<TABLE> <S> <C>

       
<CAPTION>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 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>                                                                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                     DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                          SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                                        PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                                         23,022,899
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                        6,082,428
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                             3,955,646
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                           2,323,247
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                    35,384,220
<COMMON>                                                                           3,447,958
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                          2,265,204
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                                3,875,410
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                                     9,588,572
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                              1,742,020
<PREFERRED>                                                                          695,702
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                               6,587,169
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                                   218,538
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                          3,322,367
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                                     1,652,967
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                                        676,605
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                             28,913
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                          145,743
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                                       3,065
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                                    10,722,559
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                                     35,384,220
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                          9,372,813
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                                 632,070
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         7,194,690
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                                         7,826,760
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                            1,546,053
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                                    (9,217)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                                     1,536,836
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                             718,064
<NET-INCOME>                                                                         818,772
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                           42,254
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                                        776,518
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                             664,718
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                                  0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                             2,248,678
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                           1.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                              0
        




</TABLE>