<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for September 30, 2000, 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-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                         Sep-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             25,119,366
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            8,399,122
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 7,467,076
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                               2,546,345
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        43,531,909
<COMMON>                                                               3,503,112
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              1,205,734
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    4,670,841
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         9,379,687
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  2,320,175
<PREFERRED>                                                              368,126
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   3,971,526
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                     3,499,989
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                              7,883,576
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                         2,017,809
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                            339,212
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                               92,123
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           3,079
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                        13,656,607
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         43,531,909
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                             13,247,213
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                     611,408
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            10,640,598
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                            10,640,598
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                2,606,615
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       306,669
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         2,301,876
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                               1,086,736
<NET-INCOME>                                                           1,215,140
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               14,259
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          1,200,881
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                 655,135
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                      0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                 2,307,909
<EPS-BASIC>                                                                 1.85
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               1.85




</TABLE>