<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the Form 10-Q for September 30, 1996, 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-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                   PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                    23,079,042
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                   1,298,802
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        3,036,005
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                      2,513,237
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               29,927,086
<COMMON>                                                      3,368,255
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                     1,985,114
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                           3,835,643
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                9,189,012
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           422,000 
<PREFERRED>                                                   1,153,056 
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                          6,968,970 
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                            1,039,991
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       238,835 
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                  589,720
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                   209,202 
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       100,250 
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                     148,573 
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                  2,878 
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                9,864,599 
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                29,927,086 
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                     7,870,821 
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                            678,424 
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    5,622,820 
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    6,301,244 
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                       1,569,577
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                               46,626
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                1,616,203
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        563,072
<NET-INCOME>                                                  1,053,131
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      65,556
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                   987,575
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                        634,553
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                             0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                        1,882,320
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                      1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0
        


</TABLE>