<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q for March 31, 1999, 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                         Mar-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                             23,717,491
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                            6,107,504
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 3,188,735
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                               2,424,069
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        35,437,799
<COMMON>                                                               3,446,267
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              2,480,408
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    3,777,455
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         9,704,130
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                  2,426,965
<PREFERRED>                                                              369,061
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   3,823,063
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                       950,062
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                              5,998,111
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                         1,412,739
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                          1,133,884
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                              131,334
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                           2,166
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         9,486,284
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                         35,437,799
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                              2,441,565
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                     108,608
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             1,956,590
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             2,065,198
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                  376,367
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       134,719
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                           511,086
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 281,137
<NET-INCOME>                                                             229,949
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                5,633
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                            224,316
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                 233,879
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                      0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                   189,263
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               0.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.32
        



</TABLE>