<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> 0000003153
<NAME> ALABAMA POWER 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>                                                     7,060,948
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                     200,617
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          841,820
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                        646,810
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                8,750,195
<COMMON>                                                                        224,358
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                     1,304,791
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                           1,162,776
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                2,691,925
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                           297,000 
<PREFERRED>                                                                     278,400 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                          2,291,732 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                             0 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  413,786
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                    50,000 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                        62,000 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                       6,869 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                    955 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                2,657,528 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                 8,750,195 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                       704,768 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                             35,186 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      546,127 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                      581,313 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                         123,455
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                2,990
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                  126,445
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         62,940
<NET-INCOME>                                                                     63,505
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                       5,698
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                    57,807
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                         80,100
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                           64,254
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                         0
        





</TABLE>