055
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                        187,013
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                             220,194
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                                  0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                               585,645
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                           0.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                              0
        



</TABLE>